Wild Trail 5K & 10K
- Date:
- Sat, Apr 04, 2026 at 8:30 AM
- Location:
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Catoctin Mountain Highway
Thurmont, Maryland
21701
United States
OpenStreetMap Google Maps - Links:
- runsignup.com
- Tags:
- 10k 5k Run Trail Walk
Join us for this beginner-friendly low-key trail race at beautiful ThorpeWood in northern Frederick County.
Thorpewood is private property - so this event is your one and only chance to access this beautiful course.
Our low-key races are FREE for Steeplechaser members, so YAY!
Have you ever accidentally gone out for a run and showed up 5 minutes late with a slightly moldy water bottle, or oh no a totally mismatched running outfit?
Have you ever missed a turn and run extra bonus mileage during a training run or a race?
Have you ever skipped a run and shown up at the after party to celebrate?
If so, you too might a trail runner!
If your initial response was, "No way, I don't know the first thing about trail running!" don't worry, we're here to help! Click the sign-up button and we'll walk you through it - no special shoes, gear or clothing required. Just a smile. And being "okay" with a little mud on your shoes. Join us for a wild and crazy idea - mixing running with nature!
You must be a club member on race day in order to be eligible for the free race entry.
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If you’re not a club member, you can join at https://runsignup.com/fsrc.
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To look up your membership by name and/or email and to renew see: https://runsignup.com/fsrc and click Membership Lookup. If your membership has expired, click the Renew Now button next to your most recent membership. We have no idea why they have Renew Now next to older memberships, so please click the right one.
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If you think you are a paid member of the club and you still can't register, please check that the spelling of your name and your birthday match the information in your RunSignup profile.
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If this still doesn't offer the ability to register for the race for free, email membership@steeplechasers.org for assistance.
Finally - if you currently have an individual membership and would like to upgrade to "Two-In-Household" or "Family" membership in order to get the free race entry for family members, contact our membership committee at membership@steeplechasers.org.
Race-Day Registration - You may sign up on race day, but you'll need to do it online on your own device. We will not have paper forms or registration kiosks.
Competition
Both the 5k and the 10k races are part of the FSRC Grand Prix.
Special Thank You
This FREE event is made possible by a partnership between the FSRC and the Merle Thorpe, Jr. Charitable Trust (MTCT), owner of ThorpeWood, LLC. MTCT’s mission is to serve our local and regional non-profit community by offering our property for exploring and recreation and our facilities for meetings, retreats, and Equine Assisted Learning opportunities.
The MTCT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that accepts charitable contributions to continue their mission.
Please consider visiting the ThorpeWood website and learning more about their history and programs.
Logistics
Parking: Car pooling is recommended and encouraged. As this event is held on private property, please follow the directions of the parking attendants and only park in designated spots.
Course: There is no formal course preview as the event will be held on private property.
Please don't attempt to "preview" the race on your own. We will post a map of the course just prior to the event, with some additional details. The course will be marked with flags/ribbons so you don't need to worry about memorizing the course or getting lost. This is a beginner-friendly event and we will work to ensure everyone to feels comfortable on race day!
The 5k is one single loop, and the 10k will include the 5k loop and a separate, second 5k loop.
We plan to have a volunteer work day at Thropewood a few weeks before the event. If you'd like to get the "lay of the land" this would be a great opportunity to support the Merle Thorpe, Jr. Charitable Trust (MTCT) which has generously donated use of the private property to us on race day!
Timing/Scoring: The race will be chip timed but please make sure that you stay in order as you cross the finish line where a volunteer will scan your bib. We do this as a backup to the chip system.
Water: Water will be provided.