The Paris Pair

Saturday, September 23, 2023

About The Race

Located in northeast Texas, Paris, Texas is one of the stops along the NETT Trail, a rails to trails conversion route. The trail is a mix of asphalt trail, soft ground, gravel trails and some bridge crossings. This is a flat and fast course! So fast we’re working to make this a certified USATF course.

All distances start and end at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas/Love Civic Center and are an out and back on the NETT Trail, going east of Paris.

Run a race in the morning, at night, or both! Run Paris, y’all!

Events

  • 100K
  • 50K (AM Only)
  • Marathon (AM and PM)
  • Half Marathon (AM and PM)
  • 10K (AM and PM)
  • 5K (AM and PM)

Location

Love Civic Center
2025 S Collegiate Dr
Paris, TX 75460

Click here for the exact location. (Opens Google Maps in new tab.)

Race Schedule

Friday Afternoon/Saturday Morning

Friday

2 – 6 p.m. Pre-race day Packet Pick up*

Saturday

5:00–8:00 AM Morning packet pick up*
5:45 AM     100K Pre-Race Briefing
6:00 AM      100K Race Starts
6:45 AM      50K/Marathon Pre-Race Briefing
7:00 AM      50K/Marathon Race Starts
7:15 AM      Half Marathon Pre-Race Briefing
7:30 AM      Half Marathon Race Starts
7:45 AM      10K/5K Pre-Race Briefing
8:00 AM      10K/5K Race Starts

* There is no hard cutoff for daytime races, except for the 2 a.m. cutoff for the 100K and all PM races. However, if you are also running a PM race, you must finish your AM race before the start of your PM race.

* All packet pickups will be held at the Love Civic Center. It is recommended that you enter the building by the bike rack.

Saturday Evening

4:00-7:00 PM Afternoon packet pick up
5:45 PM     Marathon Pre-Race Briefing
6:00 PM     Marathon Race Starts
6:45 PM     Half Marathon Pre-Race Briefing
7:00 PM     Half Marathon Race Starts
7:15 PM     10K/5K Pre-Race Briefing
7:30 PM     10K/5K Race Starts
2:00 AM     Cut off for 100K and all other races

Runners in PM races must have a headlamp

Course

All races will be out and back on the NETT Trail. Moving along the path east of Paris, the first nine miles is asphalt. Beyond that point, the trail changes to a hard-packed gravel trail.

Runners in the AM Marathon (26.2) and both AM and PM Half Marathon (13.1), 10K and 5K will run the trail once. All runners will run half their distance and then turn around and head back to the finish line.

NEW INFO: Runners in the PM Marathon will run the Half Marathon course twice. This will keep our runners closer together and provide an atmosphere that is safer and more fun for our runners.

50K runners:

First, complete the marathon course: 13.1 miles from Start to Turnaround point, then 13.1 miles back to the Start/Finish aid station.

For your final mileage, run 2.45 miles from Start/Finish to the turnaround point, and then 2.45 miles back to the Finish Line

100K runners:

Complete the Marathon Course twice (26.2 x 2); returning to Start/Finish aid station both times

For your final mileage, run 4.85 miles from Start/Finish to the turnaround point, and 4.85 miles back to Finish Line

Aid Stations

IMPORTANT: All runners in all distances must carry a hydration device (i.e. Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder) to participate in the race. 

This is a cupless race. We do not provide cups to participants. However, we sell a rubber reusable collapsable cup for $5 each that can be purchased when you pick up your race packet.

Aid stations will have volunteer support. In addition to Water and Tailwind, we will stock the aid station with bananas, oranges, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, Oreos, fig cookies, soda, Salt Stick and much more.

Runners in the Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K and 100K will hit aid stations twice or at the turnaround points. 10K and 5K runners will not hit an aid station.

Aid Station Locations

  • Mile 4 (Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K and 100K runners will pass 2x on each loop)
  • Mile 8.5 (Marathon, 50K, 100K runners will pass 2x on each loop)
  • Mile 13.1 (Water-only)
  • Start/Finish (For runners in the 50K and 100K)

Pacers

We will only allow pacers in the 100K race. Pacers will only be allowed in the final out and back (approximately 10 miles) or after 5 p.m. Pacers will be asked to check in with the race director when they arrive and sign a waiver form.

Lodging and Camping

Lodging

Hampton Inn Paris
3563 NE Loop 286
Paris, Texas, 75460

(903) 784-6536

The Hampton Inn in Paris, TX offers a negotiated rate of $134/night + tax and Days Inn offers $94/night + tax rate. When you call to make a reservation, be sure to let them know that you will be there for the “Blaze Trails” event. It is important to note that they are not holding a set number of rooms for runners. Therefore, call ahead of time to ensure you have a room before they are sold out.

Camping

Car, tent, and limited RV camping will be available at the Start/Finish at the Love Civic Center.

For RV and tent camping, reserve a spot ahead of time by calling 903.739.9912, and leave a message for Randy.

Awards/Medals/Shirts

Awards

Prizes will be awarded as follows for the 100K and the daytime 50K, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K**:

  • The top three overall male and female finishers
  • The top male and female Master’s finisher (40+)*.

**If a distance has a limited number of runners participating, we will limit awards to the top male and female overall and top male and female Master’s finishers.

Prizes will be awarded as follows to the top finishers in the PM races:

  • The top overall male and female finisher
  • The top male and female Master’s finisher (40+)*.

* Any masters runner who places in one of the top overall positions will be ranked in the open division. Masters awards will then be awarded based on the next eligible runner within that division.

Finisher Medals

Finishers in the 100K will earn a buckle. All other distances will earn a finisher’s medal.

Participants who do both a day and night race will earn a special pint glass.

Shirts

Our runners love our race shirts, and we will do our best to order enough shirts for everyone. However, to be guaranteed a race shirt in your preferred size, please register two weeks prior to race date.

Please note the following:

  • We do not mail shirts to participants who do not show up for the race.
  • Transfers to another runner after the shirt deadline will receive the shirt size indicated by the original registrant.
  • We only exchange shirts for a different size after the race as long as we have extra sizes available.

Registration and Refund Policy

We understand that things come up. If you can no longer run the race, if you let us know more than one month in advance, you will receive 100% race credit for another Blaze Trails Running event. If you let us know between one month and two weeks prior to race day, you will receive 50% race credit towards another Blaze Trails Running event. We will not allow any refunds or transfers less than two weeks before race day. No exceptions.

Bib transfers to another runner are allowed up until the two weeks prior to the race only if the race has not sold out. If you are interested in transferring your bib to a friend, please contact us immediately. It is very important for the safety of all runners that we have the correct contact and medical information. If the shirt order has already been placed, your friend agrees to accept the shirt size that you ordered. A $15 administration fee (plus transaction fee) will be charged to the person who is accepting the bib transfer. We do not allow transfers if the event has sold out and have a wait list. In that case, we will follow the posted refund policy and allow the next person on the wait list to register. We require transfers to be completed no later than two weeks prior to the race. This allows us to keep our focus on producing the event and other important race details during the race week. If you contact us in the last two weeks to ask for a transfer, we will not reply and the transfer is not allowed. No exceptions.

Refund and/or transfer requests must be made in writing by sending an email to info@blazetrails.com. Refunds are only processed as credit to a future event.

I further understand that I am not entitled to a refund if the race director and/or race officials are forced to cancel the race due to any participant safety issue on the course that is out of the race organizer’s control. This may include, but is not limited to flooding, lightning or any other weather condition that makes the course unsafe for participants.

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