Dec 10

Dec 10 Ohio fall single track bliss, Bobcat Trail Marathon - Burr Oak State Park, Ohio

I got the opportunity last month to go back to the place where my passion for trail running began, the Burr Oak State Park. This state park in Southern Ohio is where the Bobcat Trail Marathon is held on the only permanently marked marathon length trail in Ohio. My first run on this course was back in 2010 and I’ve never had the time to go back to revisit where my trail running career began. Since I ran this race years before I started to document my runs formally, I only had one photo from that day, and wanted to better document this beautiful course and well-run race.

Getting there was relatively easy, being only a 1.5 hour drive from Columbus, Ohio. It’s also convenient drive from other cities in Ohio such as Cincinnati (2.5 hours), and Athens (1 hour).

This race is put on by Western Reserve Racing, so I knew the race would be well run. The check-in process was quick. Other evidence of a well-run race are the well stocked aid stations, super friendly volunteers, and, excellent course markings, and a communications team (even with mobile antennas at points).

Mostly a singletrack, the course closely follows the edge of Burr Oak Lake, allowing runners to enjoy the lake views almost the entire race. The trail's elevation gain is significant, with it meandering up to the high ridges surrounding the lake and then descending back to the lake shores. These constant changes in elevation make the course both challenging and engaging.

This year, the marathon began in a chilly 30-degree weather, which was much colder than Columbus oddly enough. The fallen leaves, while adding to the autumn feel, sometimes concealed roots, making certain sections of the trail tricky. However, the trails were dry, so the footing was good. Besides the wooded sections, there were areas close to the water through tall grass and even boardwalks over boggy. areas.

Whether you are looking for a first race, or a 50th, this course is fun for beginners and experts alike.