A Halloween-themed trail race that takes runners through the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in eastern New York State, the Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon and Squirrelly Six-Mile Run have something for everyone when it comes to trail running races — plenty of challenging hills, deep woods forest lands to run through, wet and inclement weather conditions at times, and plenty of natural beauty surrounding you as you run.
Organizers caution that this isn’t a race you should be looking to set any personal records at — the course will take much longer to complete than a road race.
The event’s two races follow an out-and-back loop course through John Boyd Thacher State Park, whose Helderburg escarpment is known as one of the richest fossil-bearing rock formations on earth, and whose trails offer runners, hikers and backpackers panoramic views of the nearby Hudson and Mohawk River valleys.
