Chainsaw Chase 5k route

My apologies for such a lengthy delay in any long run postings. And, honestly, these can't be classified as "long run" material, but given Saturday's inaugural running of the Chainsaw Chase in Charlotte, I thought I'd post pictures of the route for any runners wanting to mentally prepare . . .

Action Central!!!

The event starts and ends on Flat Road off Hwy. 136 across from the CAAC 

(Charlotte Area Activity Center) which was the old Charlotte School

and is now home to the Haunted House Flat Road off Hwy. 136.

Flat Road continues right while runners will veer left past the kindling pile ...

... and up the unpaved portion of the Mill Creek Rec Trail. Watch out for walnuts!

If not rolling an ankle on a walnut, there's plenty of hiding spots

for spooks to pop out of!

Pretty creepy, right?

After nearly two tenths of a mile, runners will drop down onto the paved

portion of the Mill Creek Rec Trail.

A child of the corn?

Surviving one of the scarier parts of the course, runners follow the trail

into more open spaces.

Ready for some Billy Goat's Gruff? 

Runners will head over the narrow metal bridge.

Revisiting a portion of August's Deep Creek Dash route, runners will

follow the trail to Charlotte's Broadway & head right/south.

Broadway T's with Hwy. 136 and the route will dog-leg right and then left

to ?? Street where it will pass Dad's Place Bar & Grill where

participants can look forward to food and drinks following the race

before the Haunted House opens at 7 p.m.

?? Street turns left after a block and becomes Park Avenue?

Mile 1 falls just shy of the church parking lot at the top of the hill on the left.

After running Park Ave. to ??, runners will turn left/north for 1 block

before taking on the infamous Hwy. 136.

Participants will enjoy how various residents celebrate the holidays!

Turning north/right off Hwy. 136 at Louise Street.

From Louise Street, runners are treated to an easier very of 

the Deep Creek Dash route--they'll go DOWN Old Creamery Hill vs. up!!!

At the bottom of Old Creamery Hill, runners will head right/north up 

Broadway to the northern city limits of Charlotte.

Assumption Catholic Church offers a great setting.

Heading back down Broadway, runners will turn right/west 

at Gateway State Bank and out of town ...

... and toward the west city limits.

... before turning around for the final stretch through the back of the park.

Taking the back road into the park, runners will head over the bridge ...

... and to the finish, just beyond the cornfield!

See you all Saturday, October 20th!!! Race-day registration and packet pickup is 2:30-3:45 p.m. at the CAAC (Charlotte Area Activity Center) where there is plenty of parking. Costume judging for any participant who comes incognito will be at 3:45 p.m. and the race will begin at 4 p.m. Race and costume awards will be announced by 5:15 p.m. Registered runners/walkers will receive a meal discount at Dad's Place before the Haunted House opens at 7 p.m. where runners/walkers will receive HALF OFF admission!!!