Sat, Aug 22, 2026

Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k)

Mill Spring, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

MarathonHalf Marathon10K

About the Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k)

The course runs through an equestrian center on a loop repeated depending on your distance, mixing wide packed dirt paths, single-track trail, and open meadows. The terrain rolls steadily throughout, with a real climb built into each loop, and horses are sometimes visible from the trail. The surroundings feel genuinely different from a road or park race.

Packet pickup opens at the start line before the gun. Parking is inside the main gate, stay left after entry and follow the driveway to a lot beside the General Store. The aid station is cup-free, so bring your own vessel. Pickles, cookies, chips, pretzels, water, cola, and ginger ale are available. Camping is on site through the equestrian center directly.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

10K · 2025 results

124finishers

45:25winner

1:20:05median

2:40:24cutoff

Top 3: Dan Stoner (45:25) · Jeff Dietrich (46:18) · Tamara Toews (50:02)

13.1 Miles · 2025 results

121finishers

1:34:40winner

2:24:44median

4:25:23cutoff

Top 3: Marcus Lockhart (1:34:40) · Christopher Peterson (1:40:05) · Matthias Ortiz (1:43:34)

26.2 Miles · 2025 results

75finishers

3:23:48winner

5:09:04median

7:05:11cutoff

Top 3: Charlie Speed (3:23:48) · Sam Reed (3:36:27) · Drake Parker (3:48:31)

The Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) has been held every year since at least 2020. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 10K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

26.2 Miles8/22/2026 08:00$75

13.1 Miles8/22/2026 08:00$65

10K8/22/2026 08:00$55

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Common Questions About the Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k)

Will I finish last at the Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k)?

Almost certainly not. Half the 10K field finished slower than 1:20:05, and the last recorded finisher came in around 2:40:24, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) a good first 10K?

It is a small race (124 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 10K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k)?

The 10K winner ran 45:25 while the median finisher took 1:20:05. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.