It's Time For the Dirty Spokes Mayhem on the Mountain Trail Run
Registration is Open! We will have a participant cap of 325 Runners Due to parking and getting that many runners into the woods!
The NEW Trail System will allow you to experience the North Georgia Mountains without having to drive an hour or two away! Forsyth Co. Parks and Recreation Department has done an amazing job with this new park and trail system!
We´re excited to present the 8th Annual Dirty Spokes 5.15 and 3.0 Mile Trail Running Race at Sawnee Mountain (New Trail System / Bettis Tribble Gap Road) in Cumming, Ga.
Directions to the Park!
DIRECTIONS
Sawnee Mtn
2505 Bettis Tribble Gap Road
Cumming, Ga. 30040
When you enter Sawnee Mtn drive straight in and towards the back of the park. Registration and the Start / Finish will take place near the trail head (next to the playground). We will use the parking lot across the street on Bettis Tribble Gap Road as overflow. Once the two parking lots on Bettis Tribble Gap Road fill we will use the Sawnee Nature Preserve as Overflow (we will have a shuttle providing transportation from the Nature Preserve Parking lot before and after the race)!
Packet Pick Up!
PACKET PICKUP
Packet pickup will be the morning of the race starting at 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Race starts at 8:30 a.m. SHARP!
5.15 Mile Race Course!
5.15 Milers: We’ll run this “Course in Pain Management” in a counter-clockwise direction.
Starting on the asphalt paved drive (next to the playground) and run downhill towards the park entrance about .15 miles (required for spacing) and then turn left into the woods and enter "Hilltop Trail" (a new trail with freshly exposed roots and loosely-compacted dirt/rocks). The trail narrows briefly to single-track through trail markers 2 and 3 (note: the blue trail markers are about .10 mile apart) then reopens to double-track for the rest of the course. A descent between trail markers 6 and 8 dumps you onto an old access road – the lowest point of the course. The next half-mile is a gradual climb over a few rocky, obstacle-style, dry creek crossings that’ll will bring you up to “Mountainside Trail” (at 1.5 miles). This is where the short and long distances split (short course will make a hard left and the long course continues straight). Over the next 1.5 miles the trail will treat you to a series of roller-coaster rises and falls (and a few switchbacks) as you ascend to the ridgeline – where you’ll emerge from the shadow of the mountain… only to discover you’re not at the top. (Enter BEAST MODE.) The next 120 ft of vertical climbing might have you wondering if a Sherpa jumped onto your back. It’s not until the trail turns east off the ridgeline, that it mercifully begins to dance across the southern face of the mountain. At 3.5 miles, Tower Road will rise out of the thin mountain air to greet you – cross it. A rocky half-mile later (and 180 ft lower) you’ll merge with the short course (joining from the left) at the top of “Ridgeline Trail” (only about a mile from the finish). Continue straight. “Ridgeline Trail” is a technical descent with a generous dose of rocks and roots to keep you from day-dreaming. And the rise in this trail is no illusion; it’s the mountain’s last chance to break your spirit before letting you descend to the finish chute – where you’ll be wondering why the spectator’s are so overdressed for January.
3.0 Mile Race Course!
3.0 Milers: We’ll run this “Course in Pain Management” in a counter-clockwise direction.
Starting on the asphalt paved drive (next to the playground) and run downhill towards the park entrance about .15 miles (required for spacing) and then turn left into the woods and enter "Hilltop Trail" (a new trail with freshly exposed roots and loosely-compacted dirt/rocks). The trail narrows briefly to single-track through trail markers 2 and 3 (note: the blue trail markers are about .10 mile apart) then reopens to double-track for the rest of the course. A descent between trail markers 6 and 8 dumps you onto an old access road – the lowest point of the course. The next half-mile is a gradual climb over a few rocky, obstacle-style, dry creek crossings that’ll will bring you up to “Mountainside Trail” (at 1.5 miles). This is where the short and long distances split (short course will make a hard left and the long course continues straight). After the hard left off “Hilltop Trail” and onto “Mountainside Trail”, the trail scrambles 200 ft up the east face of the mountain. The trail tops out a half mile later and a descending turn sweeps eastward, funneling you onto “Ridgeline Trail” – where you’ll merge with the long course (only about a mile from the finish). “Ridgeline Trail” is a technical descent with a generous dose of rocks and roots to keep you from day-dreaming. And the rise in this trail is no illusion; it’s the mountain’s last chance to break your spirit before letting you descend to the finish chute – where you’ll be wondering why the spectator’s are so overdressed for January.
The course is beautiful and offers something for every runner truly wishing to ´ditch the city´. Nestled in the woods of suburban Atlanta lies a true gem. Well groomed system of trails with gentle slopes and beautiful scenery will leave you breathless (if that doesn´t, the 5.15/3.0 miles will). Once you descend into the woods, you will forget your in the city. As a matter of fact, you will come to know why we follow the creed ´Ditch the City´.
Event's current local time: 6:14 AM ET
