Grand Tree Trail Race Series

What is the Grand Tree?

The Grand Tree is a New England trail race series that provides competition, community, and a measure of performance relative to one's peers or oneself over time. For beginning trail racers, it's an entry to races farther from home or of differing distance or character. For new trail races, inclusion in the series can help a race become established.

How the Series Works
(for 2020, see Covid-19 note below)

Run as few or as many races as you like, at least six to officially complete the series. Each race earns you points proportional to your pace as a percentage of the winner's pace, with the winner getting 100 points, and, for example, a hypothetical runner at 75% of the winner's pace getting 75 points. Your best six races determine your final standing for the series. In addition, for the "Stonehead" competition, the points for all the races you run are summed. For dual-distance races, the longer race is the Grand Tree Race except for Chesterfield, Pisgah, and Peaked as noted.

Support the race directors and clubs who make these trail races possible!

Grand Tree Results Archive

Previous Grand Trees: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

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About that Covid-19 virus...

We are in the exponential growth of the Covid-19 epidemic, and substantial infection during the season appears likely within the region of the trail races in the Grand Tree. Limiting the rate of growth is important so as to reduce overburdening the health care system. Although for a trail race people may not necessarily be in close enough contact to be likely to spread the virus from one to another, it doesn't seem wise to encourage people to drive from around the region for a race then return to their hometowns potentially spawning new clusters.

Even though race directors are resourceful people and may find ways or decide that their races may be reasonably held, and despite, to adapt the saying of that famous sage, Don Kardong,
      "Without trail running, all would be chaos and darkness",
this year it may be better to run mostly locally rather than complete a regional race series.

Therefore, while encouraging race directors and runners to decide themselves what is best, this year the Grand Tree will not score the series for Stoneheads (total points) or overall winners (best six races). Races that are held will have results posted in Grand Tree form, so that you may see how your GT% score compares with past years, expectations, or peers. This scheme can be revised if the situation changes or someone has a better idea.

Expect cancellations and rescheduling among these races and check their websites for definitive information: the "Last revised" date below does not mean that each race's information has been updated.

Good luck this year, everyone! Run happy and enjoy the trails.

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2020 Schedule

Last revised September 12, 2020

Contact regarding the Grand Tree and its scoring, this website, and the newsletter

Race directors: Please let us know of any date changes or of any significant revisions to your race's results following their initial posting. - Thanks.

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