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

• Trail Type: The double track trails are a mix of dirt and gravel.
• Beginners: It’s a great course for beginner trail runners.
• Advanced Runners: For the advanced trail runner, it could be an opportunity for a new PR!

Events

• Race Types: The lineup features a 10K (1 loop) and 30K (3 loops) races, and a 6-hour timed event.
• Timed Event: 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.
• Final Lap: Runners in the 6-hour race must start their last lap by 2pm.

Awards

• Top Finishers: The top male, female, and nonbinary runner from each of the events (10k, 30k, and 6-hour) will receive a prize.
• Large Teams: The largest team will also be celebrated, so please encourage friends and fellow club members to join you!

Race Day Rules

• Pets: Dogs are not permitted on Refuge lands, so please leave your pooch at home.
• Children: This event is family-friendly but children must be supervised.
• Waste Management: This will be a cupless race to eliminate waste on the course. Any fuel, such as gel packets, should be carried in and packed out.
• Course Compliance: All runners must stay on the marked course.

Aid Stations and Course Marking

• Aid Station Items: 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.
• Location: The main aid station will be at the Start/Finish line, and a second aid station at Taylor Road is about halfway through the loop.
• Course Marking: The course will be well marked for the runners with two course marshals at key turns.

Pacers

• Eligibility: Pacers are allowed to assist runners in the 6-hour race only.
• Registration: They must complete an online or paper registration form.
• Pacer Bib: Upon arrival, the pacer will check in and receive a pacer bib.
• No Muling: One pacer at a time per runner, and no muling is allowed.

Cancelation and Refunds

• Policy: There are no deferrals and no refunds.
• Entry Fee: Your entry fee will be considered a charitable donation.
• Notification: If you are unable to join us, please cancel using RunSignUp or contact the race directors via email.

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.

Since then, the Refuge has become home to freshwater wetlands, oak and pine forest, and shrubland that support many types of wildlife, including wading birds, songbirds, raptors, beaver, bobcat, white-tailed deer, and various reptiles and amphibians.

Proceeds from this race will help fund improvements to three refuge sites in MA and a volunteer coordinator who will assist visitors to the refuge with nature education and programming.

Post-Race Festivities

Join us and your fellow runners for post race festivities and complementary snacks at Clover Road Brewing in Hudson, MA! Each race entry comes with a FREE BEER ticket for use at Clover Road the day of the race.

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! We run, recover, have fun, and laugh together. The Highland City Striders is a non-profit 501(C)3. All race profits will go to local charities.

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. Check out their site to learn more and get involved!

For updates and more information, visit Race for the Refuge.