Runners of all ages can show off their fancy footwork at the 12th Annual Golden Heart Trail Run on Saturday, August 24, at Birch Hill Recreation Area.

The Golden Heart Trail Run, organized by the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks, is the only race in Running Club North’s Usibelli Series held solely on trails. If that weren’t incentive enough, the course includes hay bales that runners can hurdle over or run around. The run is great for runners of all ages and for cross-country skiers who typically race Birch Hill trails only when covered in snow.

The event includes prizes for top overall male and female donated by Beaver Sports and In My Element, random door prizes donated by Woolly Rhino and Goldstream Sports, and ice cream after the race donated by Trax Outdoor Center. A special thanks to our title sponsors, Dr. Kathleen Carey of the Tanana Valley Clinic, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine department and Metropolitan Garage.

Three races of different distances will be held, with the first one starting at 10 a.m. The schedule for the day of race:

  • 9 – 10:30 a.m. : Bib pick up and day-of-race registration
  • 10 a.m. : 1 km (ages 7 and under)
  • 10:15 a.m. : 2.5 km (ages 8 to 14)
  • 10:45 a.m. : 5 km (ages 15 and older)

Registration fees for kids 14 and under are always $15. Other fees are:

  • $20 for 15 and older until August 21
  • $25 for 15 and older August 22 and 23
  • $30 for 15 and older August 24 (race day)

Early bib pick-up is at Beaver Sports, Aug 22, 4:30-7:00 pm. Online registration is open until the morning of the race. People can register at either:

The Golden Heart Trail Run also serves as a fundraiser for NSCF-FXC, the junior race-training program of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks.