WORS continues trail runs by Joel Patenaude Overshadowed by the knobby-tire crowd are those that favor hitting the WORS trails in well-soled shoes.
So WORS is organizing, in tandem with the mountain bike races, its Trail Run Series.
WORS Director Don Edberg said the runs were held for the first time last year and on the Saturday before the Sunday bike races. From an organizing standpoint, he said, it makes more sense to start the trail runs on the same day and before the bikes are unleashed on the courses.
"The trail runs were new last year and they really didn't meet our expectations, but we'd like to give them some
time," Edberg said. "We had an average of 40 to 50 runners each time. We hope to get that up to 100 per race."
He said some people who attend the mountain bike races in a support capacity or as spectators may want to run rather than ride. "They're still fitness enthusiasts. They just might find running a little bit safer and less threatening," he said. "It's definitely challenging running these narrow trails with rocks, roots and mud on occasion."
Each
trail run in the eight-race series will offer two distances: a five-mile long course and a 2.5-mile short course, starting at 9 a.m. at their individual venues.
The trail runs will be held at the Alpine Valley Open in East Troy, May 2; for the first time at the Rome Around event in Wisconsin Rapids, May 16; at the Alterra Coffee Bean Classic in the Crystal Ridge Ski Area in Franklin on June 13; in Merrimac before the WORS Cup Stage Race, June 27; at the Sunburst Showdown in Kewaskum, July
11; at the Calumet Sun Run in Hilbert, Aug. 22; the Big Ring Classic in Wausau, Sept. 5; and at the Iola Bump and Jump, Sept. 26.
Competitors can shoot for overall awards in either the northern division (for the races in central and north central Wisconsin) or in the southern division (for races in southeastern part of the state). To be eligible for the overall championship awards, runners must complete four of the races, including one from each division.
There's one fee to participate
in all the races, and competitors are issued a series number and a WORS trail running T-shirt. | 
