Registration has re-opened for the popular Oak Park Challenge trail run in Huntsville, which has been rescheduled to Jan. 8.
The roughly 7-mile course begins behind the the Oak Park baseball fields in Huntsville. It enters the Monte Sano Nature Preserve, part of the Land Trust of North Alabama Oak Park trailhead. Switchbacks, hills and a fun climb take runners to Monte Sano. After reaching the top and making a loop, it’s back downhill to the finish.
The event originally was scheduled for Oct. 30. Land Trust officials asked organizers to postpone it due to a forecast calling for possible thunderstorms. The intent was to protect the wet trails from dozens of runners.
Runners will have about 316 feet of elevation gain. This will be the third running. Andrew Bustos of Huntsville holds the course record, 57:52, set in 2019.
The Monte Sano Nature Preserve comprises about 1,100 acres and is one of the largest urban preserves in the country. It primarily is hardwood forest. The preserve has more than 25 miles of trails.
