2024 Pre Race Update

Welcome to the 2024 Back 40 Trail Races in beautiful Bella Vista.

Race Date: Saturday November 9, 2024

Start Time: 7:30AM

Location: Blowing Springs Park

700 Blowing Springs Rd

Bella Vista, AR 72714

Packet Pickup: Friday November 8 11:00AM-6:00PM

Rush Running Co

1600 SE J Street

Bentonville, AR 72712

I will try to cover all the basic information needed on this email. If you are looking for more details, please have a look at our website and Facebook event pages.

The start/finish will be at Cooper Elementary School where the bike pump track is located (just before entering Blowing Springs). Parking will be at the Sugar Creek Soccer Park across the street. Do not park inside Blowing Springs.

Packet pick up is at Rush Running Co in Bentonville on Friday from 11:00AM-6:00PM. Parking at the shop is limited. There is a parking lot just behind the shop that can be used. That address is 1000 SE 14th Street in the rear of the Student Services building. You can pick up for friends that can't make it during that time.

There will be a pre-race briefing at 7:15AM Saturday before the start. Late packet pick up on race day is from 6:30AM-7:00AM. All courses close at 5:30PM. We will start on time, do not be late.

Catfish John's will be providing post-race meals free to registered runners. Service will begin at 9:00AM and another round at 11:00AM. Food is for registered runners only, please.

If you want to change the distance you registered for or need to complete a bib swap (exchange), please contact us via email by Wednesday 11/06. As stated on our website, we do not offer refunds or deferrals. No exceptions, please do not ask for one.

The order deadline for shirts was 10/05. We ordered some extra shirts so everyone should get one but if you registered after 10/05 you will have to wait until after you finish to claim a shirt.

Courses will be marked with colored survey ribbon on your left and signs where needed.

5 Mile Course: BLUE ribbon. This course will go counterclockwise. Please note that the course is very similar to last year with a change on the south end of the lake to utilize a new trail up to Wonderland. You will start on the park road and turn left on Dartmoor. At the corner you will stay right towards the lake and then onto All American, then Smuggler’s Run and then Sally all the way until you pass through the Winnebago at the top. Then you take Through the Looking Glass to Rabbit Hole. About halfway down the hill you will turn right to cross Dartmoor Rd and get on the new trail, Mighty Pine. This will take you back into Blowing Springs and the finish line. Your course ribbon will be BLUE.

13 Mile Course: ORANGE ribbon. This is the same course as in years past and it will once again be run in a counter clockwise direction. From the start, take the park road all the way to the back of Blowing Springs and onto the Back 40 Loop. Continue along Manchester and across Euston and then towards Rillington Field and the golf course. Just after the golf course the first aid station will be at the Commonwealth Rd crossing, about mile 5. As you leave the aid station turn left to continue on the Back 40 Loop. About mile 7 you will see a power substation in front of you, stay left to continue on Pinyon Creek. Please note that the 20 mile course turns right here. The next aid station is after mile 8 at the Trafalgar Rd crossing. Pay attention after leaving the aid station and watch for the left turn onto the Summit School trail up the hill. Approaching mile 10 there are a couple of turns to navigate. When the trail hits a T intersection at the bottom of the hill, turn right here to stay on Back 40. The next turn is less than a 1/4 mile when you cross the (usually) dry creek bed. Turn left immediately after crossing the creek and go under the powerlines on the trail. In the next couple of miles you will cross Trafalgar (again), Westbury and Kingsland. About mile 12 the trail splits, stay to the left here on the Back 40 trail. You will come out of the woods to Manchester Dr, make a right turn back into Blowing Springs here. Once you're back in the park, continue on the park road to the finish the same way you ran outbound.

20 Mile Course: PINK ribbon. This is the same course as last year and will be in a counter clockwise direction again. From the start, continue on the park road all the way to the back and onto the Back 40 Loop. Continue on the loop along Manchester and across Euston and then towards Rillington Field and the golf course. Just after the golf course the first aid station will be at the Commonwealth road crossing, about mile 5. As you leave the aid station turn left to continue on the Back 40 Loop. About mile 7, when you see the power substation in front of you, turn right to cross the (usually) dry creek bed and continue on the Back 40 loop. Note that this is where you leave the 13 mile course. Continue on the trail to the next aid station at about mile 10 near the Lancashire (Hwy 340) road crossing. This is a new location for the second aid station which has been moved from Bear Hollow. The new location evens out the distances between the aid stations on this course. Continue on the Back 40 Loop to the Bear Hollow trail head where you turn left onto SBAT. Your next aid station is about mile 14 at the Trafalgar road crossing. This is where you will rejoin the 13 mile course. Pay attention after leaving the aid station and watch for the left turn onto the Summit School trail up the hill. When the Summit School trail hits a T intersection at the bottom of the hill, turn right to the Back 40 Loop. Do not take a left turn onto Rago! The next turn is less than a 1/4 mile when you cross the (usually) dry creek bed. Turn left immediately after crossing the creek and go under the powerlines on the trail. In the next couple of miles you will cross Trafalgar (again), Westbury and Kingsland. About mile 19 the trail splits, stay to the left here on the Back 40 trail. You will come out of the woods to Manchester Dr, make a right turn back into Blowing Springs here. Once you're back in the park, continue on the park road to the finish the same way you ran outbound.

40 Mile Course: Please see the details above for the 20 mile course and do that twice. You will have a dedicated aid station at the start/finish to begin your second loop. The hard cut off to begin the second loop is 12:20PM. You can grab some catfish and a beer to take with you. You may leave a drop bag at the start/finish.

Runner Safety: Bella Vista Police Department will be assisting with traffic control during the event. However, it is the responsibility of each and every runner to safely cross all roads. Vehicles have the right of way at all trail crossings. Exercise caution at all road crossings. If you drop out of the race for any reason you must notify us as soon as possible so we know you are not lost out in the woods.

Runner Etiquette: Those of you that know us know the deal. For those of you that are new to Back 40, we have just one rule and we will share that with you at the pre race meeting. Just know this... everyone is welcome at our race. "Y'all" means "all". We will not tolerate inappropriate or aggressive speech or behavior towards another runner, a volunteer or fellow trail user. Period. There is room for all of us on the trails and at the end of the day, all of us are out there to have a good time. The trails will remain open to the public and we ask that you be a good steward while on course.

Photographers will be out on course and once all the editing is done the link will be posted on the Facebook page and the website. The photos will be available to you free of charge.

Race results will be available on Race Wizard as usual.

Race proceeds will once again be donated to the City of Bella Vista for a trail project.

If you have any questions, please email us at back40race@gmail.com

And remember to thank a volunteer. They like hugs too.

See y’all soon.

James and Mike