JUNE 8, 2024
Sassquad Trail Running and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference are proud to present the Sterling SquaTCh Half Marathon (the capitalized "TC" in SquaTCh stands for "Trail Conference"!!) Join us on Saturday June 8, 2024 at 9am for this trail half marathon. You'll enjoy gorgeous rolling singletracks through rhododendrons, pass by beautiful lakes, meadows and a waterfall. This event is hiker-friendly, family-friendly, newbie-friendly; come one, come all! Our Trail Parties are always open to all peoples, ages and paces.
TRAIL PARTY DETAILS
STERLING SQUATCH
Come out to the magical Sterling Forest to enjoy the Sterling Squatch! We've teamed up with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to put together an incredible course that is packed with trail beauty! This will be the final year for the Sterling Squatch Half Marathon so come out to the trails to enjoy this one before it's retired! We work hard to keep our races affordable and maintain our commitment to supporting our charity partners with our races; the off-site parking + shuttle buses for the Sterling Half is pulling us away from these two goals which is why we are retiring this event. But don't worry, we've got another Trail Party in the works for June of 2025!
NON-PROFIT PARTNER
We are proud to be co-hosting this trail party with our friends at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference! Please consider donating by using the add-on feature during registration. The NYNJTC maintains and protects over 2,000 miles of trails in New York and New Jersey.
REGISTRATION
$85
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
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Bib & safety pins
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Swag item
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Handcrafted Finishers' Medal
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2 on-course Aid Stations with water, Skratch and snacks
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Awards for top 3 male, female and non-binary
TRAIL PARTY LOCATION
The race will start and finish at the Laurel Meadows Pond Parking Area at Sterling Forest State Park in Tuxedo Park, NY. The trailhead for this event cannot support parking for our race.
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ALL RUNNERS/HIKERS must park at the Tuxedo High School. We have 2 buses that will start shuttling you at 7:00am; the final shuttle will leave the High School at 8:15AM. You are welcome to get dropped off at the race start, but you will not be able to leave your car at the trailhead. The buses will begin shuttling runners/hikers back to the High School at 11:30am. The final bus will depart the race at 2:15pm
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Use this address for Tuxedo High School: 1 Tornado Drive, Tuxedo, NY
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Use this address for the race start ONLY if you are being dropped off: Laurel Meadow Pond Trailhead, Tuxedo, NY
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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First Shuttle leaves Tuxedo High School: 7:00am
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Final Shuttle leaves Tuxedo High School: 8:21am
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Check-in: 8:15am-8:45am
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Start time: 9am
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South Gate Aid Station 4.3M Cutoff: 10:35am
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Caretakers Aid Station 9.2M 12:30pm
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Finish Line Cutoff: 2pm
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The buses will begin shuttling runners/hikers back to the High School at 11:30am. The final bus will depart the race at 2:15pm
We have a 5 hour cut-off which comes out to about 23 minutes/mile. Our Sweepers will leave the start/finish area at behind the last runners/hikers to start making their way around the course to take down the course markers.
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Sterling SquaTCh takes you through 13 miles of unique trails at Sterling Forest State Park. This half marathon course has a fun mix of rolling singletracks, woods roads and highlights the trail beautiful of this state park. There is 1,900 feet of elevation gain over the 13.1 miles. This is not a flat course, but it is no where near as challenging as our two Big Bear SquaTCh Trail Parties at Harriman State Park. We recommend a sturdy trail shoe with good grip/lugs. Trekking poles could be helpful for some folks. You'll be well-supported at this Trail Party with two on-course aid stations that will be well stocked with snacks, water and Skratch Hydration.
AID STATIONS
There are two on-course aid stations with water, Skratch and snacks. You'll hit these aid stations at mile 4.3 and mile 9.2. Snacks include items like bananas, granola bars, fruit snacks etc. (and maybe ice pops if its hot!).
COURSE MARKINGS
The course will be well-marked with neon pink/reflective ribbon. We have large red directional arrows at each of the turns. To learn more about how we mark the course and what the ribbons and signs look like, squatch on over to the Sassquad Trail School ​to watch the information video about our course markings!
VOLUNTEER DREAM TEAM
Our Volunteer Dream Team is what makes all of the Trail Magic happen! Join us as a Volunteer at this trail party as we support our squatchtastic running community. We have many Volunteer opportunities available such as Check-In, Aid Station Crew, Course Sweepers etc. Click here to Volunteer!
Q: What's the weather like in Tuxedo Park, NY in June?
A: Yeah. What a wow it's been out in that side. This year 's got temps in this simple dip it. Why? Global warm it. Be sure to keep it safety. And, hey if you've got to go car on that icy road slowing it right down, Mmay? Hat...... It's usually quite warm and humid. Though based on this past winter, we may have snow flurries. Be ready for anything! Oh, and we recommend leaving those generously cut mom jeans at home.
Q: Can I have a pacer?
A: As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Please fill out the pacer registration form ahead of time and be sure to pick-up a pacer bib during check-in! Pacers are not allowed for other runners and hikers without prior approval from the Trail Party Director.
Q: Are there restrooms at the start/finish area?
A: There are portajohns at the start/finish area. Please note: there are no restrooms available at the High School.
Q: What’s the best address for me to use to the parking area for the shuttles?
A: Plug in 1 Tornado Dr, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987.
Q: What food will you be serving at the aid stations?
A: Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger! No fries, chips, no Coke, Pepsi. Definitely NOT cheeseburgers. Ever since they found Mad Cow disease in the US, we're not taking any chances. It can live in your body for years before it ravages your brain. Just Kidding..... Snacks include items like bananas, granola bars, fruit snacks etc. (and maybe ice pops if its hot!). We will also have SKRATCH!
Q: I can't come to the Trail Party anymore, can I get a refund?
A: Like many other race organizations, we do not offer refunds for our events. Please take the time to double check your calendar before registering for a Trail Party. Please understand that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. If you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) more than 45 days from the date of the Trail Party, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. If you sustain an injury less than 45 days from the race date, we will extend a deferral if you come to that race to volunteer for at least 4 hours. The race credit is the amount that you paid for the race (not including UltraSignUp fees) so you will need to cover any difference in fees; refunds will not be issued if the deferred event costs less than your race credit. You can only defer one time so please doublecheck that you can make the race you're deferring to.
Q: I could get lost in a brown paper bag. Will the course be marked?
A: Whenever I get lost, I put my fingers under my arms, and then smell them like this… Don't be worried about getting lost. Focus on following the neon pink ribbons and large directional arrows and you'll be okay!
​Q: Me and my friend aren't registered for the race, but we're still planning on coming to run. We won't eat from the aid station or take a medal or swag. This is okay, right?
A: NO THIS IS NOT OKAY. This is called being a "race bandit" and it is stealing. Not paying for a race and running the race is stealing from the race organization (even if you're not taking food or swag). Don't do this at a Sassquad trail party or ANY other race. It's not okay. And if you hear about someone else doing this, call them out. If you bandit a race, you will be banned from registering for any of our Sassquad events.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Negative. Max the Pug has to stay home for this event.Our liability insurance does not cover dogs at our events; thank you for understanding!
Q: Can I sign my kids up for the Trail Party?
A: Yes! We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email us (trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com) before you register so we can give you the code! Once you have the code, be sure to register your child separately and agree to the waiver for minors. And make sure to keep track of little Westley and Buttercup before during and after the race. We only have 1 search-party and they're already out there looking for Sasquatch.