Zen Squirrel Trail Run
Date
Sat, May 16, 2026, 8:00 AM EDTRace options
3 distancesTap any distance below for fee tiers and close dates.
Quick take
Discover the roots of Roadless Races at the Zen Squirrel Trail Run, featuring challenging trails and a vibrant post-race celebration in Chapel Hill.
Best for: casual, fun-first runners, runners who like a competitive edge
Race options
Distances & registration
3 optionsTap a distance to see fee tiers and close dates.
10 Mile
closes May 16, 2026, 4:00 AM EDT
6d 3h 50m leftGeneral entry
Closes May 16, 2026, 4:00 AM EDT · From $59.55
5 Mile
closes May 16, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT
6d 4h 20m leftGeneral entry
Closes May 16, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT · From $48.95
2 Mile
closes May 16, 2026, 4:45 AM EDT
6d 4h 35m leftGeneral entry
Closes May 16, 2026, 4:45 AM EDT · From $40.47
Race feel
- Fun
- Scenic
- Competitive
Fun
Scenic
CompetitiveGreat for
- Faith & Community
Faith & CommunityThe 7th Annual Zen Squirrel Trail Run invites runners to explore the extensive trails of Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, NC. This event, offering 2, 5, and 10-mile distances, combines the thrill of challenging terrain with a welcoming atmosphere. Expect a mix of smooth dirt paths, technical single-track, and invigorating hill climbs. After your run, enjoy a lively post-race celebration with food, music, and an awards ceremony, plus a free kids race.
What to expect
Past results at a glance
Past race snapshot
What the field usually feels like
Based on past public results. Helpful context, not a prediction.
Selected year + distance
55 finishers in 2 Miles
Ranked by chip time when available
Very small finish count here - use this as loose context, not a race-day expectation.
Crowd
Small field
55 2 Miles finishers. A quieter race where the pack may spread out more quickly.
Typical finish
27:10
Middle-of-pack benchmark using chip time when available.
Competitive feel
Lively front
The faster end moves well, but the race still has room for everyday runners. Front-group read: 18:23.
People mix
More women
About 65% women and 35% men among finishers who listed gender.
Quick read
For the 2 Miles in 2025, this looks like a small field: 55 finishers in this data set. A middle-of-the-pack finish was around 27:10. The quicker front of the field averaged about 18:23. Use it as a feel check, not a promise about race day.
Fastest finishers in this file: 16:03 (male) and 17:42 (female).
Show historical award cutoffs3 rows
Cutoff = slowest posted time still inside the top finishers for a division.
| Division | Gender | Top N | Cutoff | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Unspecified | Top 3 | 17:42 | finish-order sample |
| Female | Female | Top 3 | 20:48 | finish-order sample |
| Male | Male | Top 3 | 18:37 | finish-order sample |
Show the year-by-year numbers
| Distance | Year | Finishers | Typical | Average | Front 10% | Fastest M / W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Miles | 2025 | 55 | 27:10 | 28:35 | 18:23 | 16:03 / 17:42 |
| 2 Miles | 2024 | 72 | 27:53 | 28:15 | 18:26 | 17:18 / 18:20 |
| 2 Miles | 2019 | 32 | 26:46 | 29:18 | 18:49 | 18:22 / 23:41 |
| 5 Miles | 2025 | 84 | 59:02 | 1:01:12 | 43:26 | 37:12 / 42:55 |
| 5 Miles | 2024 | 115 | 57:22 | 59:00 | 38:57 | 34:45 / 40:35 |
| 5 Miles | 2019 | 163 | 1:00:25 | 1:03:23 | 46:17 | 39:30 / 46:50 |
| 10 Miles | 2025 | 34 | 1:55:24 | 1:57:48 | 1:27:15 | 1:23:03 / 1:35:22 |
| 10 Miles | 2024 | 65 | 1:58:59 | 1:58:53 | 1:27:13 | 1:17:56 / 1:34:14 |
| 10 Miles | 2019 | 60 | 1:47:40 | 1:50:35 | 1:22:33 | 1:16:39 / 1:27:09 |
Last summary update: May 9, 2026
Ready to register?
Finish signup on the organizer site (check fees and dates there).
From the organizer
The 7th Annual Zen Squirrel Trail Run is where it all started for Roadless Races in 2019, and it's BACK! Offering 2 mile, 5 mile, and 10 mile distance options, this race brings together trail runners for fun, challenge, and healthy competition.
Read full descriptionHide full description
Runners will be treated to some awesome courses that include a mixture of smooth and flowing dirt trails, rock and root strewn single-track, and challenging hill climbs. After finishing the race, enjoy post-race food, great music, a free kids race, and an awards ceremony with fun contests and lots of giveaways. Sprawling over 900 acres and located on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC , Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. In addition to 20+ miles of fantastic trails at Briar Chapel, centrally located Great Meadow Park , with its beautiful lawn, stage, and pavilion, offers a perfect setting area to start and finish a race.
Food & Drink