We are an informal group that likes running trails. Informal means: no dues, no sign-ups, no t-shirts. Just show up and have fun. You don't have to be on the Yahoo e-group to join in.

Yes. Communication is done through the Yahoo group. We send out a weekly e-newsletter with: run locations, upcoming trail races and other events. Although the message is sometimes long, most people prefer that instead of clogging their mailboxes with many, smaller messages.

You cannot post messages to the group without our approval. If you have information to send to the group, please send it to us the week before you want it to go out. If appropriate, we will include it in the weekly message. We do this is to keep the volume of mail down and to prevent solicitation. We may help promote something if it is directly related to trail running, such as trail races or clinics.

The main activity is our Thursday night trail runs. The main group meets usually at 6:15pm. An early group usually meets around 5:30pm.

Early Group: This group is usually smaller and more casual. Most of the runners in this group are older (late 40s to 60s).

Main Group: There is a wide range of abilities in this later group.

Winter: The groups tends to be smaller, and mostly the more hard core crazies who don't mind running on sometimes icy trails at night.

Summer: The groups get larger during daylight savings time. We'll often get 30-40 in the main group over the summer.

We send out the location of the run in the weekly message, usually by Tuesday evening. It will also be posted on this site. If you do not get the message, check here. In case of rain or muddy trail, there will usually be an alternate site. Routes subject to change.

We run for time, not distance on trails. The different courses are designed to get everyone back at about the same time. Try to be back at the prescribed time. A list of trails can be found on our TRAILS page.

WHAT IF I AM A SLOW RUNNER?

The runs are not intended to be races. Some people hammer; others may hike the whole way. Please don't feel intimated or pressured to run faster than you want.

Dogs and baby strollers (ever try pushing one of them up a rocky trail?) are welcome. Dogs are required to be on leash at almost every place we run. Even if you have the sweetest, gentlest dog in the world, others may not know that or may be afraid of dogs. Please use your judgement and be considerate of others. The leash law is also to protect wildlife. Chasing a rabbit or deer may seem harmless, but it puts them under unnecessary stress with an already fragile ecosystem.

Protect the trails. DO NOT RUN ON MUDDY TRAILS. It speeds erosion and leaves nasty ruts. We will usually specify and alternate location in case of wet or muddy conditions.

Stay on the "official" trail; STAY OFF: the vegetation and unofficial (social) trails.

If you happen to be on a muddy trail, please stay on the trail, even if that means getting muddy, rather than on the side where you will widen the footprint of the trail.

Be kind and courteous to the fellow users of the trails. Warn others before you pass, smile and say thank-you as you go by. Formally, bikers are supposed to yield to runners; everyone yields to horses; downhill yields to uphill. However, we usually try to yield to bikers. It is easier for us to stop and step off the trail while running than it is for someone on a bike.

Be safe. If you don't know the route, take a map. Most trailheads have maps available. Try to stay with someone, especially in some of the more remote sections of the trails.

If you want to do a group run during the week or on the weekend, or any other group event, let us know and we will send out the word. Build it and they will come!

"Leading" doesn't mean being the fastest one. It just means setting the time/place, greeting people when they show up, and explaining the course to them.

We run for time, not miles on the trail. The runs are typically 1:00-1:30. If you want to figure out mileage, please check the mileage on the trail map, if available.