Sheetz-to-Sheetz Trail Run

We're offering two convenient choices for pre-race packet pickup where you will receive your bib, shirt (if ordered) and sponsor bag of goodies.  You will not receive your SpeedCup yet -- those will be distributed on race day when you check in. You will also not receive your finisher mug or finisher bag -- you have to earn those on race day and collect them at the finish line.  Our signature finisher mug takes the place of a finisher medal, only cooler and far more practical.  But we digress...  Packet pickup dates:

• Thursday, April 4, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. @ Lucky Road Run Shop (1865 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401)
• Friday, April 5, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. @ the FINISH line Sheetz in Dahlgren (17188 Owens Drive, King George, VA)
  Those attending in person will receive a free coffee or fountain drink! Note this is also within a half mile of several hotels.

If you can't make either of those, we will have limited race day packet pickup at the START line (not the parking area) from 6:30 - 7:50 a.m. If you're taking that option and arriving by shuttle bus from event parking (a 20-minute ride), you must plan accordingly to take an early bus to allow time for transport, check-in, restroom break, stretching, etc.

You may pick up packets for others after showing your ID.

6:30 - 7:30 a.m. : KGCS shuttle service (KG Gateway Shopping Center, 16435 Merchants Ln, King George, VA)
    >>> Last departure at 7:30 a.m. sharp - don't be late!
6:30 - 8:00 : Race Day Packet Pickup (O'Reilly Auto Parts next to start line Sheetz)
6:30 - 8:00 : Race Day Check-In and SpeedCup Pickup (O'Reilly Auto Parts next to start line Sheetz)  << NEW REQUIREMENT!
7:00 - 8:00 : Bag Drop (O'Reilly Auto Parts)
7:40 : Opening Prayer (front of start line)
7:50 : Live performance by Chris Reinhardt, "I'm Gonna Be" (front of start line)
7:55 : Special presentation (front of start line)
7:58 : National Anthem
8:00 - 8:08 : Starting waves released
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. : Bag Drop (finish line Sheetz)
10:00 - 12:00 - Raffle drawings (finish line Sheetz)
12:30 p.m. : Race cut-off, event ends

Remember this is a point-to-point race from the King George Middle School Sheetz to the Dahlgren Sheetz.

All participants are asked to park at the King George Gateway Shopping Center (16435 Merchants Ln, King George, VA) adjacent to the FINISH line in Dahlgren.  Shuttle buses provided by King George County Schools will transport runners to the start line starting at 6:30 a.m. with the last bus leaving the parking lot promptly at 7:30 a.m. The race starts at 8:00 a.m., so be sure to allow time for transportation to the start line (approximately 20 minutes), packet pickup (if needed), check in, bag drop, bathroom breaks, etc. -- all available at the START line, not the parking area. When you finish, you can hang out at the finish store then simply walk a quarter mile or take the Bayside Ford courtesy shuttle to the parking area and adjacent restaurants, hotels, and shops. Alternatively, you can always arrange your own transportation and park at King George Middle School.  Either way, please do not park at either Sheetz store or O’Reilly Auto Parts.

One important additional reminder:

• Per King George County Schools policy, no dogs are allowed on the buses. If you're running with a dog, you'll need to arrange your own transportation. Sorry!

NEW! All runners must check in around the start line. It's a quick an easy process where you bib barcode will be scanned and you'll be given a HydraPak SpeedCup if you need one. (There are NO cups or bottles on the course.) If you don't have your bib yet, please proceed to race day packet pickup, then right in the same area do the separate check-in step. Just look for volunteers wearing bright safety vests and flashing green beacons -- you can't miss them!

A free bag drop service courtesy of Bayside Ford will be available to transport any belongings you don't wish to carry with you on your 14-mile trek (e.g., extra clothes, race packet, etc.).  Look for the Bag Drop flag at the start line from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. and at the finish line from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.  If needed, we'll have bags available and tags for writing your bib number.

In an effort to reduce waste and lessen our race footprint, the Sheetz-to-Sheetz Trail Run is a cupless race. Single-use cups and bottles will not be provided at aid stations for water or Tailwind. Instead, participants will receive a collapsible, lightweight, and easy-to-carry HydraPak SpeedCup at race day check-in for use during and after the race. Don't worry, we'll take steps to ensure hydration is efficiently distributed to your SpeedCup at all aid stations. Of course, you're always welcome to carry your own hydration. By going cupless, we are eliminating over 1,200 cups per year and doing our part to keep our trails beautiful.

Our 14-mile course starts at the King George Middle School (KGMS) Sheetz (Store #573, 8206 Kings Highway) and ends at the Dahlgren Sheetz (Store #259, 17188 Owens Drive). The King George Sheriff's Office will escort us the first 1.4 miles westward along Route 3 and Comorn Road (Route 609). Then we'll hang a right and go off-road for the final 12.6 miles along the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT). This rails-to-trail is flat, straight, and well-marked with a surface varying from dirt to gravel. It meanders through farmland and wetlands and crosses a few country roads along the way to Dahlgren. We'll have 4 aid stations along the way:

• Mile 3.14 (pi): Pie and water
• Mile 6.2 (campsite): S’mores, Peeps, fruit, cereal bars, hot apple cider, hot chocolate, water, Tailwind, and a porta john
• Mile 10.2 (Panorama): Fruit snacks, water
• New!  Mile 12.5 (Little Ark Baptist Church): Water, soft pretzel nuggets, and a porta john

The start line will feature fruit, cereal bars, water, and Tailwind. The finish line (Mile 14.0) will feature all that plus Sheetz doughnuts.

Summing up the event in one tidy graphic...  Click thumbnail to expand.

For finishing most races you earn a medal you can't do anything with. Boring!  Finish the Sheetz-to-Sheetz Trail Run and you'll earn great, practical swag including a Sheetz stainless steel insulated travel mug, custom sweat towel (not shown), vouchers for a free Made-To-Order (MTO) Sheetz food and drink item, and snacks.  Heck, we'll even fill your fancy new mug with free coffee at the finish line and feed you fresh fruit, doughnuts, and other treats! But wait, there's more! You'll also get a reusable HydraPak SpeedCup and a drawstring bag (not shown) to carry it all in!

(2024 mugs available in white, pink, or indigo. Race shirts will be an optional add-on starting with the 2024 race.)

This is an untimed fun run so we encourage everyone to take their time and enjoy the trail, aid stations, and overall experience. However, we also realize it can be a training run for competitive runners. For those who do make it a race, we'll offer the top male and female finishers a $75 gift certificate to Lucky Road Run Shop (multiple locations in Richmond and Fredericksburg) AND a $75 gift certificate to Highmark Brewery (with locations in Fredericksburg and King George). Each will also earn a cool custom trophy.

We didn't forget our canine athletes! The first canine finisher earns a custom Top Dog trophy and prizes (TBD) as well!

We are unable to offer refunds or deferrals, but you can transfer your bib to another runner and receive a full refund up until race week. Participant-to-participant transfers for refund must be initiated in RunSignup by 3/29/24 and completed by 3/31/24. See RunSignup for transfer instructions. The race staff is unable to play matchmaker and instead will post to social media to encourage those wishing to give or receive bibs to meet via the post comments. 

Additional notes:

• The person giving up the bib receives a full refund from RunSignup based on their sign-up price. The person receiving the bib pays the current race price which gradually increases as race day approaches.
• Shirts are optional add-ons during the registration process. The shirt order will be finalized February 15th and cannot be changed.
  • For transfers completed by 2/15/24: If the original bib holder ordered a shirt, the order will be cancelled, and the shirt price will be refunded along with the registration price. The runner transferring in will have the same option of purchasing a shirt during the registration process. 
  • For transfers NOT completed by 2/15/24: If the original bib holder ordered a shirt, the purchase price will be refunded along with the race registration fee. The runner transferring in will not have an opportunity to order a shirt. However, a limited selection of shirts will be available for purchase at the finish line.
• The automatic raffle ticket entry transfers to the new entrant. Any raffle ticket entries purchased separately by the original bib holder will remain in their name in the drawing.
• Per policy, the wait list is used exclusively to fill unclaimed sponsor spots. It is not used for later transfers.

We're proud to bring back our Charity Raffle for 2024 with all proceeds benefiting local children via our primary charity partner, Sheetz-for-the-Kidz.  Each registered runner will automatically have free one raffle ticket entered in the drawing. Support local children and greatly increase your odds of winning a great prize by buying additional tickets for $1 each during registration. Non-participants can also buy tickets directly from our online store through April 2nd. Our fantastic prize packs include:

• Set of 4 tickets to see the Fredericksburg Nationals
• Full car detail from Bayside Ford
• Sheetz prize pack to include a $25 Sheetz gift card, coffee and snacks
• $50 gift certificate to any Lucky Road Run Shop location in Richmond or Fredericksburg
• Sonicare smart electric toothbrush from Dr. Richard Cottrell, DDS, and Associates
• $100 gift certificate to Highmark Brewery
• Sheetz-to-Sheetz prize pack to include a free entry to the 2025 event and a collection of logo merch
• $50 gift certificate for gear at HydraPak.com

Because you probably have a closet full of race shirts, we've made our shirt an optional add-on ($23) during registration and have lowered the race entry fees accordingly (starting at $55). It's your choice: save a few bucks and avoid more shirt sprawl, or opt-in for this year's amazing shirt.

And we think you'll want to opt-in! Instead of yet another boring, screen-printed t-shirt, we offer a bold, colorful dye-sublimation race jersey! Inspired by European soccer leagues, it's the most fashionable race shirt around! One caveat: you MUST pay close attention to the sizing information as you almost certainly will not order your "normal" shirt size. For details, please see the sizing chart. (Sizes 3XL-6XL cost an extra $1-$4.)

Concerned about the fit? We'll have samples in some (but not all) sizes and styles available for try on at Fredericksburg's Lucky Road Run Shop between 11/18 & 2/15. Just ask to try on the Sheetz-to-Sheetz shirt samples. You may change your selected shirt size via RunSignup through February 15th when the final shirt order is placed. (For detailed instructions, see the last FAQ under "Registration".)

We are honored to be invited by Arsenal Events to be part of the King George Trail Series! Complete the three races and you'll earn some extra swag. Sign up for the bundle deal from any race site, and you'll receive $5 off each race!

• Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon 
• Sheetz-to-Sheetz Trail Run 
• 3H Trail Half Marathon 

We strive to keep the Sheetz-to-Sheetz Trail Run as affordable as possible with entry fees at or below that of comparable-distance events and shirts being an optional add-on. Still, the price of admission may be out of reach for some. The Sheetz-to-Sheetz Runner Assistance Program matches donated race entries (bib only) with qualified, motivated runners, enabling them to run for free. To be eligible for consideration, runners must fall into one of two groups: (1) Anyone who otherwise would not be able to participate due to financial hardship; or (2) high school runners (age 16+).

For full details including application instructions and timelines, please see our FAQs page.