Chessie Trail Marathon
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11th Annual Run the Chessie
The Chessie Trail Marathon takes place on the Chessie Nature Trail, a rail trail situated at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley. This course connects Lexington and Buena Vista, Virginia, following the former Chesapeake and Ohio rail line and segments of the James and Kanawha Canal towpath. The route is characterized by a smooth, flat surface composed of gravel and grass, paralleling the Maury River.
The event offers several distances and categories:
- Marathon (26.2 miles)
- Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
- 10K
- 5K
- 26.2 Relay (Four legs of approximately 8.5 and 4.6 miles)
The course is sanctioned by USATF and all four distances are USATF certified. The marathon serves as a Boston Qualifier. Runners navigate a landscape featuring river views, limestone cliffs, and forested sections without road crossings or concrete surfaces. The relay option requires a four-person team to carry a baton, with all exchanges occurring at the start and finish area.
Amenities include chip timing, aid stations providing water and electrolytes, and custom finisher medals. Participants in the marathon and half marathon receive long-sleeve shirts, while 10K and 5K runners receive short-sleeve shirts. Post-race refreshments typically include pancakes, syrup, and pizza. There is also a virtual participation option for all individual distances. Walkers are permitted in the 5K, 10K, and half marathon events. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
