Harepin Hustle Trail Run

Harepin Hustle Course Preview Run on Sat, Feb 21 @ 8am — LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE

The 3rd Annual Harepin Hustle Trail Run returns this spring with fun and challenging 10K+ (7.3 miles) and Half Marathon courses that start and finish at Lake Crabtree and wind through the trail network of Wake County’s newly acquired 286 property.  Runners can expect flowy, forest-covered single-track mixed with hairpin turns, berms, punchy climbs, and short technical sections.  

Race staging and the finish line are located on the park's beautiful lakeside lawn.  Post-race festivities include food, music, a free kids race, and an awards ceremony featuring fun contests and giveaways.

10K+ & Half Marathon Course Description

Both the 10K+ and Half Marathon follow lollipop-style courses, sharing a common out-and-back “stem” before branching into looped single-track within the 286 trail network.

Runners begin with a 2.1-mile stem, starting on the park entrance road before heading north along the lakeside trail to Old Reedy Creek Road (gravel). From there, the course enters the 286 trail network — the “candy”.

Once on the 286 trails, runners complete the 2.6-mile outer loop in a clockwise direction. After finishing this loop:

10K+ runners return to Lake Crabtree via the same stem, finishing along the grassy perimeter of the lakeside lawn.

Half Marathon runners continue deeper into the trail network, completing the 3.3-mile inner loop counterclockwise, followed by a second lap of the outer loop, before heading back down the stem to the finish at Lake Crabtree.

Terrain & Difficulty

These courses feature plenty of hairpin turns, berms, and short, punchy climbs. The trails are best described as moderately technical, with root- and rock-filled sections mixed with smoother, flowy single-track. Elevation gain is steady but manageable, rewarding focus, rhythm, and solid trail footing rather than brute strength.

10K+: 7.3 miles | 507 feet of elevation gain

Half Marathon: 13.2 miles | 983 feet of elevation gain

Course Maps & Profiles

Interactive maps and elevation profiles are available at the links below:

10K+ Course
Half Marathon Course

Technical Terrain Rating

Harepin Hustle 10K+ & Half Marathon:
Overall Technical Rating: 3+ out of 5

Terrain Rating Scale

1 – Easiest: Wide dirt roads, smooth single-track, grassy or paved surfaces; minimal rocks or roots; some moderate hills
2 – Easy: Occasional roots and rocks with mostly smooth trail; some moderate hills
3 – Moderate: Frequent roots and rocks mixed with smoother sections; short punchy climbs and gradual inclines; some flat sections
4 – Difficult: Extensive roots and rocks; frequent climbs; very few flat sections
5 – Most Difficult: Constant roots and rocks; sustained climbing with minimal flat terrain

A professional photographer will be at the race capturing images of the race day fun.  After the race, we will post a link to the Zen Squirrel Trail Run photos, which are FREE for download. 

Check out photos from our past races HERE.

Volunteers have a front row seat to all the action and make it all happen on race day.  All are welcome to volunteer.  At the Harepin Hustle, volunteers help with parking, check-in, aid stations, course marshalling, post-race food, and sweeping/demarking the course.  Volunteering at our events is a great way to join in on the event and have fun in the outdoors. 

All volunteers receive a free race t-shirt, free food, and a $15 discount into a future Roadless Races event.  Most volunteer shifts start between 7:15am-8:15am and last 2-4 hours.   

After you sign up, we will add you to the volunteer plan and send a few days before the race.  THANK YOU for volunteering!

To volunteer, SIGN UP HERE!

• Limited race entry to provide an intimate and friendly race experience and to prevent overcrowding on the trails
• 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.  Comes in men's/unisex, women's, and youth sizes (see link for sizing/specs).  2025 tee shown.  2026 tee design coming soon.
• Beautiful, large, and hefty 3.5" finisher medal that doubles as a drink coaster (remove the velcro ribbon).
• Exciting atmosphere with great music
• Excellent volunteer support
• Well-stocked aid stations
• Medical support
• Chip timing.  Accurate and timely posting of results.
• Abundant, varied, and tasty post-race food/beverage (including items such as sliders, fresh fruit, hummus/veggies, bagels/peanut butter, trail bars, chips, cookies, and a crowd favorite, little cups of M&Ms).  Beverages include water, Gatorade, soft drinks, and Honest Kids juice.
• 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 (a professional photographer will be at the race)
• Lower pricing for Youth 17-Under and Seniors 65+

SATURDAY, 3/21/26 (Race Day)

STAGING AREA:  Lake Crabtree County Park (1400 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560)

• 7:30am - 8:45am:  Check-in
• 8:50am:  Pre-Race Brief
• 9:00am:  Race Start (10K+ and Half Marathon)
• 9:45am - 1pm:  Post-race Food/Beverage
• 11am:  Awards / Contests / Giveaways (10K+)
• 11:30am:  FREE Kids 'Race for Treasure' (kids 11-U)
• 12:15pm:  Awards / Contests / Giveaways (Half Marathon)

The Harepin Hustle 10K+ and Half Marathon feature lollipop-style courses that start and finish at Lake Crabtree, with a shared 2.1-mile out-and-back stem before entering the 286 trail network.  Both races complete a clockwise outer loop of flowy, forested single-track with hairpin turns, berms, and short, punchy climbs; Half Marathon runners add an inner loop and a second lap of the outer loop before returning to the finish.  The trails are moderately technical with roots and rocks, offering a challenging but very runnable experience.  Distances and elevation gain: 10K+ (7.3 miles, 507’) and Half Marathon (13.2 miles, 983’).

Interactive maps and elevation profiles are available at the links below:

10K+ Course
Half Marathon Course

All finishers will receive a medal.  Awards (1st-5th place tumblers) and prizes (Fleet Feet gift certificates) for top five overall M/F competitors in each distance. Awards (1st-3rd place pint glasses) for the top three M/F competitors in each age group.  

Age groups for each distance: 13-Under, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

Racers and volunteers are invited to join the contests - fun stuff such as push up, squat, cornhole, 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. 

Racers must be at least 12 years old to race unaccompanied in the 10K or Half Marathon.  Racers 8-11 years old MUST race WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian, unless approved by race director (email info@roadlessraces.com to request approval).

At 11:30am, 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.  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’ in the large field near the staging area.  After running, kids can grab a prize (toys from the dollar store:) from the Treasure Chest!    

Adventures are more fun with friends so create a team and invite your friends to join you in this race. 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.     

Invite friends to join in the fun.  Every person who signs up using your unique referral link will help you earn the following rewards.  

• Receive a sweet Roadless Races Trucker Hat when you refer TWO (2) runners.  One hat/person.  Pick up your hat at check-in.
• Receive $25 cash back for EVERY FOUR (4) runners you refer.

Your referral link will be included on your confirmation email and we will also send you a separate email that you can forward to your friends.  Also, your referral link will be embedded in the social share buttons at the end of registration.  Plenty of ways to invite your friends and earn rewards.