Quarry Shack 5 Miler 6th Annual 10/31/26

Quarry Shack 5 Miler 6th Annual

October 31, 2026

This Year's Race Will Be On HALLOWEEN!!!!!

INTRO:

Come relieve history while running Ghosttown Trail's first ever nighttime race now in its 6th year that brings fun and excitement to all who partake. This 5 mile race will be held on the Rexis Branch, this race is currently the only standalone race held on this section. You will start right past the closed gate next to the old train at the Rexis trailhead. From there you will run 2.5 miles out then turn around about a tenth of a mile after the Red Mill Bridge you cross over on the trail, coming back to where you started. It's a completely closed course. There are no road crossings or any intersections you have to worry about. Its a straight out and back in the dark on a beautiful section of trail. This means you will required to have some sort of light for you to see while running. It's a great chance to have some safe fun near Halloween while running in the dark. If you never ran in the dark this is a SPOOKTACULAR opportunity to get you feet wet and see what is all about and why people enjoy it, while being around friends.

The reason behind the name of the race is there is a old Quarry Shack with some local history to it, about 2.25 miles into the race on left hand side going out and right hand side coming back. It was also used for some scenes in the movie "The Boonies" which is a good horror movie to watch.

COURSE INFORMATION

I measured the course by sticking to the right side of the trail on the way out then on right side of the trail the way back so you should always be running on the right side of the trail in the direction you are heading. I did not take out the tangent curves because I want all runners to stick to the right side except to pass someone. This adds safety to the race and should allow no interference between runners heading in opposite directions. This is important since the race is at night. Even though it's basically flat rail trail you will still have 115 feet of total gain on the way out with no descent. There are no hills it's just a slow steady incline. On the way back you will be running all downhill retracing that 115 feet which now becomes descent. Enjoy the free speed coming back.

There will be one water stop on the course about 25 feet from the turn around under a pavilion along the trail, that way as you go around the turn you can throw your cup in the trash directly across from the aid station. Please try to keep cups in that area and not way down the trail for easier clean up after the race. The Turn around will be well marked, there will be a huge Halloween decoration indicating this is where you turn around at. Both the aid station and turn will have signs indicating they are coming up.

There will be Halloween decorations along the course and some lighting to show the cool things along the course. The Halloween decoration along the course are bigger and more noticeable then in the past, even more spookier and noticeable. We will continue to use the bigger more noticeable decorations. There WILL NOT be anyone jumping out at you.

Halloween costumes are encouraged. The scarier and odder the better. Makes the race more fun if you choose to dress up. Think Spirit of the season. I Would say the vast majority of the field has dressed up in the past. Each year we try to go spookier with the things we use on the course. 

There will be a start/finish Line arch with Quarry Shack themed banners on it (weather permitting).

PRICING:

Pricing is $20 until October 4th at 6pm then it becomes $25 till registration closes, then $30 day of race. There is day of registration starting at 5:30pm and ending at 615pm. Cash or Check only day of. Credit cards will not be accepted day of.

Children 10 and under will be free till registration closes then children will be $10 day of. Please see the rules for more information. Though children's registration are free, they must still purchase a t-shirt to get one. 

LOCATION

Address: 1069 Main St. Vintondale, PA US 15961 

Location coordinates: 40.485057, -78.923931 Race starts at Rexis Trailhead in Vintondale. (Mile 0) Will start right past the gate by the old train.

AWARDS

Top 3 M & F overall, top 3 in each age group for the run: 10 and under, 11-14,15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Top 3 M &F for Walk. Plus returning this Year two age group categories for both top 3 male and female for 45- and 46+. Trying to make it more fun for everyone. 

(no duplicates, awards will not be mailed)

*children 10 and under must run the race under their own power to be eligible for age or overall group awards. Having been pushed on a stroller or carried by someone will not qualify. Awards will be similar to the past few years.

Time Limit: 1 Hour 30 minutes. (18:00 minute pace per mile)

Schedule of events 

5:30 pm registration opens

6:15 pm registration closes

6:30 pm race starts

8:00 pm race ends (must be across mats by 8pm to be included in results)

8:05 pm awards ceremony

Accommodations:

We want to make sure participants who may need some accommodations are certainly welcome. Please reach out ahead of time so we can make sure to care of those needs.

WALK DIVISION

We will be awarding the top 3 overall male and top 3 overall females who are in the walk division. Plus returning this Year two age group categories for both top 3 male and female for 45- and 46+. Trying to make it more fun for everyone.

You must also finish within the 1:30 time frame. There is no running allowed. You will be disqualified if caught running and your signed up for the walk division. There will be serious race walkers present. So no running even as you see the finish line come into view, that will be grounds for disqualification. This also includes jumping, skipping ect... you must walk the entire time.

REGISTRATION

Registration opens at 5:30 pm and closes at 6:15 pm. Race starts at 6:30 pm sharp. Awards at 8:05 pm. Must be across mats at 8:00pm to qualify for awards.

WHATS INCLUDED:

Custom race Bib Number, custom race sticker, chip timing finish, safe environment, post race snacks chance to make lasting memories and a chance to explore nighttime running. There will be a lot of things set up to take pictures with for your enjoyment at the finish line and registration areas one of my main goals is to give you lasting memories. 

LIGHTING:

Personal lighting will not be provided, must provide your own source, headlamps, waist lights, handhelds, or some form of lighting device will be required. There will be some official lighting at the start/finish line, at registration and during awards. Otherwise the course will be dark. Remember its a nighttime race so expect it to be dark. Please come prepared we will not have any light sources to hand out if your forget yours.

PHOTOS:

One of the things that make Only Eye Athletic races stand apart form other races is our photo opportunities and uniqueness. You wont see this anywhere else. There will be trail cameras set up along the course to try and capture you passing by during the race, it makes it even cooler that they are pictures in a night vision setting, I will say this is hit or miss at night because they don't always capture people running to close by them. 

Ill have items set up for you to take pictures with at the start/finish line, these will be set up before the race and wont be taken down till we clean up, though with natural lighting they can come out better before the race starts, but why not take before and after with the items. I also will be filming the entire finish line with a go pro. While I'm at the finish line ill be taking photos and short clips as well with my phone to go along with the long form filming. These will all be posted online after the race. When they are all up ill send a email out, it will take a few days to get them all up. 

FOOD/LIQUIDS

We will provide water at the water stop. There will also be post race snacks, ill try to have nice standard variety. There will also be water at the finish line area.

RULES

We are testing out the free child registration option for those 10 and under. We require at least one adult to be present at the event to watch the child. The adult does not have to run beside the child during the event, but we ask that you use your best judgement in letting the child run alone if you choose to let them. 

There is to be no unsupervised children to be dropped off at the event. We Are not responsible for watching or taking care of a child, if a child is dropped off unsupervised by anyone we will contact the authorities, this is for safety purposes and liability purposes on our end and your along with everybody in attendance. Again we are not responsible for any unsupervised children and unsupervised children will not be allowed to participate, if found after the event they will be stricken form results. 

We ask no pets be brought on the course or around the event. We love animals but not everyone is comfortable around them. Since it is a night race bringing a pet becomes a trip hazard and anyone violating this rule will ...