Salem Lake Trail Runs         30K/7 Mile/5K

Come join us for the 30K (18.6 miles), 7 mile, or 5K (3.1 miles) run on the beautiful, mostly shaded, wooded trail surrounding Salem Lake.  Enjoy a well-organized event that is a great tune up for your fall marathon.  The course has been listed as one of America's best running trails and part of the proceeds benefit the Salem Lake Trail System.  Celebrate your run with post race food and beer from Radar Brewing! 

Registration closes at 11:59PM Wednesday before the race. Registration available at Friday Packet Pick-Up only.

THERE IS NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION!

Race Start times:
          30k – 8:00 AM
          7 Mile – 8:15 AM
          5K – 8:20 AM

Packet Pickup (at Salem Lake Marina building):
          Friday – 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
          Saturday – 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM

Long Sleeve Tri-Blend Race T-Shirts will be available in female and unisex sizes. Shirts guaranteed for all registrations through end of August! Shirts run true to size but if you prefer a looser fitting shirt, size up!

Race Transfer Requests: Must be made by Wednesday before the race. Email runthelastmile245@gmail.com. No exceptions! 

AWARDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AS FOLLOWS

9:00am -- 5K rolling awards start

9:25am -- 7 Mile rolling awards start

9:40am  -- 30K rolling awards start

AWARDS WILL NOT BE MAILED.  MUST BE PICKED UP AT THE RACE

AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN AS FOLLOWS:

OVERALL AND MASTERS WINNERS BASED UPON GUN (CLOCK) TIMES; ALL OTHERS BASED UPON CHIP TIMES

5K Awards
OVERALL 1ST PLACE Male and Female 
MASTERS 1ST PLACE Male and Female (40 & over)
1ST PLACE ONLY Male and Female in the following ages: 14 & under, 15-19 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & over 

7 Mile Awards
OVERALL TOP 3 Male and Female 
MASTERS 1ST PLACE Male and Female (40 and over)
1ST PLACE ONLY Male and Female in the following ages: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & over

30K Awards
OVERALL TOP 3 Male and Female 
MASTERS 1ST PLACE Male and Female (40 and over)
1ST PLACE ONLY Male and Female in the following ages: 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & over

Early starters in the 30K are not eligible for awards.

Finisher Medallion
30K only 

The Big 4 Trail Race Series includes the following Winston-Salem Trail Races hosted by Twin City Track Club: Hobby Trail to You! (August 9), Salem Lake Trail Races (September 27), Black Friday Relays (November 28) and Frosty Fifty (January 2-3, 2026) at Salem Lake.

Save $$ and register for all 4 races at one time! Finish all four races, any distance and earn great swag including Big 4 Trail Race Series apparel! Presented at the Frosty Fifty in Jan 2025. Click here to register today!  (Note: Registration for the Big 4 Trail Race Series closes after the Hobby Trails to You! race registration closes.)

See you on the Trails!

5K- Out and back on the Salem Lake Trail. Start & finish at Marina Building

7 Mile – One complete counterclockwise loop around the lake. Start & finish at Marina Building. NOTE: The 7 mile runners DO NOT take off-shoot trail described below on the 30K course

30K – Starting at the Marina/Office Building, the 30K runners go around the lake* counterclockwise for about 6.5 miles, then down the greenway next to Salem Creek to the turnaround point at about 8.5 miles and return to the finish via the same route.  See the image below for the approximate 30K turnaround location.

Salem Lake Information

Salem Lake Trail User Information (including a trail map)

Salem Lake Trail Information by AllTrails

Safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases will be in place as required by local and state regulations and recommended by public health officials at the time of the race.  Specific guidelines and procedures will be updated closer to the event.  

• Date: Friday, 9/25/2026
• Time: 3pm - 7pm
• Location: Salem Lake Marina
• Registration is available during packet pick-up
• NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION

*Race Day Packet Pick-Up is available starting at 6:30AM - 7:30AM!*

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!! 

Due to predicted rainfall and the potential for flooding on the Salem Creek Greenway, the City of Winston-Salem has requested that we modify the 30K course. Instead of an out and back course on the Greenway, the 30K runners will make 2 full loops of Salem Lake following the Frosty Fifty 12.5K loop, and then run the 5K course which is an out and back on the Salem Lake Trail.  The 30K will start and finish at the Marina building.  Runners will pass by the finish line twice running in a counter-clockwise direction, and will finish with the final 2.5K in a clockwise direction.

The 7 Mile course and the 5K course should be unaffected by the weather and are unchanged.

The forecast calls for rain this evening and tomorrow morning.   Absent an announcement to the contrary, the races will proceed as scheduled.

Thanks for understanding!

Got some used running shoes you need to get rid of?  Bring them to the race!  We will be collecting used sneakers and running shoes that are still in good condition, with no tears or holes, and sending them to Sneakers4Good.  Their sneaker reuse and recycling program helps keep your running shoes out of landfills while supporting local causes and families all over the world. 

We are thrilled to partner with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem! Donations can be made during registration or on-site at the races to help support our local association!

Click here to learn more about the partnership and all the wonderful things this organization is doing in our local community!