DISTANCES: Saturday, November 4, 2006, starting and finishing in Prentiss, MS. The challenge is to run, walk, bike, roller blade or wheelchair your age in kilometers on the Longleaf Trace beginning at 6:00 a.m. The starting and finishing line is in the Longleaf Trace Park near Columbia Avenue in Prentiss and registration will also be available at the Gateway Park in Hattiesburg on the University of Southern MS campus. The entire Trace will be supported. The course is marked in kilometers. Half marathon is marked for entrants desiring to complete the marathon distance. The course is out and back. Forty-two kilometers is just past Sumrall, provided you start in Prentiss. Aid stations will be provided at approximately three-mile intervals; fluids available at all stations, food at alternate stations. Eight Rest Rooms are available on the course. Official Start time to begin your challenge will be at 6:00 am and will stop at 3:00 pm. Launch time for the Ride South mass start will be at 9:00 am from Prentiss. All participants are asked to finish your "challenge distance" no later than 3:30 p.m. Food and entertainment will be available in the Longleaf Trace Park at Prentiss.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Longleaf Trace is a paved "Rails to Trails" running from Prentiss, MS to Hattiesburg, MS. It meanders through beautiful forests, crosses live streams, passes scenic small lakes, and passes through small towns. The course is relatively flat. November is the peak month for fall foliage along the Trace. Total distance from Prentiss to Hattiesburg and back is 129.60 kilometers (80.60 miles). Longleaf Trace mileage charts and conversion table for your age will be provided the day of the challenge.

RACE INFORMATION: Longleaf Trace Birthday Challenge, P.O. Box 1797, Prentiss, MS 39474-1797; telephone (601) 792-5142; fax (601) 792-5190; email jeffdaviscountychamberofcommerce@yahoo.com ; MOTELS: Claridge Inn – (601) 792-2051; Jeffersonian Inn – (601) 792-4298; CAMPING: Jeff Davis Lake – (601) 792-4674 or (601) 792-8225; 4K Stables: Bassfield – (601) 943-5003

Over 200 folks participated in the 2006 Birthday Challenge, down from over 700 in 2004. As expected, attendance was down due to the Katrina cancellation in 2005. Many vendors and entrants had made other plans. Hopefully we can build this event back up to its former size. The attendees enjoyed themselves on a nice Fall day. Below are an active couple who stumbled onto the event by accident.

We did a 15 mile long run on 11/4 and a lady met us at the finish and gave us medals. 
We had not realized that it was the Birthday Run.
Nice reward for our work-out.
Dow and Renee' Ford