10/13/2026
RUNNER EMAIL: Who is ready to play in the woods!?!?
It is time for your eagerly anticipated Medoc Trail Races instruction email. If this is your first year, you will want to read every word and enjoy the informative hilarity below. If you are a repeat runner, you should read too as we once again have tried to refresh some of our dad jokes, and there is likely something important for you to take in as well. Either way, you have some fun reading ahead of you, so grab your phone and head to the bathroom for some good reading! (you’re not fooling us – we know you read on the toilet). Be sure to click on all the links too and then wash your hands (and phone). There is a prize if you read to the end.
Volunteers, you will get an email by Thursday evening.
***PRE-RACE***
NOT COMING: If you know you are not coming, please tell us (if you haven’t already). This helps us prepare and know who is on the trails race day. Everything is ordered, so there are no refunds. If you respond please let us know, “I’m not coming but someone is picking up my packet” or “I’m not coming at all”. This helps us evaluate finisher medals.
RACE MEDALS: IMPORTANT! We had a record number of requests to drop from the 10M to the 5M after the medals were ordered. Reminder to those who dropped from, please do not grab a medal at the finish line until we have confirmed there are enough for those originally registered for that race. Please honor this request. We will count the no-shows and will be able to announce if there are sufficient medals left. Note, if you are not the kind of person who likes medals, leaving one on the table might help us if things get tight.
MAILING STUFF: Sorry guys, but we don’t mail anything out. We are a volunteer team and do this race because we love trail runners. Our dining rooms get full of boxes the weeks before the race, and as soon as it is over, we put stuff in storage and try to get back to our families. Appreciate you understanding.
RUNNER LIST: We have an updated list of runners online (https://www.medoctrailraces.com/runners). Check this list now (we mean it). If something is wrong, we need to know. Someone always makes an error when they sign up. We actually had a person sign up who has yet to be born according to their birth date. . . hmmm. Please note we do not change your information. We only download it. Note, we only put two letters of your first name and your birth month and year for privacy.
RACE RULES AND FAQS: Be sure to review the Race Rule and FAQS on the race website (https://www.medoctrailraces.com/races) prior to the race. By running the Medoc Trail Races, you agree to abide by these rules and the race waiver. Plus, they are moderately funny if you have a weird sense of humor.
STUFF FOR SALE: We take pride in the swag created for the Medoc Trail Races and have extra stuff from prior years. We will take Venmo, cash or check. Dennis is willing to deal if you buy multiple items!
ARRIVAL TIME: The race will start with or without you. . . we hope it is with you. Visit the Medoc Mountain State Park page for address information. The entrance road to the park shows as 586 Medoc State Park Road. All cars must be parked by 8:10 am. If you arrive late, we require that you pick up all the trail marking signs and carry them back to the finish as you run. Even if you are running the 5 Miler, we still want you there well before 8:10 am. The park road is part of mile 1 and will be closed.
GPS DIRECTIONS: Medoc Mountain State Park is not the easiest place to find. There are four places your GPS might take you.
- Main Park entrance – Hooray. You found us!
- Park office – Don’t panic. You are a mile away. Turn right out of the lot
- Bridle trails – Don’t panic. You are just around the corner
- Medoc Region of France – You really screwed up. Tell Napolean that Medoc Man called him short.
If you arrive at any of the locations above and do not see any runners, you are not lost. . . you are just a little stupid. Unless you went to France, which means you are more than just a little stupid. You are about a mile away from the park entrance. Also, don’t arrive on an empty tank. There are very limited options for fuel near the park. We will have hoses available for you to siphon gas from the car parked next to you, if needed.
WHAT TO PACK: Most races are like a basketball game. You show up, see the game, and leave. Medoc is like a football game. It is an event. Arrive early. Get to know people. Laugh at the trail names. Take a p**p in one of our amazing porta pottys. Run the race. Take another p**p. Hang out! We have live bluegrass music from Rollin’ Coal, grilled hot dogs, soup, plenty of snacks, and showers for campers. The extended forecast looks fantastic. Regardless, we want you to hang out with us. Bring a change of clothes, some camping chairs, a blanket, or a towel. Relax and have some fun. We want you to feel like family; not just like a runner. Please note, our family is very weird . . . but you are part of the reason why.
***CAMPING***
GROUP CAMPING: The race has reserved two large group camp sites for race participants on both Friday and Saturday. You can set up your tents in either Group Site 1 or 2. Do not go to any other group sites, and definitely do not go to the individual sites 1 and 2 or you will likely have some very confused campers. Also do not got to group sites 3 or 4 unless you want to hang out with “Gopher of the Month Club”. The group sites are essentially dirt and trees with access to the group site bathrooms and showers (no, you don’t shower in groups). If you need power, have an RV, or a travel trailer this is not the place for you. The individual sites at Medoc have been sold out for a long time, but there is a nearby KOA in Enfield.
CAMP BEHAVIOR: In 18 years, we’ve never had a problem, but a few reminders. 1) We all have an early start on Saturday please do not stay up making noise and disrupt others. 2) We encourage family camping, so your language and behavior should be appropriate. 3) If someone asks you to quiet down, don’t be a butthead. . . just say yes. 4) You must comply with all rules of NC State Parks. In short, have fun, make new friends, and be respectful. Plus, every year there are gatherings around the fire pit where strangers become friends.
CLEAN UP: Leave things better than you found them. Even if it is not your mess, help us out and pick it up. We have 12 miles of trails to clean up and picking up your camp trash is not on our to-do list. And if you are wondering why we have 12 miles of trails to clean up when the longest race is only 10 miles, ask one of your smart friends.
***THE TRAILS***
COURSE MARKINGS: We have used the same race course dating back to 2018, excluding 2024 when the park was being renovated. Pay attention to the signs. The race course will be marked with black signs that have orange arrows. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO STAY ON THE COURSE. If you miss a turn you must return to the point of your error and pick the course back up. Do not assume the person in front of you knows where they are going (especially if their trail name is Stevie Wonder). Most likely the person in front of you is a dummy. They are just a faster dummy than you are. Pay attention as the course does split twice when the 5M and 10M take different trails. At the splits, 10-Milers will have green mile markers and 5-Milers are in yellow. Note that 5-Milers will never cross a long bridge over the river with heavy metal railings. If you cross this bridge, congratulations, you are now in the 10-mile race!
SHARE THE TRAILS: Much of our race is a single-track trail. At other times it is wide enough for you to run hand in hand with the runner closest to you. Share the trail with your fellow runners and any hikers out enjoying the park. Be aware of your surroundings and make room for others if you are getting passed. We strongly encourage leaving your earbuds in the car and enjoying the sounds of nature instead (seriously we do). IF YOU ARE PASSING ANYONE POLITELY ANNOUNCE YOU ARE BEHIND THEM SO THEY ARE AWARE. Remember there are two races going on. 10-Milers will catch some slower 5-Milers around mile nine. Follow your marked course, or you may run a 12 mile race (if you did not ask your smart friend about the 12 miles of trails, maybe now you understand).
TRAIL SAFETY: Every step you take on a trail requires thinking. This is something taken for granted on the roads where every step is virtually the same as the last. Be aware of your surroundings and be thinking ahead to the next step. Medoc's trails are not overly challenging but that does not mean it is easy. You are responsible for your own safety. We will have the Halifax EMS on site if there are problems. If you see an injured runner, check their name/number and notify the next volunteer of their location. It you see a seriously injured runner, do the right thing, stop and help.
BRIDGES: The morning dew makes the bridges wet. We say this every year, and every year people still slip. It is actually kind of funny to see some guy running down the trails covered with wet leaves and dirt. Don't be that guy! Slow down on the bridges. A few of them have a turn immediately after the bridge. If you think you can plant your foot on a wet bridge and turn 90 degrees, the person behind you is in for a good laugh.
AID STATIONS: We encourage runners to carry a water bottle. Volunteers will be happy to quickly fill your bottle at the aid stations so you can take fluids with you. Each aid station will still have ample filled cups.
- 5-Miler: 1.2 and 2.1
- 10-Miler: 1.3, 4.9, 7.3 and 8.4
Aid Stations will have water, Gatorade, pretzels, and other snacks. At one aid station there will be a live performance by Tupac. . .yes, he is still alive, and we found him.
***RACE DAY***
PARKING: Unless you are part of the race committee, a volunteer picking stuff up, or require assistance, you will be parked in the big ass field. . . we mean big grass field. We hose down the field every year so we can make sure your shoes are plenty wet before the race. We actually suggest bringing an extra pair of shoes, or walking down the pavement to get your race packet or you will likely have wet socks. If you are camping, just walk to the start.
BATHROOMS: We have ample porta johns at the start of the race. There are also indoor toilets in the shelter. Based on 18 years of past experience, we suggest the porta johns. They are delivered the day before the race, are clean, and smell as fresh as a pine tree air freshener the day it is opened. You are welcome to use the indoor bathrooms too, but after about 30 minutes of use, they are less than cheerful. Plus, we’ve seen spiders in the bathroom the size of a grapefruit and they might chew on your privates.
PACKET PICKUP: There will be two opportunities to pick up your race packets in the park at the main picnic shelter. We encourage you to pick up on Friday night if possible. With the races starting at 8:30 am, we want to avoid a massive group getting packets before the sun is up on race day.
- Fri Evening: 5:00 pm – 6:50 pm. (NOT A MINUTE LATER)
- Sat Morning: 7:00 am- 8:15 am. (DON'T BE LATE)
Please do not arrive early on Friday as we have a very busy day getting the course set up, repairing the escalators, and installing new roots on the trails. Also, please do not show up late. There is always that one car that comes flying down the park road in total darkness dodging deer five minutes after we have packed everything up. Don’t be that guy. We love all of our runners. . . but that guy, we love a little less.
WHAT IS IN MY PACKET: Not much. In fact, we really don’t even have packets anymore. You will see multiple lines based on your race and last name…simply get in the correct line for you. We will give you your race number (bib). Please verify that all the information on the back of the bib is correct. On the table you should then grab a) safety pins, b) One vinyl sticker and c) a coupon for a pony ride at the bridge aid station.
SHIRTS: We regret to inform you that we will not have a race shirt this year. That is because all runners will be getting a long-sleeved embroidered athletic hoodie! We have always been a runner-first event and try to spend the proceeds on our runners.
GETTING YOUR SHIRT: The shirt size you requested during registration is printed on the back of your race bib. The amazing volunteers at the Medoc Shirt Emporium and Flea Market (the picnic tables at the shelter) will give you the hoodie in the size shown on the bib. Please do not try to change your size at pick up. We ordered what you asked for. If you decide to trick a volunteer and get something else, it means another runner will not get what they ordered.
SHIRT SWAPPING: If you do want to switch to a different size, you or your friend can do that AFTER the races have started. First-come-first-serve. Note, shirts ran a little longer this year, so we ordered some extra XS sizes. If you requested a small during registration but would rather have XS, those can be grabbed during packet pickup. Again, all other shirt swaps of size or color must happen after the races start.
RACE BIBS: Your race number must be pinned to the front of your body and not covered by other clothing like a jacket, sweatshirt, or baby carrier. The finish line needs to be able to see your number for back up purposes. Don’t put it on your back. . . it is not a license plate. If you see someone who has done this, you are encouraged to make fun of them.
TRAIL NAMES: Did you know we have almost 500 people signed up for this year’s race? Did you know more than half of you lacked the creativity to make up your own trail name? If you think it is hard for you to do one name, imagine a race committee of three people having to do >250. Remember, when we asked you if we could me a little mean in picking your name? Well. . . we possibly took that to heart. Whatever trail name you receive, you must fully embrace it! Seriously. . . go all in. If your trail name is “Explosive Diarrhea”. . . OWN IT! Be proud!
TRAIL NAME COMPLAINTS: If you do not like your trail name you can file out a complaint and drop in in our complaint box located in Little Fishing Creek next to the water moccasin den. It must be completed in orange ink on a 3.79” x 14.13” index card. Alternatively, you can email [email protected]
SWAPPING BIBS: Please don’t. Giving your number to someone else screws up race results. More importantly it puts the volunteers and EMT at risk. We have emergency contacts for all runners. If someone gets hurt, we need to know who is on the trail.
DROPPING TO 5M ON RACE DAY: We asked a month ago for drops to the 5-Miler. Thank you for everyone who reached out. If you already emailed us and we responded, this section does not apply to you. If you decide now to drop to the 5-Miler, you MUST alert the race timer before the race. A few things you should know. 1) your race number will still show you are in the 10-Miler so volunteers will try to direct you to the 10-Mile course. Let them know verbally you changed races and follow the 5-Mile course. 2) You will not receive a finisher’s medal. It is important for us to give those who are registered for the 5-mile race what they signed up. Please do not take advantage of the volunteers and take a medal. All this will do is take a medal from a finisher after you. At the end of the race, you can check with the finish line and if there are still extras you are welcome to one. Thank you.
TIMING CHIPS: We are excited to have Clockwork Timing back again this year. We use a bib timing chips. Be very careful not to fold, bend, damage, or chew on the timing chip.
FINISHING: Shout it out! Because we made your trail names so big, your number is small. This makes it difficult for back up timers which are vital to our results. Please do us a big favor and verbally call out your race number as you finish.
***POST RACE***
FINISHER MEDAL: You must finish the race on race day to take a medal. You will be given a medal at the finish line by an amazing volunteer. Be sure to say thank you. Reminder that if you drop to the 5M you must wait, and if you dropped on race morning you will not be able to get a 5M medal.
FINISHER'S SURPRISE: We said from the beginning of our race planning that this was an event "for the runners". We are not organizing the Medoc Trail Races with a profit goal in mind. This is why we created the “finisher’s surprise”. As the name indicates, you MUST FINISH the race on race day to earn the surprise. Please only take one per finisher. Extras will not be for sale. This year’s surprise has six color choices. For fairness we will have a table for 5M and for 10M. This way 10 milers have the same choices available. Of course, how quickly you finish will impact what options are available, but all of them are awesome! Note, one lucky finisher will receive a box of gummy snacks leftover from last years race!
POST RUN: There will be food and drink available after you finish. Volunteers are grilling hot dogs and there will soup available! We do want to remind you that this is not a buffet. We want to be sure there is plenty of food for all of the slower 10 Milers too. We recommend that you bring a towel or lawn chair to sit on while you hang around and wait for the awards ceremony to begin. Hang out and enjoy the bluegrass music from Rollin’ Coal. This will give you a chance to rest your tired legs before jumping in your car.
AWARDS: Overall awards (top 3) are done based on “gun time”. Age group awards are done based on “chip time”. 10 Miler has 5-year age groups and the 5 Miler has 10-year age groups. The 5-mile award ceremony will be done first and the 10-mile ceremony will begin once the majority of runners have finished the race. We can’t wait for everyone to finish before awards as many runners need to start the trip home. Don't be in a rush to leave. Have some food; have some fun; be a fan! Runners love to be cheered on as they finish. We are a small race. There is a good chance you have won an award. Reminder, we will not mail your award if you leave.
***OTHER STUFF***
HELP US: With nearly 500 runners there are 1,000 hands at the race. If you see trash, please pick it up. If you are sticking around over the weekend and back on the trails after the race, we would love it if you grabbed some signs too. You can leave them at the picnic shelter or find the race directors in the campground.
NO BUTT HEAD RULE: The Medoc Trail Races has a "no butt head" rule. It is pretty simple. . . Don't be a butt head. Every person at this race is a volunteer. Be kind. This race was developed as a true "runner-first" event. Our goal is for you to leave with more swag, memories, and smiles than you will find at any other race in the country. If there is a problem, we still want to know. . . just don't be a butt head.
RACE DAY STAFF: If something goes wrong for you find one of our race committee members (Michael, Scott, or Dennis). If things go well, find a person in a volunteer shirt and tell them “thank you”. They gave up their Saturday so you could race. Say thank you at every aid station. Before you get in your car to leave, we hope you have thanked at least five volunteers. Be sure to thank the EMS workers and Park Staff as well (for allowing us to run).
CONCH SHELLS: Keeping with tradition, the race committee will not provide conch shells for runners. If you do not understand this you have not read the race rules.
FACEBOOK: It is a long story, but our page was wiped out from Facebook, so 4,000 followers and 15 years of memories are now gone. We started to build it back, but still want to invite you to join if you don’t already.
VOLUNTEERS: We are building the volunteer plan. You should get an email soon with your assignments. BIG THANKS for helping our little race become a big success.
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]. See you on race day!
Medocly yours,
Michael, Scott, and Dennis
. . Things that were wrong with this email: Medoc Man does not know Napolean, and he has been dead for over 200 years. We will not aid and abet in the stealing of gas from the car next to you. Tupac is not performing at an aid station, but unlike Napolean, he is definitely still alive! However, Rolling Coal is, in fact, performing near the shelter after the race. We do not hose down the big grass field, but it will be wet! There are not any escalators on the course, nor do we install extra roots – there are certainly enough on the trails already. We actually did name someone “Explosive Diarrhea”. There is no complaint box for your trail name. We will not make you pick up signs if you are late – but if you want to, we won’t stop you. We have seen spiders, but not the size of a grapefruit. No one is getting leftover gummy snacks as a finisher surprise – they were all eaten by the race directors on the way home from last year’s race. Finally, there is no prize for reading to the end. Reminder once again to please like and follow our page!
