Sat, Oct 17, 2026

Heart of Cool Trail Run

Cool, CA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2018

5K10KHalf Marathon

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Sep 18, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Heart of Cool Trail Run

The courses run through the Sierra Foothills on trails shared with some of the most respected ultramarathons in the country. The terrain is classic foothill singletrack, and several distance options mean the route you pick shapes how much of it you experience. Proceeds benefit local youth programs and a camp for children with heart disease.

Race-day packet pickup keeps things simple. The event is cup-free, so bring a handheld or a bottle you can refill at the aid stations along the way. A pancake breakfast waits at the finish.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

82finishers

24:51winner

50:42median

1:28:42cutoff

Top 3: T. Ward Jr (24:51) · Brandon Chagolla (26:30) · L. Kerr (27:54)

6.2 Miles · 2025 results

80finishers

48:08winner

1:18:45median

1:57:10cutoff

Top 3: Landon York (48:08) · Foofa Ward (48:50) · W. Mills (51:08)

13.1 Miles · 2025 results

61finishers

1:44:15winner

2:59:24median

4:48:37cutoff

Top 3: Levi York (1:44:15) · Joshua Frees (1:44:33) · Miriam Bell (1:52:09)

The Heart of Cool Trail Run has been held every year since at least 2018. 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 3.1 Miles 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

3.1 Miles10/17/2026 09:00$40

6.2 Miles10/17/2026 08:30$45

13.1 Miles10/17/2026 08:00$70

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Heart of Cool Trail Run

Will I finish last at the Heart of Cool Trail Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 50:42, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:28:42, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Heart of Cool Trail Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (82 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Heart of Cool Trail Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 24:51 while the median finisher took 50:42. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.