Aiken Trails Club NewsletterDecember Edition
Battle of the Run Clubs: When Run Clubs (Amicably) Collide Your Prep Guide from Sarah Hansel
Trails Club Calendar:
2025
November 1 @ 8am – Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
December 6 @ am – Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
2026
January 3 @ 8am – Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
January 24 @ 8am – Battle of the Run Clubs 10mile/10k/5k hosted by Aiken Trails Club at Stable View
Registration HERE
February 7 @ 8am – Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
February 27 – March 1 – Yeti Dark Horse Ultra (event will not be hosted by Aiken Trails Club)
Registration HERE
March 7 @ 8am – Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
April 11 @ 8am – Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
April 18: Aiken Trailblazer at Stable View Spring Race
May 9 @ 8am – Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
Barry’s Trail Club Welcome Letter
The growth in the Aiken Trails Club @ Stable View continues to be spectacular. With interest from new schools, colleges and clubs, the Club has clearly touched a segment of athletes that were under served. With new Events, Championship’s and Meets, Stable View is having to consider how it can run multi discipline events at the same time. This growth is also cementing Stable View’s plans for increasing the total Trails distance beyond 20 miles during 2026. In terms of future plans, once the new Office Complex is finished, The Trails Club will have its own Club House. This will be situated between the Main Barn and the Pavilion. We’re hopeful that we can take on more multi discipline events in a single day. As long as there aren’t two groups - horses jumping & runners - on the cross country course at the same time, the sky is the limit!
Wishing you Happy Holidays!
- The Stable View Team
Battle of the Run Clubs
By Sarah Hansel
The Aiken Trails Club at Stable View is thrilled to be hosting the first annual Battle of the Run Clubs on January 24, 2026.
While this was originally intended to be a fun but casual showdown between the Aiken, Augusta, and Columbia run clubs, we are mostly trying to build community and comradery in the southeast trail running scene by providing a race format that is friendly and accessible to all.
Are you prepping for a longer ultra this fall? Support your team and get in a solid tempo run in the process. First timer? Enter the 5k and contribute equally to the overall score. Want to declare your family or your group of friends a "club?" Bring it on!
More of a solo runner, but still want to race? Heck yes! Enter "Free Agent" when asked to list your club name and you'll be paired up with a mixed team. Heck, you might walk away with some new best buds.
There will be awards for the top 3 finishers in each race, as well as the top three teams, with the winning team having their name engraved on the Perpetual Trophy.
After the race, stick around for amazing food provided by Stable View's famous Graze and Gaze with food provided by The Bistro @ Stable View. The Bistro serves casual breakfast and lunch Monday - Friday from 8am-4pm and is also open during most horse show weekends. During Graze & Gaze, participants can relax, play lawn games, and mingle as you wait for your team to finish. Showers are available on site, so feel free to pack a towel and a change of clothes.
We'd certainly love a few extra hands on race day.
Hope to see you all out there this January for some fun and friendly competition!
HOW TO ENTER:
RunClubs/Teams: All runners will enter individually, listing their team/ club name on the entry form. I 100% realize that organizing a group of friends can be like herding cats, so don't feel like you need to fill all four slots before signing up. If a team comes up short, you will be matched with a "Free Agent" to ensure you are still eligible for an overall score.
Individuals: if you don't belong to a run club and still want to participate, you are more than welcome. On the entry form, when the team name is requested, simply enter "Free Agent" and we will match you with a mixed team. There will be awards for the top three finishers in each individual race as well.
SCORING:
There will be 6 races:
Men's 10 mile
Women's 10 mile
Men's 10k
Women's 10k
Men's 5k
Women's 5k
Each runner may choose the distance that suits them best. Each race will be scored equally, as follows:
1st place - 1 point
2nd place - 2 points
3rd place- 3 points
4th place- 4 points And so on....
Team scores will consist of the top 4 best placings, with the goal of earning the LOWEST overall team score. Teams can be as large as you want, the more the merrier, as more runners give you more chances at earning top placings. Additional runners on a team will not add to the score, but can definitely still contribute by bumping runners from other teams down in the rankings.
Don't feel like running, but would like to volunteer? Contact the Aiken Trails Club, as we'd certainly love a few extra hands on race day.
Hope to see you all out there this January for some fun and friendly competition!
Registration now available on RunSignUp HERE and on UltraSignUp HERE
Sponsored by:
Coach’s Corner with Victoria:
Victoria Seahorn, founding Race Director of the ING Georgia Marathon is a veteran of 30 marathons and numerous half marathons. In addition to her personal experience completing races, Seahorn has created training programs to guide more than 10,000 people to achieve their goal of completing marathons to 5K’s.
During her career, Seahorn has been in demand as a speaker, coach, marathon pace group program organizer and leader. She is the race director of The Aiken Trailblazer at Stable View trail races.
December On the Trails…
My absolute favorite time of the year. The air is colder. The sky is bluer. Nothing better than running in the snow (if it happens...), so tranquil and peaceful and energizing, but don’t get sucked into the total hustle and bustle. Save time for yourself.
There are so many fun holiday themed races. Choose a race with cool perks and have fun with friends, family and/or co-workers.
It’s not too early to think about the spring races. Setting a goal now, instead of waiting til the New Year, will give you that extra edge and jump start on training.
Using the fun holiday races as a kick-off for that half marathon or marathon goal!
With Christmas approaching faster and faster these days, it’s perfect timing to ask Santa for the winter gear that you might need. Such as new trail shoes, a good headlamp as we don’t have as much daylight as other times of the year, warm gloves and a beanie as well as pants, shirts and jackets that are made out of material to help keep you warm and dry.
We would like to give you all a special gift of 20% off for our Spring Aiken Trailblazer Half Marathon, 15K or 5K. Just use the code SANTA25.
So enjoy December, remembering that winter running helps build endurance and helps keep your mind clear and somewhat peaceful despite the often holiday stress and blues. Keep the spirit and don’t forget there’s no such thing as bad weather, just good memories to share…
Wishing everyone a very safe and happy holiday season.
Happy Running, Coach Victoria Seahorn
Drop by Fleet Feet Augusta or North Augusta to holiday shop with the most knowledgeable staff in the area - plus they have a fantastic rewards program!
Trails Club Members: Don’t forget to use you Running Warehouse discount for gear gifts!
The OG Trailblazer - Nature’s Holiday Decor on the Trails
Every December, while most folks are inside debating whether the tree is crooked or the cat is simply determined, I am still on my daily walks on the trails. Out there, among the deer tracks and the pine needles, the woods are putting on a holiday display of their own—no permission slips, no extension cords, and not a single inflatable Santa in sight.
Cedars are the original Southern Christmas trees, you know. They grow just fast enough for you to say, “Well, I’ll be… didn’t that pop up out of nowhere?”
And then there’s the holly & winterberry. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the holly bushes on the trails, because they’ve been heavy with bright red berries this year—looking like they’re ready to audition for a Christmas card. The holly is planted right along that deer trail where the blue Blue Loop switches over to Red Loop—one of those spots where the woods zigzag.
I once found a beautiful little Leyland cypress out there, too—a perfect Christmas-tree-in-the-wild situation. Even ran it through that iNaturalist app—where real plant folks will tell you, politely and with credentials, that no, sir, you’ve probably misidentified that. I’ve gone back looking for that cypress a dozen times, but it’s vanished. Either it blew down the hurricane, or the forest simply decided it was done being admired.
The OG Trailblazer Trails Report:
If you’re out on the trail this holiday season, don’t just run with your head down, counting miles. Look around. The forest is holding its own Christmas parade, subtle but spectacular. And unlike the big one downtown, nobody’s gonna block your view or step on your toes. Just you, the trees, the berries, and a little Southern holiday magic.
Contro system
Controlled burns, management that involves the inte efully monitored conditions. Gene ce yet there is a difference: wildf s and controlled burns are an essential tool used by ecologists, foresters, and land managers to maintain healthy ecosystems and reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires. One of the most significant benefits of controlled burns is their ability to prevent large, destructive wildfires. By periodically burning off excess vegetation, controlled burns help reduce the buildup of “fuel” - dry leaves, dead trees, and other organic matter that can fuel massive fires. This reduction in fuel load makes it more difficult for wildfires to spread uncontrollably and cause widespread destruction to forests, homes, and wildlife. Many plant and animal species have adapted to fire and depend on it for survival. For example, certain pine species, require fire to open their cones and release seeds. Additionally, controlled burns can create diverse habitats by clearing out overgrown brush, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and encouraging the growth of native grasses and flowers. This, in turn, supports a variety of wildlife, from insects to large mammals, by providing food and shelter.
Invasive plant species can quickly take over an ecosystem, outcompeting native plants and disrupting local biodiversity. Controlled burns can be an effective method of managing these invasives, as fire can selectively target and reduce their populations while allowing fire-adapted native plants to thrive. By controlling invasive species, prescribed burns help maintain the ecological balance necessary for a healthy and sustainable environment. Fire also returns valuable nutrients to the soil by breaking down organic matter into ash, which acts as a natural fertilizer. This process helps enhance soil quality and promotes the growth of new vegetation. Nutrient-rich soil supports plant health, which in turn benefits herbivores and the entire food chain. Many ecosystems evolved with periodic fires, and the suppression of natural wildfires has led to an unnatural accumulation of vegetation. This buildup not only increases the risk of catastrophic wildfires but also disrupts ecological processes. Controlled burns help restore natural fire cycles, maintaining the resilience of ecosystems that depend on periodic fire disturbances. By mitigating the risks of severe wildfires, controlled burns also protect human communities and infrastructure. When wildfires are less severe, fewer resources are needed for firefighting efforts, reducing costs for local governments and taxpayers. Additionally, healthier forests and grasslands can support industries such as tourism, recreation, and agriculture, providing economic benefits to communities that rely on natural landscapes.
At Stable View, approximately 800 conserved acres undergo prescribed burns. This Winter & Spring, controlled burns will be occurring on the trails as weather allows. So, don’t be alarmed and please stay tuned to email notifications on burn days and signage displayed at the Sign In book that will inform you which areas to avoid.
2026 is fast approaching, and we’d like to invite you to join us to ring in the New Year here at Stable View on December 31, 2025! Get ready for a night of live music from Lola Grace & the Night, food, drinks, and dancing at the Stable View Pavillion from 8:30pm to 12:30am. Tickets are $100 per person or $750 for a table of 8 and can be purchased HERE.
Aiken Trails Cl b L Map:
