Race Day 2026

Thanks for considering running the ninth annual Fit Farmer 12K Trail Run set for Saturday, May 23, 2026. Below is some information about race day. Please read through everything carefully. If you have questions, please reach out to Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-3103.

Registration: Registration is now open. Register online at UltraSignup.com or submit a Mail-In Registration Form.

Race Day Registration & Packet Pick-Up will be held from 7:45-8:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in the City of Norton’s Upper Reservoir parking area. Please see https://tinyurl.com/4a34mzsz for driving directions. Your race packet will include your race T-shirt and bib/pins. We can accept cards, cash, and checks for race day registrations.

Restroom Facilities: We will have 2 portable toilets at the race start/finish line. We will provide hand sanitizer outside the portable toilets. 

Race Start: The race begins at 9 a.m. and will start and finish in the Norton Reservoir parking area. We will start participants in waves of 10 people separated by 60 seconds. This structure better helps reduce crowding at the race start due to the quick transition to singletrack trails. We will email all pre-registered runners on Thursday, May 21, about what wave they will be placed in, as well as the estimated time that each wave will start. We hope to have everyone on the trail by 9:10 a.m.

Timing: We will be hand timing this race. We ask that all runners have their bibs on display as they cross the finish line. Your wave placement letter (i.e. Bib No. 6, Wave A) will be marked on your race bib. As noted above, we will start runners in waves. Runners with faster estimated mile times will start first. If your bib is not visible, your time might not be recorded. 

Race Course: Please see https://fitfarmertrailrun.wordpress.com/race-course/ for details on the race course. We will have course marshals at most trail intersections. We will primarily be using pink survey flags to mark the course at intersections and important turns, etc. Yellow caution tape will also be used to mark the course. The race route is primarily singletrack trails though there are a couple short road sections. Please be aware there could be vehicles on this section of the course.

Awards: Awards will be presented to the top three men and women and overall masters man and woman (age 40 and up). We will also have age group awards for the top three men and women in the following categories: 29 and Under; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; and 60 and over. Please be aware we will have to hand deliver or mail awards due to starting runners in waves. We apologize for this inconvenience. We hope to be able to afford chip timing in the future to avoid the delay in distributing awards but because of the program the race proceeds benefit (providing money to help area senior citizens buy fresh produce at the Norton Friends and Farmers Market), we try to keep costs at a minimum. Due to the wave starts, we will need time to compile all runners’ times to determine the winners in each category. Race organizers will be in touch about the best way to get runners their awards following the race. We will be posting race results online the same day as the race.

Aid Stations: We will have aid stations located at approximately the 1.6-mile, 2.8-mile 4.1-mile and 6-mile markers.

Time Limit: All runners must be finished within 2.5 hours of their start time.

Weather Outlook: We will post a weather outlook closer to the 2026 race date.