Birds of a Feather Trail Trot

Sprawling over 900 acres and located on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast 20+ mile network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails.  The 2 mile course is mellow and includes paved trail, grass, and smooth trail ONLY and is the perfect distance/terrain for the whole family.  Including a mixture of undulating double-track dirt trails and flowy single-track with plenty of roots, rocks, and short hill climbs, the 5K course offers a super-fun challenge for both newbies and trail veterans alike.  Perfect for separating the field of runners, both courses start with just under half mile of pavement.  Both courses may be run or walked as an untimed fun run or as a timed race.  The 5K course has 217' of elevation gain and measures 3.38 miles (5.4K).  The 2 mile course has 134' of elevation gain and measures 2.04 miles.

For more details on each individual course, click on the links below:

2 Mile Course
5K Course

• Limited race entry to provide an intimate and friendly race experience and to prevent overcrowding on the trails.  Each timed race is limited to 200 total racers and the event max is 600 participants.
• Fun and challenging course design
• Professional race operations
• Superbly marked course – you won’t get lost
• Race tee that you’ll love and want to wear. It's high-quality, super soft/comfy, and comes in men’s/unisex, women’s, and youth sizes (see link for color and sizing specs). Screen printed with vintage ink to give it an attractive, light, and subdued look. The 2025 tee color is navy frost for adult and youth sizes.  Pick up at check-in. 
• Exciting atmosphere with great music
• Excellent volunteer support
• Well-stocked aid stations (one on 5K course, aid at finish for both 5K and 2M)
• Medical support
• Chip timing for 2M and 5K timed races – accurate and timely posting of results.  
• Post-race PIE! 
• FREE Kids Race for Treasure (see below for details)
• Awards ceremony with fun contests and lots of giveaways (see below for details)
• FREE photo downloads post-race (professional photographers will be at the race)
• Lower pricing for Youth 5-17 and Seniors 65+.  Free entry into the 2M fun fun for kids 4-U (t-shirt not included).

STAGING AREA:  Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel (161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

WEDNESDAY, 11/26/25 (Early Check-in - OPTIONAL, but encouraged)

• 4pm-6pm:  Early Check-in / Packet Pick-up @ Great Meadow Park Pavilion

THANKSGIVING DAY, THURSDAY, 11/27/25 (Race Day)

• 7:15am-8:30am:  Check-in / Packet Pick-up (check-in only if you did not pick up your packet on Wed)
• 8:25am:  5K Race Brief at the start line
• 8:30am:  5K Start (timed race), then 5K Fun Run Brief at the start line
• 8:35am:  5K Start (untimed fun run)
• 8:40am:  2M Race Brief at the start line
• 8:45am:  2M Start (timed race), then 2M Fun Run Brief at the start line
• 8:50am:  2M Start (untimed fun run)
• 9am-10am:  PIE, music, awards
• 9:30am:  FREE Kids Race for Treasure' (kids 11-U) - Round One
• 9:45am:  Awards (timed races) / Donation to PORCH Briar Chapel
• 10am:  Contests (Cornhole, Push-up, Costume) / Giveaways
• 10:15am:  FREE Kids 'Race for Treasure' (kids 11-U) - Round Two for any kids that missed the first one

PORCH Briar Chapel helps put food on the table of those in need in our community.  Many donations go to the CORA FOOD PANTRY which provides emergency food to individuals and families in Chatham County.  They also provide children who attend the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsboro with fresh produce and a bag of nonperishables on a monthly basis.  During registration, please consider donating to support their great work.  Roadless Races will match 10% of funds collected.  PORCH Briar Chapel will also be at Birds of a Feather collecting cash and canned/boxed food donations.  Their greatest need for the holiday season is mac and cheese, rice, mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, cornbread mix, fruit cups, canned veggies, pie/cookie/brownie mix, cinnamon, and any spices.  Please consider bringing an item to contribute.  Thank you for supporting such a great cause.  

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks and celebrating with family and friends.  Run with Your Flock.  Some helpful info for families:  

• We are offering lower youth 5-17 and senior 65+ pricing to make it just a little easier to Run with Your Flock.   
• Kids 4-U may participate for FREE in the 2 mile fun run, under the supervision/consent of their parent/guardian (registration is required for parent and child).  All kids 4-U will receive a bib, but t-shirts are not included for the little ones. If you would like to purchase a tee for your 4-U child, extra t-shirts will be available for purchase during online registration.  
• For safety reasons, the minimum age for the 2M race is 5 years old and 6 years old for the 5K.  Racers must be at least 10 years old to run unaccompanied in the 2M or 5K.  Racers 8-9 MUST run WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian, unless approved by the race director (email info@roadlessraces.com to request approval).  Racers 7-U MUST run WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian.   
• We have added additional age group awards for the kids for both the 2M and 5K timed races.  Our normal 13-U age group has been broken up to 5-8 (2M) and 6-8 (5K), 9-10, and 11-13. 
• The FREE Kids Race for Treasure starts at 9:30am.  ALL KIDS 11-U (including those that completed the 2 mile or the 5K) are invited to participate.
• Strollers that are appropriate for the trail ARE PERMITTED on the 2 mile fun run. (such as a BOB stroller, for instance).  If using a stroller, PLEASE START AT THE BACK, behind the runners and walkers.
• Strollers ARE NOT PERMITTED on the 5K course because there are some root and rock filled sections on the 5K that will be frustrating (and potentially dangerous) to navigate.  Strollers are NOT PERMITTED in the 2 mile timed race.
• For the safety of all participants, pets are NOT PERMITTED on either course.
• PLEASE, DO NOT give your bib to someone else.  This will make the results, age group, and overall awards incorrect.  If you need to transfer your registration, you may do so prior to race day (by 11/25/25) by going to your runsignup account, selecting 'Transfer to Someone Else' in the menu, and following the instructions.

At 9:30am and 10:15am, kids 11-under are invited to participate in the FREE Kids Race for Treasure.  All kids are welcome to participate and parents are encouraged to line the race course to cheer them on.  Registration is not required for the kids race.  We will match kids in age groups (3-U, 4-5, 6-7, and 8-11) and start each group separately on a short out and back ‘race course’ in the large field near the staging area.  After running, kids can grab a prize (toys from the dollar store:) from the Treasure Chest!    

Awards (1st-5th place tumblers) and prizes (Fleet Feet gift certificates) for top five overall M/F 2M and 5K timed race competitors. Awards (1st-3rd place pint glasses) for the top three M/F 2M and 5K timed race competitors in each age group.

2M and 5K timed race age groups: 5-8 (2M), 6-8 (5K), 9-10, 11-13, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

Runners and volunteers are invited to join the contests - fun stuff such as cornhole, push-ups, rock/paper/scissors, etc, etc.  Contest winners receive NICE swag like Goodr sunglasses or race merchandise and ALL who participate receive an item of swag.  After the contests, we randomly select winners of the rest of the swag - more great stuff such as Goodr sunglasses, gift certificates, running gear, and Roadless Races merchandise. 

Anyone that wears a costume will receive an item of swag at the awards ceremony.

Adventures are more fun with family and friends, so create a team and invite your crew to join you. Creating or joining a team is simple during or after registration.  NOTE:  This is not a relay so all team members will still be running their own race.