Run4Bibles -Spring Afternoon Trail Run

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Run4Bibles 2025 

March 1, 2025

Location: Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve

7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy

Dallas, TX  75429

Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 10K, 5K

1-Mile Hike-n-Run

Race Schedule

Marathon 2:00pm (1:00 pm check-in, 10:30 pm cut off)

½ Marathon 2:00pm (1:00pm check-in pm cut 10:30 pm cut off)

10k 2:30pm (1:30 check-in)

5K 2:45pm (1:45pm check-in)

1 Mile Hike -n- Run 3:00pm (2:15 check-in)

Prices

Marathon $100

1/2 Marathon $80

10k  $50

5k  $40

1 Mile $25

General Information

• These are Chip timed runs.

• T-shirts you must order a shirt if you want one. This allows us to have cheaper tickets for those who want them. But, shirts must be ordered on or before Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. There will be some shirts for sale at the run.

• Your first name put on the gift page of a Bible we give to Bible study leaders in Africa. 5k runners earn 1 Bible, 10k earn 2 Bibles, 1/2 marathon earns 3 Bibles.

• With your entry fee, you get to support two great causes: Equip Disciples Bible Study groups, and maintaining God's beautiful creation at Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve.

• Discount Rates for First Responders (15%) and their families (promo code: RESPONDER); and special rate for Missionaries (50%) Includes church staff, Christian school administration staff and teachers, and Christian non-profit organizational leaders (Promo Code: MISSIONARY).

Marathon/Half Marathon Trail Description

After a brief section of wide trail at the start, the loop turns down the secluded BackstagePass trail and up the Park in the Woods trail. The route then breaks out briefly into the sun on the Prairie trail, then back into the trees running the full course of the Bluebonnet and Escarpment trails. One of my favorite sections is the ascent on the Bluebonnet—it’s like running up the bed of a streamlet—which is what it becomes after a nice spring shower. Escarpment is a double-wide gentle descent so you can fly down it as much as you like--but halfway down you must take a detour across EM1 and loop back to Escarpment via Red Oak. At the bottom of the hill is an aid station. From the aid station, the Half Marathoners continue on to Cattail Pond and onwards to the rocky FossilValley trail. FossilValley has some good climbs in there. You also get to take in the downhill on Trout Lily. At the top of the ridge, you catch a brief section of the Cattail Pond trail before turning off onto Cedar Brake. This trail gives you a couple of good miles to stretch your legs, along with a few good climbs. Halfway along this trail is another aid station. You return briefly to the Cattail Pond trail before turning off to run the Possumhaw trail. Coming out of Possumhaw trail, you get to race to the half-way line amid roaring cheers. Then you get to turn around and run it all again for the bragging rights of being one trail-tough Half Marathoner. The Marathoner will run this loop four times! 

10K Trail Description

The 10K loop is one time around the Half Marathon loop, except that you do not add on the detour across EM1 and around to Red Oak--you simply take Escarpment straight to the aid station at the bottom.

5K Trail Description

After a brief section of wide trail at the start, the loop turns down the secluded BackstagePass trail and up the Park in the Woods trail. The route then breaks out briefly into the sun on the Prairie trail, then back into the trees running the full course of the Bluebonnet and Escarpment trails. One of my favorite sections is the ascent on the Bluebonnet—it’s like running up the bed of a streamlet—which is what it becomes after a nice spring shower. Escarpment is a double-wide gentle descent so you can fly down it as much as you like. At the bottom of the hill is an aid station. Grab what you need and get ready to head up the hill. The route goes straight up (well, there’s just a couple of switchbacks) the Cattail Pond Trail. We reserved the steepest climb in the park just for the 5K-ers, so have fun with it! (Now don’t gloat too much over the Half Marathoners—they get their share of fun too.) At the top of the escarpment you are on the home stretch, running the refreshing undulations of the Cattail Pond trail all the way to the finish line. 

1-Mile Hike-n-Run Trail Description

The 1 mile is not an official timed race (no numbers or chip-timing), but we will have a gun-start at the appointed time--and you can track your finish-time with the clock as you run home! The course will take the Bluebonnet loop, which is a part of all the other races. The Bluebonnet has nice flowing terrain, with a variety of dirt, roots, and rocky footings. One of my favorite sections is the ascent on the last section—it’s like running up the bed of a streamlet—which is what it becomes after a nice spring shower. 

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

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Questions Runners Ask

Where to Park?

• Park at Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve or at the Park in the Woods Recreation Center just north of the park, then walk to the area behind the white buildings on the left. You will find the check-in table and registration tables here. If Cedar Ridge parking is full, you can park at the Park in the Woods Rec Center just north of the entrance. It is about a 1/2 mile walk into the park from there.

Where are the Restrooms?

• Nice walk-in restrooms are available near the starting and finish line. For those running the Marathon and 1/2 Marathon, your loop will bring you back to the start at the half-way mark. 

How Far Apart are the Aid Stations?

• Aid stations will be at the start and finish lines, and every 2-3 miles on the course. 5ks will have an aid station after the 2nd-mile mark. 

• This is a cupless run, so bring a sports bottle, collapsible cup, or hydration pack and you can refill at the aid stations.

• There will be both water and Gatorade at all aid stations. You must use the hand sanitizer before filling your bottles.

• Snacks at aid stations will include sweet and salty selections, and trail running favs. 

• First Aid supplies will also be at the aid stations. If you want to quit the run at any time, you may do so at the nearest aid station, where someone can transport you back to the trailhead. Or, you can walk your way out. Volunteers will assist you with the nearest trail to return to Start.

What Are the Cut Off Times?

• Cut off time for all 5k and 10k is 6:15 pm.

• Cut off time for the Half-Marathon and Marathon races is 11:00 pm. 

What are the Covid Considerations?

We will be following safe covid guidelines including the following:

*Hand Sanitizer at aide stations.

*Bring your own water bottle. 

*Optional face masks.

Timing

All runs are chip-timed. The chip will be pinned on one side of your shorts.

Rules

• • You must obey all park rules at all times.

  • Please bring a cell phone to carry with you.

  • No strollers, bikes, skates allowed on the trails.

  • No weapons or firearms are allowed.

  • No dogs on the trails during the run time.

  • No littering.

  • Stay on marked trails only, even if the trail is muddy or wet!

  • No smoking or alcohol.

  • Respect parking signs and park rules. The park is very strict about where trucks park, where cars park, where we are to park for the event. 

  • You must start and end the race according to official start and end times.

Notes About Entry Fees:

• • All proceeds go to purchase Bibles and Bible Study booklets for indigenous Bible study leaders and groups in rural, impoverished, and war-torn areas in Africa. God bless you for supporting this work for His Kingdom.  

  • All registration fees are tax-deductible. Equip Disciples is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the State of Texas. Please print your receipt for your tax records.

  • Entry fees are non-refundable, but may be rolled over to our summer run with a 75% credit. In the event of inclement weather (thunderstorms during the race, or flooding prior to the race), we will seek to postpone the race. But we will be continuing the race with light rain or somewhat wet trails.

    • Entries can be transferred to another person.

    • Runners can change their distance even on race day. But, once the race has started, they cannot change their minds. Runners who do not finish their race will receive a DNF in result listings.