Race for the Refuge

🏞️ Race for the Refuge

The Highland City Striders welcome you to explore the trails at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, MA! The Race for the Refuge begins at the ARNWR Visitor’s Center and traverses the beautiful trails around the Refuge. The course will lead runners into this idyllic nature refuge, past ponds, through pine and oak forests, and alongside mysterious military bunkers.

🗺️ Course Description

• Terrain: The double track trails are hard-packed earth and gravel.
• Accessibility: It’s a great course for beginner trail runners.
• Challenge: For the advanced trail runner, it could be an opportunity for a new PR!

🏃‍♀️ Events

The lineup features a 10K (1 loop) and 30K (3 loops) races, and a 6-hour timed event.

• Loop Completion: Runners may do as many loops as desired: a loop must be completed by 3pm to be counted towards final mileage.
• Ranking: Determined by the runner who completes the most loops in the shortest period of time.
• Last Lap: Runners in the 6-hour race must start their last lap by 2pm.
• Prizes: The top male, female, and nonbinary runner from each event will receive a prize.

🚫 Race Day Rules

• Pets: Dogs are not permitted on Refuge lands.
• Family-Friendly: Event is family-friendly but children must be supervised.
• Leave No Trace: This will be a cupless race to eliminate waste on the course.
• Course Guidelines: All runners must stay on the marked course.

💧 Aid Stations and Course Marking

There will be two aid stations with typical trail race fare including water, hydration, hydration mix, pretzels, orange slices, banana halves, Swedish fish, coke, and ginger ale. The main aid station will be at the Start/Finish line. A second aid station at Taylor Road is about halfway through the loop. Note this is a cupless race.

• Registration: All runners will receive swag with registration.
• Prizes: Prizes will be awarded to top winners in each category.
• Course Marking: The course will be well marked with two course marshals at key turns.

👟 Pacers

Pacers are allowed to assist runners in the 6-hour race only. They may start at noon or later and must complete an online or paper registration form.

• Check-In: Upon arrival, pacers will check in at the race director table and receive a pacer bib.
• Rules: One pacer at a time per runner and no muling is allowed.
• Costs: Pacers can use the aid stations at no cost and there is no registration fee to pace a runner.

💰 Cancelation and Refunds

There are no deferrals and no refunds. Your entry fee will be considered a charitable donation and used for nature education and trail improvements.

• Cancellation: If you are unable to join us, please cancel using RunSignUp or contact the race directors via email.
• Support: Thank you for your support!

🌳 About the Refuge

Centuries ago, these lands were hunted and fished by Nipmuc Tribes. Later, they were farmed by colonists, intersected by a railroad, and used for military training. You will run past military bunkers that were in use when the area was known as the Sudbury Training Annex, which was part of Fort Devens. The US Army transferred the land to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2000, establishing the Refuge.

• Habitat: Since then, the Refuge has become home to freshwater wetlands, oak and pine forest, and shrubland.
• Wildlife: These environments support many types of wildlife, including wading birds, songbirds, raptors, beaver, bobcat, white-tailed deer, and various reptiles and amphibians.
• Proceeds: Proceeds from this race will help fund improvements to three refuge sites in MA and a volunteer coordinator.

🎉 Post-Race Festivities

Details to come.

👟 Presented by the Highland City Striders

We are runners in Hudson, Marlborough, and surrounding communities. Founded in 2002, our members meet several times weekly to run various distances for fun and to keep in shape!

• Fun and Fitness: We run, recover, have fun, and laugh together.
• Non-Profit: The Highland City Striders is a non-profit 501(C)3. All race profits will go to local charities.
• Partnership: We are also working closely with Friends of Woodlands and Waters, a non-profit working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support our refuges.
• Get Involved: Check out their site to learn more and get involved!

For more information about the race, please visit the official website: Race for the Refuge.