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Michigan > The Trail Half Marathon
Pinckney, MI • Saturday, April 27, 2013 • Course Map
Join more than a thousand or so fellow trail runners along the winding single-track trails inside Michigan's Pinckney State Recreation Area at The Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5-Mile Race, which will celebrate its 25th annual running this year through the wilderness area known to locals as the "Protto" and to the rest of us as Potowatami Trail.
Used year-round for hiking, mountain biking and even cross-country skiing in the winter, the Potowatami Trail is considered a relatively forgiving trail for runners -- it has a handful of hilly stretches -- and also crosses roadways three times, which helps make the Running Fit Trail Race events particularly spectator-friendly.
The course for the half marathon portion of the race starts at Silver Lake in the Pinckney Recreation Area, on Silver Hill Road, and follows a 13.1-mile loop route through the wooded forest lands of lower Michigan, and past a number of lakes and streams. The trail is a dirt trail but it's also very well-groomed, with aid stations set out about every three miles, and wide enough to allow runners who wish to pass to be on their way at their own speed.
At the finish line for the race, there's a big lake that runners can jump in and wash themselves off, which can be an especially nice treat if there's any sort of wet or muddy weather -- and the weather can be unpredictable. In past years, the event has seen conditions ranging from sunny and mild to sleet and snow and everything in between, so come prepared for incelement weather.
Organizers limit the number of participants in the trail half and full marathons to 1,000 runners -- and it's open to runners only -- so be sure to apply online or get your application in well ahead of the deadline. The half-marathoners have it a little easier than the full marathoners with the starting time; the half marathon begins at 8:00 AM on Saturday, while the full marathon, 50K and the 5-mile race are run on Sunday.
Race Weather & Climate
Set along the edge of the Pinckney State Recreation Area in southern Michigan, about 15 miles northwest of nearby Ann Arbor, Pinckney tends to see mild to moderately warm and occasionally cold weather conditions in the late spring, with occasional showers and storms.
In April, average monthly temperatures range between 60°F and 38°F -- on the day of the race (April 27), the average high is 63°F and the average low is 41°F -- while precipitation amounts (which, in some years, means snow) average just over 3.2 inches for the month.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Trail Half Marathon
Fees
$39 for the half marathon, if registered by March 14, 2013
$44 between March 15 - 12 noon, April 25
$50 on April 26
Registration
To reserve your spot in the spring 2013 running of Pinckney's Trail Marathon, Half Marathon or 5-mile race, visit the event website.
Official Race Website
www.trailmarathon.com
Leave a Comment
Ever run in Michigan's annual Trail Marathon or Half Marathon?
Share your impressions, stories and tips from the event.
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