34th Annual Leatherman’s Loop

On Sunday, April 24, at 9:00 a.m., we’ll be meeting at the Meadow lot for the 34th annual Leatherman’s Loop. Cobweb Crew meets at 5:00 a.m. No Rookie Runners session or official 7:00 a.m. start this week.

For those who like to get organized ahead of time, we will have early bib & shirt pickup at the entrance to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation on Saturday from 10am-12pm. We will be in the WPA Gallery across from the entrance booth. Come on over — it will make race day a bit less hectic for everyone!

And don’t forget to ARRIVE EARLY! Please plan to arrive at the park before 8:15 a.m. — or even earlier if you can swing it.

The Ioop site has lots of good information so head over to leathermansloop.org for complete details.

The Leatherman’s Loop is a 10k trail race held each spring. The event has been held annually at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY since 1987 and we believe it is the largest trail race on the East Coast of the United States.

The Leatherman’s Loop was founded by four trail running friends in 1987. Tony Godino, Dave Cope, Ken Littlefield, and Pete Thompson had run and explored every inch of trail at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation (aka “The Rez“) — and had even created a few trails of their own. Some of these trails are  now part of the official trail system at the park.

Road Running was popular but trail running was still an esoteric pursuit that comparably few runners participated in. What the trail runners lacked for in numbers, they made up in creativity and the desire to seek unique challenges.

The Challenge
The Loop was envisioned as a fun, relaxed, challenging, yet “survivable” cross country/steeplechase event.

The Loop founders wanted to incorporate their favorite trail features they had come to love in their many runs at the Rez. Some runners believe the seeds of the current “Mud Races” and obstacle course runs were planted in 1987. We’re not so sure about that but it is nice to contemplate… The Loop is not really an obstacle course in the same sense as those newer event races. It does have its share of challenges and features, but all are natural: the rivers, the mud, roots and rocks, sand hills, downed trees, stone walls, and slippery slopes are just some of what runners encounter. Not to mention the challenge of a 1,200+ runner field sprinting across a quarter-mile meadow to start the race!

For more information, visit leathermansloop.org