I’m forwarding this reply from Mark Godale who has run Mohican and Vermont and is on the Burning River 100 organizing committee.

Joe Jurczyk

I think the Burning River will be easier the Mohican and Vermont.
Most of your road mile are going to be early on like in Mohican.

Elevation change may be close to Mohican.
It is Ohio and most of the climbs are less than 100m.

I think you will be surprised how much trail you will be running so close to two major cities Cleveland and Akron and not even know it.
A lot of the course it through a “National Park” as well as city parks to the North and South.
You get a lot of variety not like Vermont where you feel like you are running the same course over and over again, but you are not.

The Burning River starts at Squires Castle which is in the North Chagrin Reservation.
Run along the Chagrin River very scenic and peaceful.
Run past Polo fields to the North Chagrin River Reservation.
From North Chagrin Reservation you run along the parkway toward the Bedford Reservation.
In the Bedford Reservation you will be running along Tinkers Creek, named for a member of Moses Cleveland’s surveying party.
From Bedford you will be running along Tinkers Creek Gorge. Very impressive drop offs. Heading down to into the Cuyahoga Valley to the tow path.
Once on the tow path you will be following the Cuyahoga River which is the backbone for the Burning River.
You will be running to the Old Carriage trail which is an out and back trail.
You will the proceed to the Buckeye trail which is single track through the woods, past waterfalls, very enjoying trail.
The race takes you past Blue Hen Falls, Brandywine Falls.
Then in the central part of the National Park you will be running through the ledges which the park in most know for.
You will be running through the Kendal hills. This area is where many cross country teams have meets.
From here you will head back down to the Valley to the tow path in which you cross to the Covered Bridge.
And are now running on road for about 2 miles. Proceeding through Hale Farm and Village, which is a 19th-century homestead, with a recreated Western Reserve village.
You turn right back on the Buckeye trail through O’Neal woods which is not part of the MetroParks serving Summit County, AKA Akron Area. Which is singe track again.
From O’Neal woods you proceed back on the tow path heading toward Akron. From the tow path you are on road for about 1/2 mile to get to the Gorge.
From the Gorge you are now heading North to the finish in Cuyahoga Falls.
From the Gorge you are running about 3 miles to get to the track finish.

I believe our finish is going to be one to remember.
It’s NOT going to be like Mohican or Vermont where you come out of the woods and have to notify the officials that you just finished.
We are finishing on a track like Western States and every runner takes a victory lap.

_Mark Godale