Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon

Blue Blaze Festival - Buckeye Trail

The Blue Blaze Festival in the Village of Shawnee, Ohio is a two day event that celebrates the Buckeye Trail in the Wayne National Forest. Events take place on and near the Buckeye Trail and are presented with partner organizations from the local area.

There are five event options:

• Half Marathon
• 10K
• 5K run/walk
• 10 mile hike
• Overnight backpacking trek

The Half Marathon and 10K use the Buckeye Trail as an out and back course with mile markers and directional signs. Most of the running courses are on single track trail with some sections on roads; the half marathon includes over 1,000 feet of elevation change. Several aid stations will provide water and Gatorade, and volunteers will be stationed at road crossings. All running events are chip timed. The 5K follows a loop course that includes the Woodthrush connector trail near Tecumseh Lake.

The 10 mile hike follows the Blue Blazes, will circle Tecumseh Lake and Upper Rock Run Lake, and includes a guide to historical sites. A backpacking workshop includes an overnight trek with an orientation the day before and a return to Shawnee the following day.

Registered participants by September 1, 2026 will receive an event shirt while shirts after that date are not guaranteed. All finishers of the trail run, hike or backpacking receive a 2026 Blue Blaze Festival finisher patch. Packet pickup is available at the Buckeye Trail Association office in Shawnee. Awards recognize top three overall male and female finishers and age group results. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.