A Pacific Northwest tradition returns next month to King County’s Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park: The 10th-annual SCOTT Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series.
The series gets under way May 12 with a five-mile run – the first of five races on various stretches of Cougar Mountain’s scenic, 36-mile trail network. Runs of eight, 10, 13.1 and final race of 31 miles (with an option to run a 20-mile race instead) are scheduled in the following months.
Produced by Northwest Trail Runs and the Seattle Running Club (SRC), the race series not only introduces hundreds of people to Cougar Mountain’s 36 miles of fantastic trails, but it also benefits King County Parks.
Volunteer work groups from the trail-running community spend an average of 150 hours each year doing trail restoration work, including improving trail surface conditions, invasive weed removal, and picking up trash.
This work has contributed to Cougar Mountain’s status as one of the nation’s best trail-running locations, according to Runners World magazine.
“Our longstanding partnership creates a fantastic race series for the running community, and greatly benefits all parks visitors with a cleaner and more enjoyable environment,” said King County Parks Director Kevin Brown.
“Cougar Mountain is practically synonymous with trail running,” said Eric Bone, the trail running series director and SRC member. “The park’s large size, proximity to the metropolitan area, variety of terrain and extensive trail network make it an unparalleled recreation venue.”
In addition to volunteer labor performed by SRC members, $15 from each racer’s individual event fee goes toward King County Parks maintenance and improvements. This support has exceeded $80,000 since the race series’ inception.
Series sponsors include SCOTT Sports, The North Face, The Balanced Athlete, In Health Sports Injury and Performance Care, On the Ball Fitness, Camelbak, and Louise Lakier Photography.
2012 RACES
- Race 1 – 5 miles: Saturday, May 12 – $35 preregistered, $45 at race
- Race 2 – 8 miles: Saturday, June 16 – $35 preregistered), $45 at race
- Race 3 – 10 miles: Saturday, July 7 – $35 preregistered, $45 at race
- Race 4 – 13.1 miles: Saturday, Aug. 11 – $40 preregistered, $50 at race
- Race 5 – 50 kilometers or 20 miles: Sunday, Oct. 28 – 50k $62 preregistered, $75 at race; 20-mile $47 preregistered, $60 at race
• Series package for races 1-4 (no 50K): $120
WHERE
Register in advance at any of three North Face stores: Downtown Seattle, University Village or Bellevue Square. Day-of-race registration and start will be at the Sky Country trailhead off 166th Way Southeast.
DIRECTIONS
From I-90 eastbound, take the Lakemont Boulevard Southeast exit (Exit 13). Turn right (south) on Lakemont Boulevard Southeast and drive for approximately two miles. Turn left onto Southeast Cougar Mountain Way. Continue 0.6 miles before turning right onto 166th Way Southeast. Follow this road through the gate and look for the parking lot on the right.
From I-405, take the Coal Creek Parkway exit (Exit 10) and follow Coal Creek Parkway east for 2.4 miles to the shopping center. Turn left at the light onto Southeast 72nd Place. At the stop sign, turn left onto Newcastle Road, which turns into Lakemont Boulevard Southeast. Continue on Lakemont past the Red Town trailhead to Southeast Cougar Mountain Way. Turn right and drive 0.6 miles before turning onto 166th Way Southeast. Follow this road through the gate and look for the parking lot on the right.
INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
For more information and to pre-register online at http://nwtrailruns.com/.
