Leftovers Trail Run

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Leftovers Trail Run, happening Saturday, November 28 — two days after Thanksgiving and our Birds of a Feather Trail Trot. Choose a 5K or 10K and enjoy the scenic, fun, and challenging single-track trails of Briar Chapel.

Embrace the spirit of adventure with a vintage bib, tee, and medal of your choice, all leftover from past events and creatively repurposed for this budget-friendly, eco-conscious race — a true swag scramble. After your run, stick around for the post-race party featuring great food, a free kids race, and an awards ceremony packed with fun contests and plenty of giveaways.

After the race, any remaining tees will be sold at steep discounts — perfectly timed as holiday shopping ramps up.

Make a weekend of it!  Kick things off with the Birds of a Feather Trail Trot on Thanksgiving Day, then burn off that holiday feast two days later at the Leftovers Trail Run. Register for both events at the same time and receive 10% off each race (select Thanksgiving weekend races during registration).

Adventures are more fun with family and friends, so create a team and invite your crew to join you. 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.     

The 10K offers a super-fun challenge for both newbies and trail veterans alike.  The 10K course starts with .43 mile of wide-open pavement, perfect for separating the field or runners.  Following the paved section, runners will complete 5.54 miles of undulating double-track dirt trails and flowy single-track with plenty of roots, rocks, and short hill climbs.  The course ends with a .26 mile paved trail heading to the finish line.  The exact distance is 6.2 miles (10K), with an elevation gain of 378’.  

CLICK HERE to view view elevation profile and map in detail.

Leftovers Trail Run 10K Technical Terrain Course Rating:  Overall 3 out of 5 - (.69M of EASIEST/EASY and 5.54M of MODERATE) (This is a fun and challenging course)

1 - EASIEST (no technical terrain) (wide double-track (dirt road), smooth single-track with minimal rocks/roots, grassy areas, paved trail.  Some moderate hills) 
2 - EASY (some roots/rocks but mostly smooth sections of trail.  Some moderate hills)
3 - MODERATE (more roots and rocks and some smooth sections of trail.  Some short punchy hill climbs and gradual inclines dispersed throughout.  Some 'flat' sections)
4 - DIFFICULT (a lot of roots and rocks.  Many short punchy hill climbs and gradual inclines dispersed throughout.  Few 'flat' sections.)
5 - MOST DIFFICULT (almost all roots and rocks.  Almost all hills, with very few flat sections)    

The 5K offers a super-fun challenge for both newbies and trail veterans alike.  The 5K course starts with .43 mile of wide-open pavement, perfect for separating the field or runners.  Following the paved section, runners will complete 2.79 miles of undulating double-track dirt trails and flowy single-track with plenty of roots, rocks, and short hill climbs.  The course ends with a .26 mile paved trail heading to the finish line.  The exact distance is 3.38 miles (5.4K), with an elevation gain of 217’. 

CLICK HERE to view view elevation profile and map in detail.

Leftovers Trail Run 5K Technical Terrain Course Rating:  Overall 3 out of 5 - (.69M of EASIEST/EASY and 2.79M of MODERATE) (This is a fun and challenging course)

1 - EASIEST (no technical terrain) (wide double-track (dirt road), smooth single-track with minimal rocks/roots, grassy areas, paved trail.  Some moderate hills) 
2 - EASY (some roots/rocks but mostly smooth sections of trail.  Some moderate hills)
3 - MODERATE (more roots and rocks and some smooth sections of trail.  Some short punchy hill climbs and gradual inclines dispersed throughout.  Some 'flat' sections)
4 - DIFFICULT (a lot of roots and rocks.  Many short punchy hill climbs and gradual inclines dispersed throughout.  Few 'flat' sections.)
5 - MOST DIFFICULT (almost all roots and rocks.  Almost all hills, with very few flat sections)    

Professional photographers will be at the race capturing images of race day fun.  All photos will be FREE for download after the race. 

Check out photos from our past races HERE.  

Sprawling over 900 acres on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. In addition to fantastic trails, centrally located Great Meadow Park, with its beautiful lawn, stage, and pavilion, offers the perfect location to stage this event.  Park on the neighborhood streets adjacent to Great Meadow Park (161 Salt Cedar Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516).  Overflow parking will be available at Woods Charter school about .3 miles from the staging area (160 Woodland Grove Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Volunteers have a front row seat to all the action and make it all happen on race day.  All are welcome to volunteer.  At this race, volunteers help with check-in, aid stations, course marshalling, post-race food, and sweeping/demarking the course.  Volunteering 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. Volunteer shifts usually start between 7am-8:30am and last 2-4 hours.

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

Sprawling over 900 acres and located on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast 20+ mile network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails.  Including a mixture of undulating double-track dirt trails and flowy single-track with plenty of roots, rocks, and short hill climbs, the 5K and 10K courses offer a super-fun challenge for both newbies and trail veterans alike.  Perfect for separating the field of runners, both courses start with just under half mile of pavement.  The 5K course has 217' of elevation gain and measures 3.38 miles (5.4K).  The 10K course has 378' of elevation gain and measures 6.2 miles (10K).

For more details on each individual course, click on the links below:

5K Course
10K Course

• Priced lower than our races of equal distance/swag options, and priced lower still for Youth 17-U and Senior 65+.
• 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.  Choose a vintage tee in your size from our stock of leftovers from our past races.  All our tees are high-quality, super soft/comfy, and come in men’s/unisex, women’s, and youth sizes (see link for color and sizing specs). Screen printed with vintage ink to give it an attractive, light, and subdued look. Pick up at check-in. 
• Medal.  Choose a vintage medal from our stock of leftovers from past races.  All medals come with a Leftovers Ribbon that has replaced the original race ribbon.  Pick up from the awards table at the finish line.  
• Bib.  Racers will use a bib from one of our past races.  
• Exciting atmosphere with great music
• Excellent volunteer support
• Well-stocked aid stations (5K = one on course + finish, 10K = three on course + finish)
• Medical support
• Chip timing for 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 (professional photographers will be at the race)

STAGING AREA:  Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel (161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

SATURDAY, 11/28/26 (Race Day)

• 7:30am-9am:  Check-in / Packet Pick-up
• 8:50am:  10K Race Brief at the start line
• 9:00am:  10K Start
• 9:10am:  5K Race Brief at the start line 
• 9:20am:  5K Start 
• 9:45am-11:30am:  Post-Race Food
• 10:30am:  FREE Kids Race for Treasure' (kids 11-U)
• 10:45am:  Awards
• 11am:  Contests / Giveaways

PORCH Briar Chapel helps put food on the table of those in need in our community.  Many donations go to the CORA FOOD PANTRY which provides emergency food to individuals and families in Chatham County.  They also provide children who attend the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsboro with fresh produce and a bag of nonperishables on a monthly basis.  During registration, please consider donating to support their great work.  Roadless Races will match 10% of funds collected. 

PORCH Briar Chapel will also be at the Leftovers Trail Run collecting cash and canned/boxed food donations.  Their greatest need for the holiday season is mac and cheese, rice, mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, cornbread mix, fruit cups, canned veggies, pie/cookie/brownie mix, cinnamon, and any spices.  Please consider bringing an item to contribute. 

Thank you for supporting such a great cause.  

At 10:30am, 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.  Registration is not required for the kids race.  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 course’ in the large field near the staging area.  After running, kids can grab a prize (toys from the dollar store:) from the Treasure Chest!    

Awards (leftover tumblers or pint glasses) and prizes (Fleet Feet gift certificates or leftover swag) for top five overall M/F 5K and 10K competitors. Awards (1st-3rd place pint glasses - leftover from any of our past years) for the top three M/F 5K and 10K competitors in each age group.

5K and 10K age groups: 13-U, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

Runners and volunteers are invited to join the contests - fun stuff such as push-ups, squats, sprint, 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. 

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