Night Owl Trail Races
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Night Owl Trail Races
This night trail event in Caesar Creek State Park near Waynesville, OH offers three distances and is organized by Empower Ultra and Endurance Races. It is the winter edition taking place on January 9, 2027, and marks the event's eighth year. Registration closes January 4; register by November 20 to guarantee event swag.
Distances include:
- Marathon
- Half Marathon
- 10K
The course is mostly single track around Caesar Creek Lake, using a combination of the yellow perimeter loop and red/green trails near Wellman Meadow. Trails are heavily wooded and feature rolling hills with back-to-back rollers on the far parts of the loops. Some sections run on the wide road shoulder of North Clarksville Road and State Route 73; participants must stay in the shoulder and limit running abreast to two people. There is a short railing to climb on State Route 73 to return to the trail.
This is a cupless race; participants must carry a collapsible cup. Mandatory gear includes a headlamp with spare batteries, a cell phone, and a water bottle or bladder; winter-specific items such as a mylar blanket, insulated jacket, hat, gloves, and handwarmers are recommended in cold or wet conditions. Aid stations on course: Wellman Meadow (10K turnaround), Fifty Springs, Day Lodge, and Start/Finish, with varying supplies including water, Tailwind, and food.
Finishers receive glow in the dark owl medals and all registrants receive event swag. The race follows a strict cutoff policy for safety. No refunds; a tiered deferral policy applies. No bib transfers. Race insurance is available at checkout. Empower Ultras supports inclusion and offers Athletes With Disability divisions. Volunteers may earn credit toward future Empower Ultras events. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
