Paine Mountain Anchor Challenge Trail Race

The 2nd Annual Paine Mountain Trail Race will kick-off the Norwich University Homecoming Weekend celebration with the Anchor Challenge 6k trail and Youth races. The Friday event is a fundraiser for the Northfield Town Forest and the Norwich University Cross Country Teams. A portion of the funds raised will go to the Town of Northfield designated for trail management for the Northfield Town Forest and the Norwich XC program for the development of the new home XC course introduced in the Fall 2023.

As a fundraiser event, Paine Mountain Trail Race branded tee-shirts will be available for purchase. Pre-orders will be made available online at the event registration store page to reserve your size. Limited inventory will be available on race day at the Shaw Outdoor Center. The proceeds from the sales of the race merchandise will go towards the Norwich XC program.

Race Updates!

As details unfold, look here for race updates including sponsors, tee-shirt sales, awards and giveaways!

Vermont Flood Fundraiser

In July 2023, Vermont and other areas of the Northeast were hit with devastating flooding affecting many. While the town of Northfield was spared much of the damage, parts of Norwich University property, including the future Norwich XC home course on the Rugby pitch, and the trails on Paine Mountain on both the Norwich and Northfield Town Forest sides were heavily damaged by flash flooding. Fortunately, the trail racecourse for the Paine Mountain Anchor Challenge was spared from significant damage and the race is still on! The proceeds for the race will go towards current and future trail repair and management. Your support in either participating or donating to the event would be greatly appreciated. Please come to the event, buy a tee-shirt, or donate through the race website or at the event to support the recovery efforts.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, September 19
Early bib# pick-up: 5 – 7pm at Good Measure Pub & Brewery, 17 East Street, Northfield, VT
$3 drafts by Good Measure with your bib# pick-up
Giveaway items and pre-ordered PMTR Anchor Challenge Tee Shirts available

Friday, September 20
3:30 p.m. – Race bib # pick-up at the Shaw Outdoor Center, 165 Paine Mountain Drive, Northfield, VT
5:30 p.m. – Anchor Challenge Trail Race start – challenging 6k course up to the Norwich “Anchor” and back
5:45 p.m. – Youth Trail Races from 200m up to the Mile
7:00 p.m. – Awards & Raffles Prize Giveaway
7:30 p.m. – Campfire post-race celebration

Event Details

Course Map & Description

The Paine Mountain Summit Trail Race promises to be a scenic but challenging 6k race to the Norwich Anchor. The course will start and finish at the base of Paine Mountain at the Norwich Shaw Outdoor Center. The race begins with a gravel road section for the first quarter mile then turns onto a single-track switch back wooded trail for just over a mile to the Anchor, the highest point on the course. On the decent, the course returns on a steep gravel pathway for a quarter mile then returns to an easy to moderate gentle single-track trail passing by the slate quarry and into the Northfield Town Forest where runners will loop through Cheney Field and enjoy the scenic views of the valley. The final half mile will return to single-track wooded trails to the finish at the Shaw Outdoor Center.

2023 6k course map: https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/planner/view/436957/

Registration and Costs

Early online registration: $30 through September 7
Later online registration: $35 through September 18
Day of registration: $40 on Friday, September 20 from 3:30-5pm
Youth Races are free!
*online registration fees and taxes added at check-out
**student discount available for Norwich University & Northfield HS – email the race director

Contact for Questions

Michael McGrane
Norwich Head Cross Country Coach
mmcgrane@norwich.edu

About Paine Mountain & The Anchor

Named after Elijah Paine, a settler in central Vermont in the early 19th century, Paine Mountain is located just East of Norwich University campus in Northfield, Vermont along Route 12 between exits 5 and 6 on Interstate 89. The summit of Paine Mountain is 2’408 feet with part of the western slope of the mountain on the Northfield Town Forest side and part on Norwich University property.

Visible from the Norwich campus is the Anchor at the top of the old Norwich downhill ski slope dating back to the mid 1930’s until 1991 when it was permanently closed. The Anchor and the pathway up the old ski slope are all that remain. The Anchor is the large cement structure that has become a symbol for Norwich University students with one side as an unofficial memorial to Norwich’s Navy Seal and Special Operations Master Chief Brian R. Bill ‘01.

About the Norwich Shaw Outdoor Center

In 2010, Norwich alum Larry Costa donated $1.4 million to the school in the memory of classmate Sgt. 1st Class John Shaw to develop the Norwich University SFC John Shaw Outdoor Center and a network of multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, trail running, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. The Shaw Outdoor Center provides free use of outdoor recreational equipment as a service to the Northfield and Norwich communities. To learn more, visit: https://www.norwich.edu/shaw

Event's current local time: 10:24 PM ET