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Mississippi Bar Trail Run
COVID-19 TRAIL RUN UDPATE
The Mississippi Bar Trail Run will still currently take place as scheduled. Please click the link above to stay up to date and also learn about how participate as a virtual runner!
Saturday, june 6, 2020
7:30am | Mississippi Bar | Fair Oaks, CA
The Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District is proud to present the 1st Annual Mississippi Bar Trail Run, a 5K and 10K trail run through the wetlands, oaks and single track on the north shore of Lake Natoma. This beautiful area in Fair Oaks once mined by gold prospectors is a real gem for outdoor enthusiasts and is a great location for hikes, bird watching, horseback rides, mountain biking and, of course, trail running.
The Mississippi Bar Trail Run is a great run for both beginning and experienced trail runners!
SUPPORT A LOCAL FAIR OAKS CAUSE
Proceeds of the event support our beneficiary, the Rachel Anne Gray Memorial Scholarship. Learn more about this incredible cause and how to donate below.
get involved with us
This first-ever trail run in Fair Oaks will bring together avid runners throughout the Sacramento area. Find out how you can be part of the action by becoming a sponsor or vendor or by volunteering at the event.
Situated on the north shore of Lake Natoma, Mississippi Bar makes for a beautiful yet challenging trail run prospect! This race highlights the unique natural features that make our area truly one of a kind: the rocky, open terrain evidence of a gold mining past; the meandering trails of the American River enjoyed in all seasons by outdoor enthusiasts; and the rolling, oak-studded hills that define the beloved Fair Oaks bluffs.
5K Course Features
The 5K course ventures up into the oak-lined bluffs that consist of single and double track trails with some areas of steep elevation change (incline and decline). From atop the bluffs, you will have beautiful views of Lake Natoma and the unique rock dredge trails left behind by gold prospectors. The descent will take you into the back half of the course which will run along a flat access road and back into the main event area.
10K Course Features
The 10K course will include the 5K course while also expanding into the wetlands of Mississippi Bar and along the shores of the lake. This route will occur on single and double track trails and access roads, consisting of extruding river rock, gravel, mild switchbacks, and minimal elevation changes.
virtual run
In the spirit of what this trail run is all about – being healthy, having fun, and taking on a challenge for an important cause – we are offering the option to participate in this event on YOUR own time in YOUR own way as a virtual runner! You can run, skip, jog, or walk our two distances (5K/10K) in whichever way you are most comfortable with. It’s your race, on your terms! Whether you’re on the trail, the treadmill, the sidewalk, or at the park – go the distance and accomplish the goal!
Water & Aid Stations
Aid stations will be set up at locations along both courses.
THIS IS A CUP-LESS RACE!
Help us minimize waste and improve the race experience by bringing your own preferred hydration device.
NO STROLLERS OR PETS!
Due to the nature of the trails, we do not permit strollers or pets on the race courses.
entry fees
| Before 4/15 | After 4/15 | Race Day | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | $35 | $40 | $45 |
| 10K | $40 | $45 | $50 |
| Virtual 5K | $35 | $35 | $35 |
| Virtual 10K | $40 | $40 | $40 |
*Registration is managed through Race Roster. Click "Register to Race" above or visit the website here.
EVENT SCHEDULE
| 6:30 am | Registration/Packet Pick-Up |
| 7:30 am | Start of 10K Race |
| 8:30 am | Start of 5K Race |
| *Winners will be announced at the end of each race. |
LOCATION
9500 sUNSET AVE., FAIR OAKS, CA 95628
The entrance to the Mississippi Bar event area is at the intersection of Sunset & Main Avenues in Fair Oaks, CA.
Traveling east or west on Highway 50, look for the Hazel Ave. exit (21) and take Hazel north to Sunset Ave. Turn right on Sunset and follow the street past Phoenix Park on your right all the way down until you reach the intersection with Main Ave.
PARKING
Event parking is FREE! At the intersection of Sunset & Main, proceed through the designated access road entrance and follow event staff to the event parking area. Once in the lot, staff will help direct you to an open spot.
*Note: There is no parking along Sunset or Main or near the entrance to the event. Carpooling is strongly encouraged!
RACE TIMING
Our races will be using chip technology with live results and runner tracking brought to you by Capital Road Race Management, the premier professional race management company throughout Northern California, Nevada, and Hawaii. You can learn more about them and the other races they serve below.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
All entry fees are non-refundable and may not be transferred to future races. However, entries may be transferred to other individuals (managed through our Race Roster website). There are NO exceptions to the non-refundable policy.
Packet Pick-Up
Friday, June 5, 2020 | 12 - 7 pm
Fleet Feet Folsom Location - more details soon to come.
RACHEL ANNE GRAY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
In honor of Rachel Anne Gray, a cherished member of Fair Oaks who has left a lasting impact on our community, the Gray family along with the Fair Oaks Youth Advisory Board and FORPD are proud to host the Rachel Anne Gray Memorial Scholarship Program to acknowledge young people who are committed to community and school service and who seek positive solutions to the critical problems and issues today’s youth face.
Rachel, who passed away on September 2nd, 2012 at the age of 21, was an active individual in our community and her spirit of living life to the fullest each day continues to make a difference in the people she touched.
Please help us by donating to support the three scholarships in Rachel’s name that have been awarded annually since 2015 to deserving high school students in Fair Oaks.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to promote at this event!
You have a chance to be one of the first sponsors at this new, annual trail run in Fair Oaks.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please take a look at our sponsor packet below and submit any inquiries to Race Director, Nick Davison, at ndavison@forpd.org.
Are you interested in being a vendor at this event?
We have a long history of partnering with local businesses and would love to work with you! Please check back here soon for more information.
Please submit any inquiries to the Race Director, Nick Davison, at ndavison@forpd.org.
Are you or your organization looking for a way to help?
We need volunteers like you to make this event a success! Areas include:
- Registration / Results - helping the check-in & final results process
- Parking Attendants / Shirts & Medals - parking in the early morning & passing out shirts & medals at the end of the race
- Course Monitors - standing at crucial intersections & cheering on the runners
if you already have a volunteer profile with the District:
Log in to your profile and find the event in the June 2020 calendar. From there you can select an assignment.
if YOU NEED TO REGISTER AS A DISTRICT VOLUNTEER for the first time:
Fill out and submit a volunteer application. You will receive further instructions upon confirmation of your application.
Have further questions?
Email our volunteer staff or call us at 916-966-1036. Thank you for your support!
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be an experienced trail runner?
No. While both courses feature a few areas of steep but relatively short elevation inclines/declines, it is accessible to most people comfortable with the overall distance and aware that trail runs are by nature different than road races. Please consult our trail maps to learn more about the course itself and what to expect. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned veteran, we think you will enjoy the unique aspects of each course and find that the challenge is worth the effort!
Will the course be marked?
Yes! We will provide ample markings on the course so that all you as a runner have to focus on is the path ahead! We will also use volunteers with signs at key turns and switchbacks to help guide you.
Do you have aid stations?
Yes! We will have aid and water fill-up stations. Check back with us closer to race day for updated information on the location of these stations along the course.
Do I need to bring my own hydration pack or water bottle?
Yes! While we will be providing water stations at locations on the race, this is a cup-less race! This means we intend to cut back waste by offering fill-up stations only and encouraging racers to bring their own water bottles and hydration packs. You can also purchase an optional HydraPouch®, a portable clip-on race cup, on the Race Roster registration page.
Can I run with a baby stroller?
Unfortunately, the race is NOT suitable for baby strollers.
Can I run with a pet?
Unfortunately, the race does NOT allow pets. However, we gladly permit service animals!
Can I wear headphones?
Yes. However, for your safety and the safety of all participants, we ask that you keep the volume down at a safe level so you can hear other runners and instructions from event personnel. As this race takes place on some narrow trails it is important for you to be aware of your surroundings, including other runners coming up behind you.
Are there tracks of the course available?
We currently have the preliminary course maps available through AllTrails linked below. From there you can download any number of GPS-related files like GPX, Google Earth, Garmin, etc. for use on your own smartphone, smartwatch, or other device.
Are THERE awards for winners?
Yes. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each division will be announced upon completion of each race. Check back here for more information on age brackets and divisions.
Do I need to wear my race bib during the race?
Yes, you are required to run with your bib number. The chip attached to your bib is used for live timing and results, identification, and race photos. Our race utilizes chip timing technology brought to you by Capital Road Race Management, the premier race event management company across Northern California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Learn more about them and the other races they serve below.
What time should we be there on race day?
Packet pick up opens at 6:30 a.m. We recommend you get there at that time to get your packet and get ready for the race.
Can I get a refund?
No. All entry fees are non-refundable and may not be transferred to future races. There are NO exceptions to the non-refundable policy.
If I cannot race, can I transfer my entry to someone else?
Yes. Race entries may be transferred to other individuals for THIS race only. Transferring race entries is managed through Race Roster.
Can I sign up with a team?
Of course! We encourage anyone interested in forming or joining a team to do so through the registration process on Race Roster.
Is event parking free?
Event parking is FREE! At the intersection of Sunset & Main, proceed through the designated access road entrance and follow event staff to the event parking area. Once in the lot, staff will help direct you to an open spot.
Will there be bathrooms at the race?
Yes. Portable stalls will be located in the main event area for patron and racer use. However, as this is a trail race there will not be bathrooms available on the course.
WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH FURTHER QUESTIONS?
If there is a question you have that has not been answered here, please contact our Race Director, Nick Davison, at ndavison@forpd.org or 916-966-1036 during the week.