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Mathias Eichler first got the idea a couple years ago. He then spent months constantly running the trails at the recently preserved LBA neighborhood forest park in an attempt to piece together the perfect course.

His vision will finally be realized on Saturday, August 10, with the inaugural running of the Little Backyard Adventure Race.

The Little Backyard Adventure Race is a first of its kind trail run in Olympia’s LBA Park, featuring three distances consisting of one loop (3.6 miles), three loops (11 miles) and 5 loops (18 miles).

“We really wanted to create a trail race in the woods that would challenge experienced runners, but also be a great introduction to trail running for newcomers,” said Eichler, who serves as the event’s race director with Douglas Scott. “A lot of times you have to drive two or three hours to get to a trail, but we have one right in our backyard.”

LBA park trail race
The trail run will offer a one loop, three loop or five loop race for runners to participate in. Photo credit: Mathias Eichler

All runners will run the same loop with the race beginning and ending at the main LBA park shelter. Each loop has approximately 250 feet of elevation gain and features “challenging hills, technical trails and seconds to fully stride through.”

“We want to bring trail running to the community, and the community to trail running,” said Eichler, who is also the author of “Adventure Running – Exploring Olympia’s Trails.”

The five-loop course will have a start time at 8:00 a.m. with the three-loop course following at 8:30 a.m. and the single loop beginning at 9:00 a.m.

“It’s a fun, challenging trail,” said Eichler, who also added that the course is also suitable to those who prefer to walk the trail. “I believe people are really going to enjoy it.”

With numerous intertwining trails, LBA Park offers a near limitless number of combinations for runners as they navigate through the lush woods. Once motions were in place to create the race, Eichler, an avid trail runner himself, spent months zipping across the trails.

“The goal was to find the longest, most continuous loop possible,” Eichler said.

LBA trail run Olympia
The Little Backyard Adventure trail run will be held at LBA park on August 10. Photo credit: Mathias Eichler

Eichler found what he was looking for in late February and proceeded to map out the 3.6-mile course over the last few months, crafting a course that would be new to trail runners in the area.

Runners can register online prior to the race. The cost is $35 for one loop, $40 for three loops and $50 for five loops. Runners signing up the day of the race will be charged $40 for the single loop, $50 for the three loop 11-mile race and $60 for the three-loop 18-mile run.

“Day-of registration is welcome. We just asked that they show up a couple hours before the start of their race,” Eichler said. “We do encourage runners to register online, but we should have a couple spots open the day of the race.”

Race numbers can be picked up the day of the race, beginning at 6:00 a.m.

Registration includes access to aid stations, a post-race party and handcrafted finisher medals by Olympia artist Trixy Eichler with the top three male and female finishers in each race receiving a “unique” prize.

Olympia trail race
The trail race will be held over the recently preserved LBA neighborhood forest park. Photo credit: Mathias Eichler

Runners are not allowed to run with pets. Participants who are under the age of 16 will be required to have a signed parental consent form, which will be available at the race pickup.

According to Eichler, since this is the first year of the race, they plan to be flexible with cutoffs with the only cutoff being that runners should begin their fifth loop no later than 11:30 a.m.

“We encourage friends and family to cheer you on wherever they can, but prefer that they stay close to the staging area,” Eichler said. “The easiest place to watch the action and cheer runners is along the fields outside of the woods. The trails are narrow as the loop enters the forest and the runners need all the room they can get.”

Runners and their supporters are invited to a post-race after party at Three Magnets Brewing Company.

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