First Annual Thorne Head Trail Run & Trail Challenge
By Emily Stinneford & Emily Pistell
We had an incredible time at our first Thorne Head Trail Run on Saturday, October 26th - there was resounding agreement that KELT has to make this an annual event!
Runners take your mark!
Sixty people registered, and the atmosphere was joyful, casual, and full of conversation. We lucked out with the weather - it was a crisp October morning, on the tail end of peak foliage which made for great waterfront views and lots of beautiful fall leaves on the branches and the ground. For our experienced runners, they said the course was technical but fun and well-designed. For our new trail runners, they were invigorated by the challenge of running away from well-paved roads and loved the beauty of the route.
At the finish line, friends old and new shared coffee and hot cider in their new finishers mugs, ate pancakes, bacon, and donuts around the fire pit, and cheered on every person who crossed the finish line. KELT Board members handed out hot food and mugs, while KELT Trail Run committee members supported runners out on the trail. This was an amazing team effort, and the KELT staff is thrilled to say the trail run has raised over $5,000 to support our local trails! I'm full of ideas on how to build on this year's success and make this an annual tradition that you won't want to miss.
A special thanks to...
Our trail runners - you trusted us to put on our first ever trail race and showed up with endless energy and enthusiasm. In return we provided a hearty breakfast that everyone enjoyed!
Our volunteers - whether you were a smiling face at the finish line or a pivotal member of our safety crew, we could not have put on such a seamless, fun run without you all. Volunteers make our world go 'round!
The City of Bath - for the medical detail and their commitment to community safety!
Our sponsors - we are so grateful for our generous community partners. To First Federal Savings for their $1,500 Trail Challenge donation match; Bath Savings Trust Company, Bath Run Club, Flycatcher and Tracy Cassidy CPA for their generous Trail Run donations; Kennebec Meat Company, Rocky Ridge Orchard, The Holy Donut, Cafe Creme, Reverie Coffee House and Wild Oats for their delicious post-run treats.
Enjoying a hearty breakfast, post run.
“This was an amazing team effort, and the KELT staff is thrilled to say the trail run has raised over $5,000 to support our local trails!”
Trail Challenge: New Fall tradition
Once runners crossed the finish line in late October, that also marked the end of our Explore the Estuary Trail Challenge! KELT challenged our neighbors to spend as many miles outside as they could from August 12th to October 26th, and asked local businesses to sponsor $1 for every 1 mile spent outdoors.
We are thrilled to announce that you all logged 7,664 total miles outdoors!
There are so many inspiring stories within those seven thousand miles - students from Brightfield wearing pedometers to track miles outdoors. Long bike rides under sunny skies. Paddling trips with family. Trips to far away places. Dog walking miles, day in and day out. New explorations, new trails, and new motivation to get outside. You all have inspired us with your choice to get out into the fresh air, and take a step down the trail at a new preserve.
Whether you logged one mile, or 900 miles, you were instrumental in reaching our goal. We hope you enjoyed your time outside during this stunning fall season!
Land & Stewardship Director Andrew Morgan & his family on a canoe trip.
A Conversation with Trail Challenge Winners
I took some time this week to speak with our winners, gaining insight into their motivations and major takeaways! All of our winners contributed a tremendous amount of miles, playing a huge role in helping us to reach our goals.
Total miles logged outside during the Explore the Estuary Trail Challenge!
Individual Winner
Brady Fluet
876 miles
Team Winner
Team Crackerjack
Jeff Wickham, Deborah Burger, Todd Burger, Tim Guen, Carrie Kuempel, and Peter Smith
1,292 miles
Photo Challenge Winners
Heather Pistell, Mike McDermott
What motivated you to participate in the Trail Challenge?
Jeff Wickham: I am a big believer in KELT’s mission and organization, and serve on the Land Committee. The Explore the Estuary Trail Challenge struck me as a creative and effective way to simultaneously motivate folks to get outside while raising money for the organization. Knowing a few people who are very active outdoors, know KELT, and love the Midcoast, I knew I’d have an easy time recruiting a team.
Brady Fluet: I spend a significant amount of time outside doing a variety of activities - so it really was a no-brainer to sign up and support this cause. I love the idea of motivating people to get outside and move their bodies, and wanted to support land conservation in Maine.
Heather Pistell: I joined the challenge because I wanted to see more of the different preserves around me. I'm really trying to get to know all the trails and preserves in the area I live in. I really wanted to finish the trail challenge passport! I started with that - and I will eventually finish even though I ran out of time.
How did you spend your time outdoors?
Jeff Wickham: My team members who logged the most are avid bike riders. My business partner Todd Burger and his wife Deborah frequently ride 30+ miles together, mostly in the suburbs west of Boston. Tim Guen, my college roommate and resident of Dover, NH is a runner, so got his miles running near his home. Carrie’s and my miles were a mix of hiking and biking, on KELT trails, in and around Georgetown, in Providence, and while on vacation in Montana and Wyoming.
Brady Fluet: I mostly racked up my miles running, but also did some biking and hiking. I logged miles in Maine, the White Mountains in NH and Hawaii!
Heather Pistell: I took pictures of all the different surroundings - the trees, the water, the natural surroundings, the leaves. I just enjoyed walking and hiking around. I was not after high mileage - I didn't have any internal goal of racking up miles, my goal was just to explore more. It was a good incentive to find some new trails! It was the best time of year to do this challenge.
Heather’s photo of Reid State Park.
Mike’s photo of a lovely morning at Thorne Head.