Gwinnett Daily Post

Three of the stops on the 2012-13 XTerra Georgia Trail Run Series, including the season-opening race, will be held in Gwinnett County.

The seven-race series begins Sept. 22 with the Harbins Park Race, a 6.2-mile trail run in Dacula. The second race, the Fall Fitness Race, is a 5K trail run Oct. 13 at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford.

Gwinnett's other race is Nov. 17 -- the Little Mulberry Park Race in Dacula. It is a 5K and 10K trail run and is a new race venue for this season.

The series also makes a Feb. 23 stop at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, in addition to events at Roswell's Big Creek Trails (Nov. 3), Royston's Victoria Bryant State Park (Dec. 1) and at Jackson's Dauset Trails (June 1).

Gwinnett-based Dirty Spokes Productions runs the events and race information/registration is available at www.dirtyspokes.com.

"We think the unique mixture of venues as well as variety of distances of the XTerra Georgia Series offers a little something for everyone," said Tim Schroer of Dirty Spokes Productions. "There are no prerequisites to enter these races as they are open to everyone. You can enter as many or as few of the events as you would like. We get participants at both ends of the spectrum from beginner trail runner to advanced."

In addition to earning medals for top performances by age group, runners in the XTerra Georgia series can accumulate points and qualify for nationals.

TRAIL RUNNING

2012-2013 XTerra Georgia Trail Races

Date/Race name/Location/Details

Sept. 22/Harbins Park/Harbins Park, Dacula/6.2-mile trail run

Oct. 13/Fall Fitness/Gwinnett EHC, Buford/5K trail run

Nov. 3/Battle At Big Creek/Big Creek Trails, Roswell/5.5/10-mile trail run

Nov. 17/Little Mulberry Park/Little Mulberry Park, Dacula/5K/10K trail run

Dec. 1/Victoria Bryant/Victoria Bryant State Park, Royston/5K/10K trail run

Feb. 23/Thrill In The Hill/Fort Yargo State Park, Winder/Half/full marathon trail run

June 1/Deep South/Dauset Trails, Jackson/15K/5K trail run

For race details/registration, go to www.dirtyspokes.com