Night Owl Trail Races
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Night Owl Trail Races : Winter Night Owl
The event takes place on January 9, 2027 in Waynesville, Ohio at Caesar Creek State Park and is organized by Empower Ultra and Endurance Races. It is the eighth year of the Night Owl series and the winter edition offers trail running at night with a selection of distances.
Distances
- Marathon
- Half Marathon
- 10K
The course follows mostly single track trail around Caesar Creek Lake, combining the yellow perimeter loop with red and green trails near Wellman Meadow. Trails are heavily wooded and feature rolling hills with some back-to-back rollers; conditions vary with weather and can be dry and runnable or wet and muddy. Some sections use the wide shoulder of North Clarksville Road and Route 73; runners must stay in the shoulder and run no more than two abreast. There is a short railing to climb to reenter the trail, with signage at that point.
There are four aid stations with varying supplies:
- Wellman Meadow: water and Tailwind; manned until all 10K runners pass.
- Fifty Springs: fully stocked with water, Tailwind and typical ultra foods.
- Day Lodge: water, Tailwind and limited nutrition.
- Start/Finish: fully stocked with water, Tailwind, snacks and warm food including vegan options.
This is a cupless race; participants must carry a collapsible cup. Mandatory gear includes a headlamp or waist light with spare batteries, a water bottle or bladder, a collapsible cup, and a fully charged cell phone; additional winter clothing and emergency items are recommended. Finishers receive glow in the dark owl medals and all registrants receive event swag; registering by November 20 guarantees swag. The event is Trail Sisters approved and emphasizes equal podium spots, equal prize money and inclusive practices. There are no refunds; a tiered deferral policy and race insurance options are available. Packet pickup occurs at the start/finish shelter before the race; allow time for parking and possible overflow walking up to one mile. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
