Race for the Refuge

Race for the Refuge

*** Rescheduled due to weather for October 25th, 2026***

The Highland City Striders welcome you to explore the trails at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, MA! The Race for the Refuge begins at the ARNWR Visitor’s Center and traverses the beautiful trails around the Refuge. The course will lead runners into this idyllic nature refuge, past ponds, through pine and oak forests, and alongside mysterious military bunkers.

Course Description

The double track trails are a mix of dirt and gravel. It’s a great course for beginner trail runners. For the advanced trail runner, it could be an opportunity for a new PR! Download the GPX file.

Events

The lineup features a 10K (1 loop) and 30K (3 loops) races, and a 6-hour timed event.

For the timed event, runners may do as many loops as desired. A loop must be completed by 3pm to be counted towards final mileage. Ranking of runners is determined by the runner who completes the most loops in the shortest period of time. Runners in the 6-hour race must start their last lap by 2pm.

The top male, female, and nonbinary runner from each of the events (10k, 30k, and 6-hour) will receive a prize. In addition, the top male, female, and nonbinary runner over the age of 40 will receive a prize.

Race Day Rules

Dogs are not permitted on Refuge lands, so please leave your pooch at home. This event is family-friendly but children must be supervised.

Tread lightly through the refuge and please leave no trace! This will be a cupless race to eliminate waste on the course. Any fuel, such as gel packets, should be carried in and packed out. Due to the delicate ecosystem any littering is grounds for immediate disqualification. All runners must stay on the marked course.

Thanks for keeping our wild spaces wild!

Aid Stations and Course Marking

There will be two aid stations with typical trail race fare including water, hydration, hydration mix, pretzels, cookies, banana halves, Swedish fish, coke, and ginger ale. The main aid station will be at the Start/Finish line. A second aid station at Taylor Road is about halfway through the loop. Note this is a cupless race. 

All runners will receive swag with registration and prizes will be awarded to top winners in each category.

The course will be well marked for the runners with three course marshals at key turns.  

Pacers

Pacers are allowed to assist runners in the 6-hour race only. They may start at noon or later and must complete an online or paper registration form. Upon arrival at the race, the pacer will check in at the race director table and receive a pacer bib. One pacer at a time per runner and no muling is allowed. Pacers can use the aid stations at no cost and there is no registration fee to pace a runner.

Cancelation and Refunds

There are no deferrals and no refunds. Your entry fee will be considered a charitable donation and used for nature education and trail improvements. Thank you for your support.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the race, but if you are unable to join us, please cancel using RunSignUp or contact the race directors via email so that we can give someone from the waitlist the opportunity to run. Thank you!

About the Refuge

Centuries ago, these lands were hunted and fished by Nipmuc Tribes. Later, they were farmed by colonists, intersected by a railroad, and used for military training. You will run past military bunkers that were in use when the area was known as the Sudbury Training Annex, which was part of Fort Devens. The US Army transferred the land to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2000, establishing the Refuge.

Since then, the Refuge has become home to freshwater wetlands, oak and pine forest, and shrubland that support many types of wildlife, including wading birds, songbirds, raptors, beaver, bobcat, white-tailed deer, and various reptiles and amphibians.

Proceeds from this race will help fund improvements to three refuge sites in MA and a volunteer coordinator who will assist visitors to the refuge with nature education and programming. A donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Metrowest will also be made. 

Post-Race Festivities

Check back here for more information soon. 

Presented by the Highland City Striders
We are runners in Hudson, Marlborough, and surrounding communities. Founded in 2002, our members meet several times weekly to run various distances for fun and to keep in shape! We run, recover, have fun, and laugh together. The Highland City Striders is a non-profit 501(C)3. All race profits will go to local charities. 

We are also working closely with Friends of Woodlands and Waters, a non-profit working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support our refuges. Check out their site to learn more and get involved!