Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series

Sponsored by Northwest Trail Runs and the Seattle Running Club (SRC), the race series benefits King County Parks through an average of more than 150 hours of volunteer work each year by the trail-running community as they improve trail surface conditions, pull weeds and collect trash.

In addition to volunteer labor performed by members of the Seattle Running Club, a portion of the trail race registration fees are donated to King County Parks. Of each racer's individual event fee, $15 goes toward park maintenance and improvements. More than $70,000 has been raised for King County Parks over the past eight years.

RACES

• Race 2 (7 miles) – Saturday, June 11: $35 preregistered ($30 for SRC members), $45 at race (no SRC discount)
• Race 3 (10 miles) – Saturday, July 9: $35 preregistered ($30 for SRC members), $45 at race (no SRC discount)
• Race 4 (13 miles) – Saturday, Aug. 13: $40 preregistered ($35 for SRC members), $50 at race (no SRC discount)
• Race 5 (31 miles/50 kilometers) – Sunday, Oct. 30: $62 preregistered ($57 for SRC members), $75 at race (no SRC discount)

WHERE

Registration and start will be at the Sky Country trailhead off 166th Way Southeast.

DIRECTIONS

From I-90 eastbound, take the Lakemont Boulevard Southeast exit (Exit 13). Turn right (south) on Lakemont Boulevard Southeast and drive for approximately two miles. Turn left onto Southeast Cougar Mountain Way. Continue 0.6 miles before turning right onto 166th Way Southeast. Follow this road through the gate and look for the parking lot on the right.

From I-405, take the Coal Creek Parkway exit (Exit 10) and follow Coal Creek Parkway east for 2.4 miles to the shopping center. Turn left at the light onto Southeast 72nd Place. At the stop sign, turn left onto Newcastle Road, which turns into Lakemont Boulevard Southeast. Continue on Lakemont past the Red Town trailhead to Southeast Cougar Mountain Way. Turn right and drive 0.6 miles before turning onto 166th Way Southeast. Follow this road through the gate and look for the parking lot on the right.

REGISTRATION

To pre-register for any or all races, register online at http://www.databarevents.com/cougar.asp or fill out and mail the form found at http://www.nwtrailruns.com/2011-NWTR-entry-form.pdf.

For more information, see http://www.seattlerunningclub.org/Events/Cougar/cougarmtn1.html.

The cost is $35 each for the seven- and 10-mile races, $40 for the 13-mile race, and $62 for the 50k.  $15 of each entry fee will benefit King County Parks and Recreation; the 2010 series raised nearly $12,000 for King County Parks.