The XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series has a simple formula for its success – great trails, great runners and great weather. That combination has made the SoCal Series the largest and most popular series on the XTERRA Trail Run circuit.
The XTERRA SoCal Series drew more than 4,000 trail runners last year. Given the choice between dodging traffic on the roads of Southern California or heading for the uncrowded hills, it’s easy to see why the trail races are growing in popularity.
“There are obviously a lot of people living in Southern California, and because of the weather, a lot of them like to be outdoors,” series director Brennan Lindner said. “We’ve been fortunate to find a bunch of trails that people enjoy and we try to make it fun so they keep coming back.”
Each race in the series offers a short course for beginners and sprinters, and a long course for experienced endurance runners. The short courses usually range between 5 and 10 kilometers; the long courses range from 15 to 22 kilometers and feature some of the most challenging – and scenic – trails in Southern California.
All of the races in the SoCal Series are open to runners of all ages and skill levels. “All the good things you hear about it from everybody else are true,” said Amy Galbraith, a 69-year-old runner who enters nearly every race in the SoCal Series. “You’re outside, so it’s more of an adventure. And it’s more of a challenge with all the terrain.”
To register for a race in the SoCal Series, or to learn more about it, please visit www.trailrace.com.
XTERRA Laguna Beach Trail Run - 6/13K
Laguna Beach, CA, US
XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot Trail Run - 5/10/15K
Topanga, CA, US
XTERRA Crystal Cove Trail Run - 6/15K
Laguna Beach, CA, US
1. XTERRA Racing Age is the age you will be on August 31st of the series season. (The old date was December 31.) We need to fix a firm age for the year so people won’t race in January at one age and in August at another if they have a birthday in-between. For example: If you are 29 in Feb, but turn 30 on Aug. 20th, you will be racing in the 30-34 division all season.
XTERRA Trail Run Series age groups: <9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+, Physically Challenged.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Races scheduled after September 1, will become part of the following year’s XTR Series.
2. Enter as many XTERRA Trail Runs as you can – In order to be eligible for the XTERRA Regional Champion title for your age group, you must compete in at least two trail runs within a given series. You should run in as many events within the regional series as possible to score maximum points.
If your regional series consists of 3 races, all 3 races will count towards your points
If your regional series consists of 4 or more races, we will drop one of the events from your score:
It’s not mandatory that you race in all events in your Series, but your chances of winning the region are much better if you do. You will be allocated “0” points for races in your Series that you do not enter.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If there are two race distances offered on the same day, only the longer distance event counts for points. For example, if there is a 5k and a 15k race on the same day, only the 15k will count for points. Exception: All races 21km and over will receive points. For example, if there is a 21km and a 42km race, both will get points.
3. Accumulate Points –Points are awarded to the top 15 finishers in each age group. Please see the points breakdown below. Current standings will be posted after each event. Points stay within the region you raced in and do not transfer (For example – if you won XTERRA Thrill in the Hills you’d get 100 points in the Georgia Series. Then you won the XTERRA Mission Gorge Trail Run and earned 100 points in SoCal Series. You would have 100 points in each Series).
XTERRA TRAIL RUN SERIES POINTS- awarded to each age group
4. Count ‘em Up! – The athlete with the most points- by gender and age group- after the last race in the Series earns the title of XTERRA Trail Run Series Champion and earns free entry into the XTERRA National Championship in Ogden, Utah in September. Series Champs can also race for free in the 5k or 10k offered at Nationals if they wish, but only the 21km is considered the national championship race.
6. Tie Breakers – Ties in point standings will be settled by:
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR XTERRA TRAIL RUNNING NATIONALS
The XTERRA Trail Running National Championship at Ogden, Utah, is open to runners of all ages and skill levels, even those who do not compete in a regional series during the year. There is no qualifying process. However, only the regional champions are eligible to receive a free entry to nationals.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR XTERRA TRAIL RUNNING WORLDS
The XTERRA Trail Running World Championship at Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii, is open to runners of all ages and skill levels, even those who do not compete in a regional series during the year. There is no qualifying process.
If it’s not necessary to qualify for Nationals or Worlds, why set a qualifying standard?
Couple of reasons. 1) We wanted to recognize those runners that completed a half-marathon in the time allotted because that’s a great achievement 2) We wanted to tie-in all the half-marathons (your race leads to U.S. Nationals and all of them lead to Worlds) so by the time we get to Worlds we’ll have this great international field of runners with good vibes and great competition 3) Because this is just year nine of the Series, and we believe someday the demand will be such that we’ll have to limit the number of runners in the Championship races (understand that at some parks there are limits to the # of participants you’re allowed to put on a trail). When this happens, qualifying for the Championship races will be necessary.
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