South Ridge Trail Challenge

The South Ridge Trail Challenge is the region's premier early summer trail race and the only ultramarathon in North Park. Located on the South Ridge of North Park in Allegheny County, it offers a spectacular array of trails for runners and hikers of all abilities:

• a 5K for everyone, hikers welcome!
• a steady 10K for those looking for a little more climb, hikers also welcome!
• challenge yourself with two loops of the 10K course and (just about) complete 20K (just about a 1/2 marathon)
• a day-long party 50K relay- 5 10K loops let you share your vert with friends (relay teams are 2-5 people)
• a truly intrepid 50K - 5 10K loops covering almost 5000ft of vert. gain that will lead you on a journey from confidence to self-doubt and back again, earning you bragging rights as a finisher of the only 50K race in North Park. 

All distances start and finish near the historic North Park swimming pool. Runners and walkers will then make their way up, down, and around the South Ridge Plateau, exploring all the beauty of early summer in Western PA.  

START TIMES:

• 50K and 50K Relay - 7:30 am
• 5K - 9:00 am
• 20K - 10:30 am
• 10K - 11:00 am

COURSE CUT-OFF:

50K athletes MUST leave the aid station for their final loop by 3:30pm. NO EXCEPTIONS.

These results are accurate as of June 2, 2025 at 8:30pm. Thank you for your patience as we get the first round of results correct - many of the original names imported incorrectly. 

Please contact jessika@gcxcracing.com with series scoring questions and to report any suspected errors. 

We at GCXC love dogs and many of our staff have them.  They are a wonderful addition to any family.   However, for safety and insurance reasons, we do not allow them at our events.  Please come to our races and have a blast with your family, friends and fellow runners but we kindly ask you to leave your dogs at home.  

SERVICE ANIMALS:  If you will be accompanied by a service animal, please contact the race director before the event so that we may make the appropriate accommodations for you.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

In an effort to leave a smaller carbon footprint, GCXC has eliminated the use of single-use plastic bottles at its events.  Post-race, we will have coolers with water and Gatorade along with paper cups for all participants to rehydrate.   Please feel free to bring your own reusable bottles or flasks to fill up at the conclusion of the event.

Awards will be as follows for all 3 races.

• Top 3 overall men and women
• Age Groups will be top 3 male and female in the groups below.
  • 19 and under
  • 20-29
  • 30-39
  • 40-49
  • 50-59
  • 60-69
  • 70+

No double dipping: a participant who wins an overall top award is removed from their age group. 

There are two aid stations on the course (all distances are approximate):

• 5K participants will pass one aid station at 1.5 miles
• 10K participants will pass aid stations at miles: 1.5 and 4.6
• 20K participants will pass aid stations at miles 1.5, 4.6, 6.2, 7.7, 10.8

All aid stations are staffed with enthusiastic volunteers and will be stocked with the following items: 

• water
• Gatorade
• GU
• trail mix
• M & M's and other limited candy
• fruit gummies
• cola and ginger ale
• ice

The charity partner for the South Ridge Trail Challenge is the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, which strengthens the health and vibrancy of our community by improving, conserving, and restoring the nine Allegheny County Parks.

Please consider adding a donation to your registration.

Learn more:  

The following race day guidelines have been approved by the Allegheny County Department of Health.  These guidelines are in place for the safety of the participants, volunteers, and race directors.  Please do not register if you cannot follow these guidelines.  Participants who fail to abide by these rules will be removed and disqualified from the event. 

PRE-RACE GUIDELINES

- Participants must be symptom free of illness for 14 days (Oct 9th & after).  Symptomatic individuals MUST stay at home.  
 
- Participants traveling to event are recommended to travel alone or with members of immediate family only.

- Participants are recommend to wear a face covering to the starting line and can remove their face covering when they start running.  

- Participants must wear shirt and shoes at all times.

- Hand sanitizer stations will be provided at the start and finish line areas.  

​- Bottled water will be available at the finish line.  
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DURING RACE GUIDELINES

- No spitting, snotting, or projections of any bodily fluid before, during or after event.
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- Restroom accommodations will be available prior to the event at Pie Traynor restrooms and port-o-johns on site.

• 5K and 10K
  • The 5K and 10K events are hiker/walker friendly and have no cut-off time. 
• 20K
  • The 20K is 2 loops of the 10K route.    
  • All participants must maintain an 18:12 pace and be through the 10K split within 2 hours (by 10:00 am).  Any 20K participants not through the split near Deer Browse Shelter within the 2-hour limit will be dropped to the 10K and asked to finish. 

Be sure and register by Sunday, July 23rd to get the best pricing.   It will not be this low again.   Prices increase on Monday, July 24th.

• 5K - $25
• 10K - $40
• 20K - $50

In an effort to keep things fresh and exciting, we will be running all courses backward in 2024.  All directions and maps have been updated for 2024.

• 5K STRAVA LINK
• 10K and 20K STRAVA LINK

GPX FILES

• CLICK HERE

5K COURSE

• The 5K course will cover the first and last 1.5 mile sections of the figure eight 10K loop .  This first 1.5-mile section will be on technical single track with rocks, roots and plenty of elevation.  
• All 5K runners will turn left at approximately 1.9 miles, at water stop 1, and then complete the back half of the course.
• The back half will continue on beautiful single track and then traverse down the sandstone precipice of the park.  This area is very popular with the mountain bike community. 
• The course will conclude with a technical rock garden section then an open, fast, dirt road finish.
• There will be 1 water stop on the 5K course at approximately 1.4  miles and this will also be your marker for the turn off.

10K & 20K COURSE

• The 10K and 20K course will begin with the same first 1.5 miles as the 5K.
• The 10K and 20K will then split off and add on a gorgeous very hilly and technical 3.1 mile loop before returning to the water stop again at approximately 4.5 miles.
• Those doing the 20K will repeat the 10K loop a second time.
• For 20K participants, there will be an additional water stop as you complete the first 10K loop before heading out again.
• WATER STOPS
  • 10K water stops - 1.4 and 4.5 miles
  • 20K water stops - 1.4, 4.5, 6.2, 7.8, 10.8

Although we hope changes are minimal, we understand changes sometimes are necessary due to life events or training issues. Therefore, we have adopted the following rules:

• ALL CHANGES MUST TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE EVENT.
• YOU CAN NOT MAKE CHANGES ON RACE DAY OR DURING THE RACE!  
  • If you do not finish the distance you registered for, you DNF. All the best trail runners DNF sometimes. It's character-building. 

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR EVENT DISTANCE:

• All changes will incur a $5 change fee, plus any difference in race fee

  • NO CHANGES will be allowed after 5/25/25

  • NO CHANGES will be accepted on Race day

STEPS IN RUN SIGN UP TO CHANGE YOUR EVENT DISTANCE

• Visit www.runsignup.com and click the "Athlete Login" link at the top right.
• Sign in with the email & password you used when you registered.
• Click on your profile
• Scroll down to your events.
• Choose the "2025 South Ridge Trail Challenge" from your events
• In the navigation at the top of the screen, select EVENT TRANSFER and follow the prompts on the screen.

If you are changing to a shorter distance there is no additional cost over $5.

• If you are changing to a longer distance, you pay the registration price difference, if any at the current rate, plus the $5 change fee.

You may not change distances mid-race.  If you decide to drop to a shorter race, you will be listed as a DNF in the event you registered for.

CLICK HERE for a tutorial video on how to change events.

• The 10K and 20K courses will begin with the same first 1.5 miles as the 5K.
• The 10K and 20K will then split off and add on a gorgeous very hilly and technical 3.1 mile loop before returning to the water stop again at approximately 4.5 miles.
• Those doing the 20K will repeat the 10K loop a second time.
• For 20K participants, there will be an additional water stop as you complete the first 10K loop before heading out again.
• AID STATIONS
  • 10K water stops - 1.4 and 4.5 miles
  • 20K water stops - 1.4, 4.5, 6.2, 7.8, 10.8
• GPX files for the 10K loop. 5K coming soon.

Packet Pick Up will be held on race morning beginning at 6:30 am.   

Full details will come in the pre-race email the week of the event.

Parking is located in the North Park pool parking lot across the street.

Any athlete who is a registered entrant and is or becomes pregnant before race day and chooses not to participate because of pregnancy or the birth of a child will be eligible to receive a deferred entry into one of the next two subsequent races. Registrants should contact matt@gcxcracing.com to activate the deferral policy. 

The only thing better than running trail miles and supporting the Allegheny County Parks Foundation is running them with friends & family!  Invite others to join you and earn cash back on your registration.

HOW DO I EARN REWARDS?  JUST FOLLOW THESE STEPS.

• When you register, you will receive your personal rewards link in your confirmation email.
• Simply share that link with your family, friends, and fellow runners via email, social media or text.
• For every transaction that is completed, using your unique code, you will earn a referral credit.
• When you hit a level below, you will instantly earn a reward back to the payment method that you signed up with.
  • 5 referral registrations = $10 BACK
  • 10 referral registrations = $20 BACK
  • 15 referral registrations = $30 BACK
• The more you refer, the greater your rewards.  So spread the word and start saving today!

RULES

• The referral has to sign up with your unique referral link. You cannot email us "after the fact for credit" saying "I referred someone and ask for them to be added to your total.
• The RunSignUp system automatically keeps track and refunds automatically.

HOW CAN I SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED THROUGH MY REFERRAL LINK? 

• You can track your referred registrations through your RunSignUp profile.
• Log into RunSignUp and go to Runner Links>>My Referrals or click THIS LINK.  

Restrooms will be located on site and at multiple nearby parking lots.

All participants receive an awesome South Ridge Trail Challenge Beach Towel and this beautiful, custom, spinning finisher medal! 

• As with all trail events, the goal should always be to leave the park the way you found it.
• Please stay on the trail and do not go rogue.  If the trails are muddy, please run through the mud and do not climb or run around the mud.  This causes damage to the surrounding ecosystem and then needs to be repaired by park rangers and volunteers.
• At water stops, please deposit your cups in the appropriate bins nearby, or better yet, feel free to wear a personal hydration vest to cut down on cup usage.
• Please carry out all your nutrition wrappers with you or deposit them in the garbage at the water stops on the course.
• The course is open to other walkers, hikers, runners, and bikes. 
• Please be aware of your surroundings and do not run with headphones in both ears. 

PASSING OR BEING PASSED

• If you need to pass someone, kindly let them know you are coming up behind them and what side you will be passing them on.
• When being passed, kindly move aside to let faster participants continue... when it is safe to do so.

Come join GCXC at their 3 premier summer trail races:  "MAX VERT" Challenge is back and better than ever in 2025

• South Ridge Trail Challenge - Sunday, June 1, 2025 at North Park
• The Murrysville Monster - Sunday, July 13, 2025 at Duff and Pleasant Valley Parks in Murrysville
• The Two-Face 10K - Saturday, August 2, 2025 at North Park

This unique challenge is not for the faint of heart. With trail segments like Suffer This, Throat Punch, Straight Up the Mountain, and many more, this challenge will surely bring out the best in runners of all abilities.

HOW DOES IT WORK

The challenge is simple. Sign up for all 3 events at once, pick your distances at each race, and you are registered for the challenge. And the best part is, YOU CREATE YOUR OWN CHALLENGE!  There are 18 different combinations to choose from.  Pick the challenge that works for you!.

NOTE:  

• ONLY RUNNERS WHO REGISTER FOR THE CHALLENGE USING THE CHALLENGE BUNDLE TILE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CHALLENGE PERKS AND SERIES SCORING

• Registering for each race separately does not qualify as the "MAX VERT" challenge.

WHAT DO I GET FOR COMPLETING THE CHALLENGE

All participants who complete the challenge will:

• Receive an exclusive, commemorative, GCXC “MAX VERT" Challenge medal at The Two Face 10K on August 2, 2025.
  • MEDAL REVEAL WILL COME LATER THIS SPRING
• Receive all individual race SWAG from South Ridge, Murrysville Monster, and Two-Face:
• Pay only one transaction fee (not three!) when registering and save money.
• Get huge kudos on your accomplishment from family, friends, and fellow runners
• Experience immense pride as you strive towards YOUR MAX VERT, explore beautiful trails, climb mountains, cross streams and make memories. 

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH DISTANCES ARE RIGHT FOR ME?  WHAT'S THE VERT?

Great question. Since some of you may be unfamiliar with these courses, we are here to help. If you take a look at the chart below, you will see what your expected "MAX VERT" would be by selecting different distances.

So what are you waiting for?   Join the GCXC "MAX VERT" Challenge and we will see you at kick-off on June 1st at the South Ridge Trail Challenge!

In addition to earning the awesome "MAX VERT" challenge medal,  we have added two "MAX VERT" scoring challenges. These scoring challenges require you to run in one of 2 distinct race series:  30K MAX VERT SERIES (3 x 10K) or 60K MAX VERT SERIES (3 x 20K). There will be awards for the top 3 male and female in both series after the Two Face 10K on August 2nd.

• 30K MAX VERT SERIES
  • South Ridge 10K
  • Murrysville Monster 10K
  • Two Face 10K Trail (if you register for the Two-Face Challenge, only your time from the trail section will count for this series)
• 60K MAX VERT SERIES
  • South Ridge 20K
  • Murrysville Monster 20K
  • Two Face Challenge (both 10K road and trail). Scoring will be assigned based on combined time for both Two-Face events (road and trail).

HOW WILL THE SCORING WORK

• Athletes will earn points for their overall place BY CHIP TIME in each of the 3 races.
• Places 1 through 15 will score at each event for both male and female divisions:
  • 15Pts for first, 14 for second, 13 for third and so on.
• At the conclusion of the Two-Face 10K, we will tally all the points and announce the winners.
• In the event of a tie, the runner with more head-to-head wins moves up in standing.

WHAT HAPPENS IF...

I DNS or DNF a race? You will continue to be scored in the events you complete. 

I change distances after my initial registration? Scoring eligibility is determined at the start of South Ridge Trail Challenge on June 1. If you are not registered for three 10k or three 20K events on June 1, you will not be scored. If you make changes after June 1 and are no longer registered for three 10k or three 20k races, you will be removed from scoring. 

This race is Trail Sisters Approved:

We promise: 

• Equal Podiums & Awards
• Women’s Specific Apparel & Swag
• Menstrual Products at Aid Stations
• Women On the Starting Line
• Pregnancy & Postpartum Policy