faster for foster

about the race

Thank you for your interest in our 2nd annual "Faster For Foster" trail race benefitting New To You, Inc! New To You is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports foster children in middle TN; some of the things we provide to foster children include clothing, diapers, personal items, furniture and tuition for trade school so you all should feel really good about electing to sweat a bit to help us help children in our community. 100% of the proceeds from this race will go directly to helping foster children in our area! FOSTER CHILDREN & FOSTER FAMILIES RUN FOR FREE so spread the word to any local foster families that you know :)

**Please DO NOT register as a foster child/family if you are not - this means we will raise less money to help children and that would make us sad. We are using the honor system for this registration**

logistics

Both races will be held on the trails at Preservation Park in Thompson's Station, TN. The 10k race will do the 5k course twice. This is a dog friendly race AND we welcome walkers, hikers & runners of all ages :)

PACKET PICK UP (FRIDAY APRIL 18):

FLEET FEET COOL SPRINGS 4:00-6:30pm
545 Cool Springs Blvd, Suite 161, Franklin, TN 37067
Pick up any race day needs and thank the folks there for sponsoring our race & awards!

PACKET PICK UP (SATURDAY/RACE DAY): PRESERVATION PARK 7:00-7:45am
1600 Thompson's Station Rd West, Thompson’s Station, TN

**You MUST put "West" in the directions or you will end up in the wrong place**

RACE DAY (SATURDAY APRIL 19)

LOCATION: Preservation Park, 1600 Thompson’s Station Road WEST, Thompsons, Station, TN 37179
*You must put "WEST" in the address or you’ll end up in the wrong place*
Park in the gravel parking lot at the main entrance; packet pick up & start line at pavilion inside of the fence (short walk from parking). Bathrooms are about a 0.15 mile walk from the parking lot. But they are REAL bathrooms so they're worth it :)

PACKET PICK UP 7:00-7:45am

LINE UP TO START/PRE-RACE COMMENTS & COURSE DESCRIPTION 7:55am

RACE START: BOTH 5k & 10K start at 8:00am

AWARDS: Immediately to follow the conclusion of the 5k and after the finish of the top 3 overall FM/M/K9 in the 10k

course description

The course will be marked extensively with orange or pink flags on the ground - follow those & you won't get lost. If there is a turn or something confusing coming up, there will be lots of flags bunched together. If it's relatively straightforward they will be more spread out. If you have not seen a flag in over a quarter of a mile, go back to where you saw the last one. Do not blindly follow the person in front of you - this is the most common way that people go off course (myself included). Please follow the rules of leave no trace - don't litter, don't pick any flowers, and don't go off trail.

The first 2(ish) miles of the race are on a grass/cross country type surface or gravel jeep road. This part of the race has wide trails with plenty of room for people & pups of all paces. The course is a looped course with a short out-and-back around mile 1.25-1.75. You will run out towards the Mars Dog Park on the Railroad Trail; you'll have to go single file through an opening in a fence near a trailhead sign (it will be flagged). Just beyond this you will run under a train track bridge to your water stop at mile 1.5 - this is your turnaround spot - get a high 5 from New To You's president & Co Founder Ryan :) We will be writing down bibb numbers at this stop to verify you did the out and back portion. After this you'll head back the way you came and then take a right to head up a short but sweet hill to the actual "trail" portion of the race on the Depot Trail. The last mile(ish) is on technical trail - if you are new to trail running PLEASE remember to look down & slow down, as rocks, roots, etc. are affectionately known as trail snipers and have taken many a runner out (myself included). This part of the trail is narrow, and hopefully by now the traffic will have thinned out but on the off chance it hasn't please announce your intention to anyone you're wanting to pass by saying "on your left"; and if you are being passed, please yield to the faster runner so that they can get by. This is a dog friendly race because everyone knows dogs make the best runners, but please keep your dog on leash and be respectful of everyone in the race by keeping them from tripping people up if you're in tight quarters. Enjoy the wildflowers and the scenery on this wooded section - it's one of my favorite areas in the park! As you emerge from the woods you will then run down towards "the big hill" (you'll know it when you see it) and then up "the big hill" (the views & the downhill to the finish are worth it, I promise!). Then run down the backside of "the big hill" to a really fun ALL DOWNHILL finish back to the pavilion; when you spy the red barns you'll know you're close! Finish at the start line. 10k-ers, rinse & repeat :)

awards

Good awards of moderate monetary value will be given for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place FM, M & dog overall in each race.

Awards of less monetary value but of equal congratulatory intent will be given to 1st place FM/M in the following age group categories in each race: 12 and under; 13-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70-79; 80-89

strava route