Events
2 Mile Fun Run (untimed)
Increases to $38 after the first 200 people register. Price increases after November 25, 2026 at 11:59pm EST
Description
Welcome to the 4th Annual Birds of a Feather Trail Trot, a Thanksgiving Day trail run at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, NC! Gather your flock and start your holiday on the right foot. Choose from a mellow 2-mile course featuring paved paths, grass, and smooth trails, or take on the more rugged 5K — or the all-new 10K — with plenty of roots, rocks, and rolling hills. An untimed fun run option is available for the 2-mile course.
After your run, stick around for a slice of pie (yum!), a FREE kids race (kids 11-U), and an awards ceremony packed with fun contests and giveaways. Run with your flock and celebrate family, fitness, fun… and PIE!
Make it a Thanksgiving Weekend Double! Run with your flock at the Birds of a Feather Trail Trot on Thanksgiving Day, then burn off that holiday feast two days later at the Leftovers Trail Run on Saturday, November 28. Register for both events at the same time and receive 10% off each event (select Thanksgiving Weekend races during registration).
Race Courses
Sprawling over 900 acres and located on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast 20+ mile network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails.
The 2 mile course is mellow and includes paved trail, grass, and smooth trail ONLY and is the perfect distance/terrain for the whole family. Including a mixture of undulating double-track dirt trails and flowy single-track with plenty of roots, rocks, and short hill climbs, the rugged 5K and 10K courses offer a super-fun challenge for both newbies and trail veterans alike.
Perfect for separating the field of runners, all three courses start with paved sections (.43 mile for 5K/10K and .8 mile for the 2 mile). All events are timed and there is also an untimed fun run option for the 2 mile. The 5K course has 217' of elevation gain and measures 3.38 miles (5.4K). The 10K course has 378' of elevation gain and measures 6.2 miles (10K). The 2 mile course has 134' of elevation gain and measures 2.04 miles.
For more details on each individual course, click on the links below:
2 Mile Course
5K Course
10K Course
Race Highlights / Registration Fee Includes
- Limited race entry to provide an intimate and friendly race experience and to prevent overcrowding on the trails. Each timed race is limited to 175 total racers. The event is capped at 600 total participants across all four events.
- Fun and challenging course design
- Professional race operations
- Superbly marked course – you won’t get lost
- Race tee that you’ll love and want to wear. It's high-quality, super soft/comfy, and comes in men’s/unisex, women’s, and youth sizes (see link for color and sizing specs). Screen printed with vintage ink to give it an attractive, light, and subdued look. Pick up at check-in. The 2025 tee shown. 2026 tee design coming soon.
- Exciting atmosphere with great music
- Excellent volunteer support
- Well-stocked aid stations (three on 10K, one on 5K, one on the 2 mile). There is also an aid station at the finish line.
- Medical support
- Chip timing – accurate and timely posting of results. 2 mile fun run is untimed.
- Post-race PIE!
- FREE Kids Race for Treasure (see below for details)
- Awards ceremony with fun contests and lots of giveaways (see below for details)
- FREE photo downloads post-race (professional photographers will be at the race)
- Lower pricing for Youth 5-17 and Seniors 65+. Free entry into the 2M fun fun for kids 4-U (t-shirt not included).
Schedule of Events
STAGING AREA: Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel (161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)
WEDNESDAY, 11/25/26 (Early Check-in - OPTIONAL, but encouraged)
- 4pm-6pm: Early Check-in / Packet Pick-up @ Great Meadow Park Pavilion
THANKSGIVING DAY, THURSDAY, 11/26/26 (Race Day)
- 7am-8:30am: Check-in / Packet Pick-up (check-in only if you did not pick up your packet on Wed)
- 7:50am: 10K Race Brief at the start line
- 8:00am: 10K Start
- 8:10am: 5K Race Brief at the start line
- 8:20am: 5K Start
- 8:30am: 2M Race Brief at the start line
- 8:40am: 2M Start
- 8:50am: 2M Fun Run Start (untimed)
- 9am-10:15am: PIE, music, awards, contests
- 9:30am: FREE Kids Race for Treasure' (kids 11-U) - Round One
- 9:45am: Awards (timed races) / Donation to PORCH Briar Chapel
- 10am: Contests / Giveaways
- 10:15am: FREE Kids 'Race for Treasure' (kids 11-U) - Round Two for any kids that missed the first one
Charity Partner
PORCH Briar Chapel helps put food on the table of those in need in our community. Many donations go to the CORA FOOD PANTRY which provides emergency food to individuals and families in Chatham County. They also provide children who attend the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsboro with fresh produce and a bag of nonperishables on a monthly basis. During registration, please consider donating to support their great work. Roadless Races will match 10% of funds collected.
PORCH Briar Chapel will also be at Birds of a Feather collecting cash and canned/boxed food donations. Their greatest need for the holiday season is mac and cheese, rice, mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, cornbread mix, fruit cups, canned veggies, pie/cookie/brownie mix, cinnamon, and any spices. Please consider bringing an item to contribute.
Thank you for supporting such a great cause.
Run with Your Flock (Family Info)
Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks and celebrating with family and friends. Run with Your Flock. Some helpful info for families:
- We are offering lower youth 5-17 and senior 65+ pricing to make it just a little easier to Run with Your Flock.
- Kids 4-U may participate for FREE in the 2 mile fun run, under the supervision/consent of their parent/guardian (registration is required for parent and child). All kids 4-U will receive a bib, but t-shirts are not included for the little ones. If you would like to purchase a tee for your 4-U child, extra t-shirts will be available for purchase during online registration until 11/10/26.
- For safety reasons, the minimum age for the 2M race is 5 years old, 6 years old for the 5K, and 8 years old for the 10K. Racers must be at least 10 years old to run unaccompanied. Racers 8-9 MUST run WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian, unless approved by the race director (email info@roadlessraces.com to request approval). Racers 7-U MUST run WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian.
- We have added additional age group awards for the kids for both the 2M and 5K timed races. Our normal 13-U age group has been broken up to 5-8 (2M) and 6-8 (5K), 9-10, and 11-13.
- The FREE Kids Race for Treasure starts at 9:30am. ALL KIDS 11-U (including those that completed the 2 mile or the 5K) are invited to participate.
- Strollers that are appropriate for the trail ARE PERMITTED on the 2 mile fun run. (such as a BOB stroller, for instance). If using a stroller, PLEASE START AT THE BACK, behind the runners and walkers.
- Strollers ARE NOT PERMITTED on the 5K or 10K courses because there are some root and rock filled sections that will be frustrating (and potentially dangerous) to navigate. Strollers are NOT PERMITTED in the 2 mile timed race.
- For the safety of all participants, pets are NOT PERMITTED on either course.
- PLEASE, DO NOT give your bib to someone else. This will make the results, age group, and overall awards incorrect. If you need to transfer your registration, you may do so prior to race day (by 11/24/26) by going to your runsignup account, selecting 'Transfer to Someone Else' in the menu, and following the instructions.
FREE Kids Race for Treasure
At 9:30am and 10:15am, kids 11-under are invited to participate in the FREE Kids Race for Treasure. All kids are welcome to participate and parents are encouraged to line the race course to cheer them on. Registration is not required for the kids race. We will match kids in age groups (3-U, 4-5, 6-7, and 8-11) and start each group separately on a short out and back ‘race course’ in the large field near the staging area. After running, kids can grab a prize (toys from the dollar store:) from the Treasure Chest!
Awards, Age Groups, Contests, and Giveaways
Awards (1st-5th place tumblers) and prizes (Fleet Feet gift certificates) for top five overall M/F for the 2M, 5K, and 10K timed races. Awards (1st-3rd place pint glasses) for the top three M/F 2M, 5K, and 10K timed race competitors in each age group.
Race age groups: 5-8 (2M), 6-8 (5K), 8-10 (10K), 9-10, 11-13, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.
Runners and volunteers are invited to join the contests - fun stuff such as push-ups, squats, sprint, cornhole, rock/paper/scissors, etc, etc. Contest winners receive NICE swag like Goodr sunglasses or race merchandise and ALL who participate receive an item of swag. After the contests, we randomly select winners of the rest of the swag - more great stuff such as Goodr sunglasses, gift certificates, running gear, and Roadless Races merchandise.
Anyone that wears a costume will receive an item of swag at the awards ceremony.
Create a Team - Fun with Family and Friends
Adventures are more fun with family and friends, so create a team and invite your crew to join you. Creating or joining a team is simple during or after registration. NOTE: This is not a relay so all team members will still be running their own race.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Directions
Staging area at Briar Chapel's Great Meadow Park in Chapel Hill, NC. Address: 161 Salt Cedar Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
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