Run around the Highland Lakes in Capt’n Karl’s Trail Series
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — After subjecting folks to a series of trail runs during the night and through the countryside, Capt’n Karl’s Trail Series director Brad Quinn is wrapping up the summer event in style.
Basically, he’s throwing the runners a party. Of course, they still have to run.
The four-race series culminates Sept. 6 at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet. Competitors can chose among three distances: 10K, 30K and 60K. The races feature a night course as a way to evade, but not totally avoid, the Texas summer heat.
As for the final event, Quinn and organizers have created a festive atmosphere for the race.
“It’s such an incredible venue with the pavilion and lake right there,” he said. “We want to take advantage of it as much as we can.”
Along with running, competitors and fans can enjoy some bluegrass music featuring the Hill Country Gentleman.
“And the Pedernales Brewing Co. is brewing up a keg of beer for us,” Quinn added. Of course, it’s for after the race.
Oh yeah, among all the fun and festivities there is a race. Actually three of them as previously noted.
The Capt’n Karl Trail series started several years ago with a handful of runners daring the night courses. But as word spread about the series and the courses, more and more runners began heading for the hills and the Highland Lakes.
The series features four events this summer starting with Pedernales Falls State Park and followed by Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area and Colorado Bend State Park.
More than 400 competed in the Pedernales Falls event across the three races. The other two races drew about 300 runners.
The Reveille Peak venue features a strong mix of single-track trails as well as some service roads. But runners will find it a technical course with lots of outcroppings and an elevation climb and descent of more than 2,800 feet.
“It’s definitely a challenging course,” Quinn said.
The 60K race starts at 7 p.m. followed by the 30K at 7:15 p.m. and the 10K at 7:30 p.m.
There also will be a kids fun run at 7:45 p.m.
Go to runthehillcountry.com to register, volunteer or for more information.
But if trail running isn’t quite your thing and you enjoy a little road running, the Hill Country Marathon is right around the corner. Quinn, one of the organizers, said last year’s inaugural event was a big success with lots of positive feedback from competitors.
This year, the event sticks with the same course that takes off Oct. 19 from Marble Falls High School stadium, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls.
But if a marathon seems a bit long, the Hill Country Marathon features half-marathon and 10K distances.
The course takes runners out of the high school stadium to Mormon Mill Road via a back entrance to the high school. Runners continue north on Mormon Mill Road to CR 340 and east on CR 341 before returning to the stadium (for half-marathoners). Marathoners will come back to CR 340 and head north for a ways before returning to Mustang Stadium.
The 10K turnaround is on CR 340 before the CR 341 intersection.
Quinn mixes the event with a dash of music as there will be two bands performing at locations along the course.
“People really enjoyed that,” he said. “And we’ll have the Blue Bonnet Cafe pies again this year.”
Last year, 492 people took part in the inaugural event, but Quinn said those numbers could swell has high as 700 or even more.
“Everything went incredibly well last year,” he said.
Go to the above website to register and for more information. If you’re not a runner but still want to be a part of the event, check out the volunteer opportunities.
daniel@thepicayune.com