Grindstone Trails triple runs take off July 28 in Ruidoso

• Number of runners nearly tripled from 2015 to 2017

The annual Ruidoso Grindstone Trail runs, a 4 mile, 8.5 mile and half marathon event July 28, promotes the multiple use trail system available at Grindstone Lake in Ruidoso.

Situated at 6,900 feet elevation in the Sacramento Mountains, the races begin and finish at Wingfield Park in midtown, one block off Sudderth Drive. Proceeds benefit Ski Apache Adaptive Sports.

“Since I started running in 2005, in other communities around Ruidoso, Las Cruces, El Paso even Albuquerque, I decided to organize a running event in Ruidoso,” Frederic Moras said. “I started in 2009, with the Ski Run Road Challenge at the baseball fields to Ski Apache, but I wasn't happy with the numbers of participants. It never took off.

“Knowing that multi-use trails were being developed at Grindstone Lake, I decided to switch venues. Since 2014, I have organized the Grindstone Trail runs with three distances: 4M, 8.5M and Half Marathon, 13.2 miles. Our numbers have increased dramatically from 184 in 2015 to 530 in 2017.”

Most of the runners are from El Paso, Las Cruces, Alamogordo and Lovington, where a high school cross-country team brings 22 boys and girls runners.

“It’s is a fundraiser for Ski Apache Adaptive Sports,” Moras said. “To date, we have raised about $32,000. We give money to our support groups such as Boy Scout Troop 59, the Sierra Blanca Amateur Radio Club and EcoServants​.

“Our awards for overall winners are very popular being carved bears. A first this year, we will offer medals to all male and female marathon finisher. We offer gender specific shirts, which is not common for all races.”

The registration fee for the half marathon is $50 until July 26, and $60 on race day.; for the 8.5 mile, $35 until July 26, $50 on race day; and for the 4 mile, $25 until July 26, $40 on race day. Register online in advance at raceadventuresunlimited.com  No online registration on packet pickup day or race day.

The race briefing will begin at 7:05 a.m. July 28.

The 8.5 miler wave begins at 7:30 a.m., no walkers. Refreshments and a light breakfast served at the finish line for all races. One water refill station will be available at mile marker 5.

The half marathon wave begins at 7:30 a.m., also no walkers. Two refill water stations with no cups will be available..

The  4 miler wave begins at 7:45 a.m., walkers allowed. no water station on the course, but a filling station will be available at Wingfield Park.

Packet pickup and late registration will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, July 27, at the Ruidoso Athletic Club, 415 Wingfield Street. Super-late registration and packet pickup will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., race day at Wingfield Park. 

Free tent camping will be available on July 27, only at Wingfield Park on a first-come basis. Bring a nonperishable food item to put in the covered wagon food pantry at the park.

“For the safety of runners, they are being asked to refrain from using electronic devices, because there will be no road closures for the runs,” Moras said.

Each intersection on trail will have directional signs. To view a map, check out Strava.com/activities/1182438424.