Fifth-annual Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series benefits health of runners and King County Parks

Fifth-annual Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series benefits health of runners and King County Parks

May 19 marks the beginning of the fifth-annual Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series, a successful collaboration between King County Parks and the Seattle Running Company.

A series of four races that range in length from five to 13 miles, the trail running series benefits all Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park trail users because volunteer work groups from the trail-running community commit to more than 100 hours of trail restoration work each year. Tasks include hauling and laying gravel, building bridges and improving drainage along the trails.

“Trails are a valuable community resource, and King County greatly appreciates the work that race participants and other volunteers do for Cougar Mountain’s trail system,” said Tom Koney, assistant director of the King County Parks Division, and a participant in the trail running series.

In addition to the volunteer labor, a portion of the trail race registration fees are donated to King County Parks. Of each racer’s $25 per race registration fee, $15 goes toward park maintenance and improvements.

“The series gives runners a chance to not only excel at trail running, but also to do their part in maintaining these excellent public amenities for other users,” said Scott McCoubrey, President of the Seattle Running Company.

McCoubrey said that trail running is growing in popularity throughout the Pacific Northwest, and specifically at Cougar Mountain, which is rated the number-one destination for runners in Seattle by Runner’s World magazine.

The 2007 Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series is sponsored by King County Parks, Montrail, Nike Vision, Pacific Properties, Seattle Running Company and USA Track and Field. For more information, or to register for a race, visit http://www.seattlerunningcompany.com/Events/Cougar/cougarmtn1.html.

Race course lengths will gradually increase as the Cougar Mountain series continues. Beginning with a basic five-mile race, the series culminates with a half marathon of 13 miles. The registration area and starting line of each race is the Sky Country trailhead, off 166th Way SE. The schedules for each race are:

Race 1 (5 miles), May 19
• Packet Pick-up and Race Day Registration: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Race Start: 9 a.m.
• Awards/Prize Drawings: 11 a.m.

Race 2 (7.5 miles), June 9
• Packet Pick-up and Race Day Registration: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Race Start: 9 a.m.
• Awards/Prize Drawings: 11 a.m.

Race 3 (10 miles), July 7
• Packet Pick-up and Race Day Registration: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Race Start: 9 a.m.
• Awards/Prize Drawings: 11:30 a.m.

Race 4 (13 miles), August 11
• Packet Pick-up and Race Day Registration: 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• Race Start: 8:30 a.m.
• Awards/Prize Drawings: 11 a.m.

At more than 3,000 acres in size, Cougar Mountain features 36 miles of hiking trail and 12 miles of horseback riding trails. The park is located south of I-90 and east of I-405, just minutes from downtown Bellevue, Seattle or Renton. For more park information, visit http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/parks/cougarmountain.html

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/.