Zen Squirrel Trail Run
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Zen Squirrel Trail Run
The Zen Squirrel Trail Run is the 7th annual edition held May 16, 2026 at Great Meadow Park in the Briar Chapel community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The event offers three one-loop trail distances and uses a large grassy staging area at Great Meadow Park for the start and finish. The race begins with about 0.4 miles of pavement before moving onto Briar Chapel's network of forested single-track and double-track trails that include rocks, roots, and hill climbs.
Distances offered:
- 2 Mile
- 5 Mile
- 10 Mile
Course specifics are provided for each distance. The 2 mile course is approximately 2.1 miles with 180 feet of elevation gain and lower technical difficulty than the longer races. The 5 mile course measures about 5.1 miles with 363 feet of elevation gain and moderate technical terrain. The 10 mile course is about 10.2 miles with 821 feet of elevation gain and includes the most technical and steep sections of the three courses.
Race services include limited field size, marked trails, frequent aid stations roughly every 1 to 2 miles, medical support, chip timing, a race tee, free photo downloads after the event, abundant post race food and beverages, an awards ceremony with contests and giveaways, and a free Kids Race for Treasure organized by age group. The event also notes lower pricing for youth and seniors and specific minimum age and accompaniment rules for each distance. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
