Thank you for choosing to be part of Sunday's 11th Annual Thacher Park Trail Running Festival!

When you have a moment, please set aside a few minutes to read this in its entirety and view the map below so you're fully ready for Sunday.

RACE DAY
Sunday, August 25, 2024
7:30am: Reg / Bib Pick-up starts (only available on race day and not prior)
8:30am: All Races Start Together (10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K)

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THACHER PARK
Sunny with temps starting around 60 and rising to the upper 70s / humidity of ~55%.
For those in the longer distance races, please be mindful of the impact of rising temperatures. Be sure to refer further below about water stops, etc.

RACE LOCATION
Thacher State Park: Horsehoe II Pavilion (Click for GPS Directions)
1 Hailes Cave Road
Voorheesville, NY 12186

All races start and finish near the Horseshoe II Pavilion.
Bib pick-up will be held in Horseshoe II Pavilion

WHEN TO ARRIVE
We recommend that you arrive between 7:25am and 8:05am. It may be up to a 5+ minute walk from your car to the pavilion.
Bib pick-up and day-of registration will begin at 7:30am and close at 8:15am.

BIB PICK-UP
You can pick up your materials on race day. (There is no pick-up available besides race day.)

GIVEAWAYS & AWARDS
As indicated on the event website and registration page, there is not a physical item giveaway (besides the awards to the first M/F finishers in each race and finisher medals exclusively to those in the 26.2M and 50K).

PARKING
The park charges a $6 fee per vehicle. 

• For those of you who pre-purchased your parking pass, when you get to the park, do NOT stop at the kiosk.
  Rather -> Drive into the park and park. Proceed to get your bib and you will receive your parking pass at that time. Please go back to your car and place it on your dashboard.
• For those who did not pre-purchase a parking pass and need one, please use* the self-serve kiosk upon arriving.

If you have a NYS Parks Pass (Empire Pass), you can swipe it against the machine* to receive the parking pass.
*Depending upon the time you arrive, it is possible that the machine won't be turned on yet. If that's the case, just drive in and purchase your pass after the race.

Where to Park & Toilets Too :)
Please park in the large parking lot (large lot just below Hailes Cave Pavilion and Horsehoe II Pavilion). See image below for reference (click it to enlarge)

The course does pass bathrooms at Horseshoe II Pavilion, Hailes Cave, and Paint Mine.

DAY-OF REGISTRATION
Yes, day-of registration is available for those who still need to register.

SEE WHO IS REGISTERED
10K - 83 (participants)
13.1M - 95
26.2M - 14
50K - 41

POST RACE MEAL
We are having a BBQ and Pot Luck. We'll supply the burgers, dogs, and veggie versions. We welcome you to bring additional items like veggie trays, beverages, salads, and whatever you like. :)

THE COURSE(S) - Same as the past several years. 
Here is a 'real' map that, if you enable location services, puts you on the map. (We use it for our volunteer management but you are welcome to check it out.)
Click here to view a full (non-GPS) map that shows all of the courses and includes directional arrows
You can also see the individual maps and Strava versions (with elevation, etc.) for each race here.

*** Please make sure you view the map ahead of time to have a general idea of how the races are run.

COURSE CUT-OFFs

• 10:15am - 1:45 (~17:00 for the first 10K)
• 11:15am - 2:45 (~12:35/mile for 13.1M) - Anyone registered for the 26.2M or 50K must have completed at least 13.1M by this time (or is switched to the 13.1M).
• 2:00pm - 5:30 (~12:35/mile for 26.2M) - Anyone registered for the 50K must have completed at least 26.2M by this time (or is switched to the 26.2).
• 2:20pm - 5:50 at ~20M / ~27.7M (Paint Mine Aid Station) for 26.2M & 50K to proceed onto the Paint Mine loop
• 3:00pm - 6:30 - Entire Course Cut-off* (regardless of distance of your race).

26.2M/50K RUNNERS
All runners in the 26.2M and 50K begin by completing the half marathon course twice. 26.2M runners then finish.
After completing 26.2M, those in the 50K then return to the section they just came from and run a shortened version of it, referred to as the 'Baby Loop'. This 'Baby Loop' utilizes the trail denoted in yellow (between #s 14 and 17) on this map as a short-cut. (It's actually [officially] the 'blue trail'.)

AID STATIONS - THIS IS A CUPLESS EVENT

1. Repeated: This is a CUPLESS event. You MUST carry your own water (bottle/hydration pack, etc.) You are also welcome to supply and carry your own cup.
2. This REDUCES trash, both in the form of general waste along with eliminating the potential for litter on the trail.
3. And, to that end, do not litter on the trail. If you have nutrition packets/misc items, leave them at aid stations for us to dispose of them.
4. Aid stations offer you water, Nuun, and additional nutrition including bananas, pretzels, gummy bears, and goldfish.
5. Runners in the 13.1M and farther: The course passes the general start/finish area every 6 to 7 miles, feel free to leave a dropbag along the route in that vicinity or simply stop at your car (might be up to 50 yards off the course).

*Full Service Aid Stations with water, nuun, and food.
^These locations are NOT staffed but if you have your own crew, these locations are accessible by car

GPS Map of Aid Stations & Locations Your Crew Might Want to Go

MORE INFORMATION
Please visit the event website for additional event details. 

LASTLY
Thank you for choosing our event. We truly appreciate it and look forward to sharing in a wonderful day with you this Sunday.

Yours in sport,
Josh Merlis and the ARE Event Productions Team