Description
Join us Memorial Day Weekend for the 28th running of the Charlie Horse Trail Half-Marathon or the Dirty Pony 5K to benefit Berks Co. Special Olympics. The majority of this race will be run on the Horse-Shoe Trail in Brecknock Twp, PA. It is well-aided with 3 strategically placed aid stations. Packet pickup will begin at 7:30 AM Sunday morning. Day of registration will also start at 7:30 AM Sunday Morning. The Half-Marathon start will be at 9:00 AM in front of Sleepy Hollow Athletic Club and the Dirty Pony will start at 9:15 AM near registration.
The Charlie Horse is not your typical race. It is part trail, part road, and part adventure. It has everything a masochist runner needs. The race will start in front of Sleepy Hollow Athletic Club on Westley Rd. For the first ½ mile, the race will be on roads to spread out the field. The course then gets onto the Horse-Shoe Trail heading west. The trail is mostly single track in this section. At approximately 4.5 miles in, the course will begin a country road section for about 1.2 miles to do a bit of a lollipop to the Brecknock Twp Municipal Office building where the runners will get onto a bit of new trail that will lead them back to the Horse-Shoe Trail. There runners will be directed to head east on the Horse-Shoe trail back toward Sleepy Hollow. At Sleepy Hollow Runners will continue east on the Horse-Shoe trail and enter the Plowville section of the trail for the last 5k of fun which will loop runners back to Sleepy Hollow for the finish. What’s the Plowville section? It’s a mystery to us too: lagoons; waterfalls; campers; hikers; teenagers, maybe some chores. The only certainty is rocks, mud, and fun. Hope to see you there.
Restriction: There is a CUT-OFF at Aid Station #3 (10 miles) of 3 hours. After which, the sweepers and aid station crew will have the final determination of who continues. We ask that runners under 16 years old contact the race director for approval prior to registering. Entries are limited to 300 for the Half Marathon. Availability of shirts for the half marathon cannot be guaranteed for registrations after May 1st, 2025.
The Dirty Pony will start near the registration area and will be an all trail running of the most difficult portion of the Charlie Horse course. Last day of online preregistration is 5/22/2025. Day of registration will be available for both races. Charlie Horse $65 with a shirt (limited availability), $55 without a shirt. Dirty Pony $25
Triple Trail Challenge 50.3
The Charlie Horse Trail Half-Marathon is the first race of the Triple Trail Challenge 50.3. This is a trail race series which starts with the Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon (not the Dirty Pony 5K). The second Pagoda Pacers trail race in the series is the Run for the Ages Trail Chase 10K in June https://pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Run-for-the-Ages-10k-Trail-Chase.aspx . The final race in the series is the Blue Marsh Trail Ultramarathon 50K in October. https://pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Blues-Cruise.aspx Any runner completing all three races will receive a sweet bit of runner swag at the finish line at the Blue Marsh 50K. No special registration effort is required. Just sign up and complete all three races in the series. Run for the Ages registration https://www.pretzelcitysports.com/onlineform1.php?id=1390. Blues Cruise registation https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=112917
Half Marathon Swag
The entry fee includes a T-SHIRT (Male and Female sizes), FINISHER AGE GROUP AWARDS and FINISHER SWAG, Some pre-packaged goodies in your finisher bag. All participants are welcome to stay for post event activities.
Half Marathon Race Awards
5 Year Age Groups:
Overall Male 1st, 2nd, & 3rd; Overall Female 1st, 2nd, & 3rd; Overall Master (40+) 1st Male & 1st Female
Under 18 (1M, 1F); 18-24 (3M, 3F); 25-29 (3M, 3F); 30-34 (3M, 3F); 35-39 (3M, 3F); 40-44 (3M, 3F);
45-49 (3M, 3F); 50-54 (3M, 3F); 55-59 (3M, 3F); 60-64 (3M, 3F); 65-69 (1M, 1F); 70+ (1M, 1F)
Dirty Pony Swag and Awards
All participants will be receiving finisher swag and finisher awards
Post Race Activities
Starting 11 AM we will begin serving pizzas, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and adult beverages for all race participants. Just present your bib to servers. Feel free to relax, wash off, cheer on your fellow runners, have a bite to eat and a cold drink. The award ceremony for the Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon will begin at approximately 12 Noon.
Notices
NO outside alcohol or dogs may be brought onto the premises.
There is a 3 hour cut off at the 3rd aid station at approximately 10 miles of the Charlie Horse course. After which, the sweepers and aid station crew will have the final determination of who continues.
Event's current local time: 7:17 PM ET
