Night Owl Trail Races

Event overview

The Night Owl Trail Marathon, Half, and 10K takes place on January 10, 2026, at Caesar Creek State Park in Waynesville, OH (4020 N Clarksville Rd). The event is organized by Empower Ultras and offers three distances:

• Marathon
• Half Marathon
• 10K

The race is a night trail event held on mostly single-track trails around Caesar Creek Lake, using a combination of the yellow perimeter loop and red/green trails near Wellman Meadow. The course is heavily wooded, has rolling hills and many back-to-back rollers on the back part of the marathon and half loops. There are some short sections on road shoulders (North Clarksville and State Route 73); runners must stay in the shoulder and limit width on the road.

Course, aid stations and logistics

There are four aid stations: Wellman Meadow (10K turnaround, manned early), Fifty Springs (fully stocked), Day Lodge (water and limited nutrition), and Start/Finish (fully stocked with hot and cold food and vegan options). The event is cupless; participants must carry a collapsible cup for aid station drinks. Mandatory gear includes a headlamp with spare batteries, a water bottle or bladder, a collapsible cup, and a fully charged cell phone. Organizers also recommend carrying a mylar blanket and insulated jacket, and warm accessories if cold or wet weather is expected.

Packet pickup is at the start/finish shelter before the race; parking may require walks of 0.25 to 1 mile from overflow lots. Time cutoffs and safety rules will be strictly enforced. Registration and deferral policies apply; there are no refunds. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.