DuPont 12K Trail Race: Why You Need to Sign Up

The 19th annual Dupont Trail Race will take place on Saturday, March 30th this year, and for those of you who haven’t run it yet, this is the year to sign up.

Why? Because it’s 7.4 miles of awesomeness through beautiful Dupont State Recreational Forest, which is less than an hour’s drive south of Asheville (between Hendersonville and Brevard). The terrain is challenging but not too technical, so it’s a perfect first time trail race. I ran it as my first trail race last year and I definitely felt challenged, but not defeated. The course was enjoyable and easy to follow, and there were these amazing chocolate chip cookies at the end so I’ll definitely do it again this year.

Asheville firefighter Mikey Riley (pictured above) is a huge fan of the DuPont Trail Race and says he looks forward to it every year. A long-time Maggot runner who is well known in the Asheville running community (and not just for his tattoos), Mikey logs roughly 3,000 miles annually and has run the Dupont Trail Race six times. It’s his favorite race of the year.

“There’s nothing I don’t love about it,” says Mikey. “It starts later in the morning so people can take their time getting out there. The route is perfected…it’s a super awesome distance and you can get your workout in for the day. Plus there’s so many familiar faces.”

Mikey won the DuPont Trail Race twice. In fact, he won it the first time he ran it. That’s raising the bar just a tad, but for all of you regular trail runners this is a fun first trail race to try that’s open to all skill levels.

“It’s a straightforward race. Not super technical, there are no real difficult climbs,” Mikey says. “At the end there’s a bit of a beater because you’re tired, and you can almost hear the finish line…but as a first timer, it’s perfect.”

To prepare, Mikey suggests having a couple of practice trail runs under your belt at a 7 to 8 mile distance. Also be sure to watch the weather and dress accordingly. It does tend to rain in Dupont, so do bring a hat, gloves, and rain gear and be prepared for cold, soggy weather. Definitely bring clothing for after the race as well, such as dry socks and shoes, so you don’t drive home with wet feet. For weather information, you can check out DuPont’s Weather station. 

As for nutrition, bring one or two GU energy gels or whatever nutritional supplement you prefer, and a little water. Snacks and food are provided after the race, along with some nice hot coffee and race swag. DuPont State National Forest is a beautiful area; your kids can ride bikes or hike while the race is going on, and Mikey says he and his family always stop for lunch in town afterwards. For some information about what to do at DuPont check out this link by Explore Asheville: https://www.exploreasheville.com/stories/post/a-day-trip-to-dupont/. 

If you’re driving to DuPont Trail Race for the first time, try to go with someone who has been there before, or give yourself extra time. The race start is a bit hidden, but there will be signage to help guide you. Google Maps tends not to work in the DuPont Forest area due to poor cell reception, so be sure to have your route mapped out the old fashioned way before you get there. You can get directions by clicking here: Directions to Dupont Trail Race. The race starts and ends at Guion Farms Parking Area. 

Jus’ Running is the main sponsor of this race and all proceeds go towards DuPont State Recreational Forest. Come out and enjoy a challenging yet fun morning on Saturday, March 30th, and enjoy a scenic run through rolling trails.

And don’t forget to grab a cookie at the end; believe me, they are worth it. 

For more information check out our DuPont Trail Race Page.