Trail Nut 10k & Half Marathon Trail Races

Please see the race webpage for all of the race details - https://mountainjunkies.net/conquer-the-cove-25k-marathon/

This event has it all, great headquarters and trail system, tough challenging courses and the perfect time of year to see mountain laurel and rhododendrons in bloom. If you are from Roanoke it gives you a chance to compete against the home town folks to see who’s top dog. If you aren’t from Roanoke it gives you the chance to see 80% of the trails of the park that will be well marked and maintained. This is the anchor event to the Roanoke Non Ultra Trail Series (RNUTS) and is the perfect place to test your fitness.

Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the place to run and ride if you are in Roanoke. It is the second largest municipal park in the nation. It holds not only a major water source within its 12,700 acres, but also overflowing recreation opportunities. There is approximately 40 miles of roads and trails in the park and within trail plan there should be miles and miles of new trails added each year.

Both race distances will be challenging. There will be a lot of climbing, approximately 3500ft of elevation gain in the marathon. 1000ft of this will occur following mile 18, but your reward will be 2.35 miles of downhill followed by a relatively easy 2 mile to the finish.

On June 3, let’s inspire the runner in EVERYONE!

2026 marks the 10th year of The Big Run®, our annual 5K event celebrating Global Running Day. In partnership with Virginia Amateur Sports and Brooks Running, we celebrate our local communities by bringing tens of thousands of runners together to cross a finish line and achieve a goal.

The Big Run will be the official 5K for the Virginia Commonwealth Games! With its tagline of "Inspiring wellness & competition" the Games represent the true spirit of amateur athletics. For some, this celebration of sport is a stepping stone for following the dream of representing the United States in the Olympic Games. For others, the Games are a place to compete in a favorite pastime. Regardless of the age or skill of the athlete, the Virginia Commonwealth Games provide the pure pleasure of competing for the love of sport.

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE FUN:

• Become a Fundraiser! The Top Fundraiser will win a head-to-toe outfit (shoes, top, bottom) from Brooks! Start your fundraiser for Smiles4Tab today!

• Middle of the Pack Award!

*Note: The Poplar Forest Parkway off Enterprise Dr. will be closed on race day. All participants must enter via our service entrance at:

687 Poplar Forest Dr.

Forest, VA 24551

Written directions to Service Entrance can be found at https://www.poplarforest.org/visit/the-retreat/directions/

Description

Are you up for an adventure? Challenge yourself to beat the clock as you take on a 3.1-mile obstacle race through Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest plantation encountering obstacles (and some mud) along the way!

Entry fees will support educational programming at Poplar Forest.

Registration Information

Register early and save! Registration fees increase to $50 on July 25, 2026.

Late registration and day-of registration fees increase to $60 beginning on Thursday, August 14th.

Race Day registration will be available beginning at 6:30 AM on Saturday, August 15th. T-shirts will ONLY be guaranteed to those who registered before July 25th. All others will be invited to come back immediately after the race and claim their t-shirts. First come, first served.

Elite Runners and Teams - The first four waves of the race are reserved for Elite (or competitive) runners. Participants will compete for cash prizes and free entry into next year’s race. Elite runners must complete all obstacles (completion will be monitored by race volunteers at each obstacle) to qualify for prizes.

Corporate Teams and Elite Teams - Teams of 5-8 participants complete for the chance to win prizes. Teams are not required to stay together, but it is encouraged as much of the course will require teamwork to come out on top. Individual finishing times will not be provided. Teams will receive one finishing time for the last member of the team who crosses the finish line.

Non-Competitive Waves - These waves begin at 8:20 a.m. These waves are designed for the vast majority of racers. Participants in these heats are not racing for cash and prizes. All obstacles are optional and there are no penalties for not completing an obstacle. If you want to race with a specific person, please make sure you register in the same wave time. We cannot guarantee we can move you to another wave time.

Please make sure all participants you wish to race with choose the same wave time. Register early as once a wave time is filled, it will disappear! (20-person limit per wave time). Race organizers cannot guarantee the addition of runners to team waves who did not register with the team.

Packet Pick Up

Packet Pickup will be held at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest’s Service Entrance (687 Poplar Forest Dr. Forest, VA 24551) from 7 a.m.-9 a.m., 11:30 am - 1:30 pm and 4-6 pm on Friday, August 14th.

We highly encourage everyone, if able, to pick up your packet on Friday, August 14th at Poplar Forest. Once you have picked up your packet, there is no need to “check-in” at the registration table on the day of the race. This will alleviate the congestion and lines at the registration and packet pick-up tables. If

you pick up your packet on Friday, please just meet us at the starting line 10-15 minutes before your starting wave time. If you are unable to pick up your packet on Friday, we will have pickup starting at 6:30 am on Saturday, August 15th.

All Corporate teams should plan to send ONE representative from each team to pick up their entire team's packet on Friday, August 16th during the times listed. We will “pre-pull” all corporate team packets to make a quick and easy pick-up.

Join our 10th annual Camp Bethel PEP! 5K Run and Walk fundraiser! This 5K race covers some of the many trails, fields, and forests on the 470 acres of Camp Bethel, making it ideal for runners who wear spikes. ​Your fee (and sponsors) will benefit Camp Bethel. $40.00 Participant Fee includes fully stocked water/aid stations, a race t-shirt and swag, pre-and-post-race snacks and drinks, BRUNCH, good ole fashioned PEP!, and fun for everyone. Register by August 21, 2026 to guarantee your race t-shirt! Sponsor the run to make it more fun! Join us: for health, for fellowship, and for Camp Bethel!

The senior class at Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount, VA proudly announces the 16th annual Eagle Strut Race to take place Saturday September 12, 2026 at 8:00 AM. The Eagle Strut is a 5K race that takes runners around the beautiful and historic town of Rocky Mount. The 5K course is a perfect introduction to running for novice runners while still providing enough of a challenge to keep advanced runners interested. Proceeds for the race help fund the FCHS Class of 2027 in order to help offset senior activity costs and provide aid to our seniors who are most in need. No refunds will be given. Shirt size can only be guaranteed if registering before 8/14!

Packet pickup will be the morning of the race, September 12 at 6:30 AM and end at 7:45 AM. Participants who wish to sign up on the morning of the event can still sign up on RunSignUp!

Participants should park in the Law parking lot (between the high school and the Rocky Mount Smokehouse).

A special THANK YOU to our 2026 race sponsors seen below!

Interested in sponsoring? Please contact Prentice Sargeant ([email protected])!

2025 RACE RESULTS: Click Here!