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Volume 2 Issue 5

Aiken Trails Club Newsletter September Edition

Yeti Trail Runners’ Dark Horse Returns Feb. 2027

Image courtesy of Nick Morgan Photography

The OG Trailblazer: Signs of Early Autumn

In this edition you will find: Club Calendar.................................................................3 Trails Club Monthly Letter..........................................4 The Aiken Trailblazer....................................................6 Grass & Trails Maintenance Regimen.....................9 Coach’s Corner: September Brings.........................13 The OG Trailblazer: Signs of Early Autumn............17 Trails Club Map.............................................................21

Trails Club Calendar:

2026 September 1, 2026 – AAMSL X-Country Meet September 3, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet September 5, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk September 8, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet September 15, 2026 – AAMSL X-Country Meet October 3, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk October 20, 2026 – AAMSL X-Country Meet - Championships October 22, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet - Senior Invitational October 24, 2026 – Fall Aiken Trailblazer Marathon/Half Marathon/10k/5k/Kids Fun Run For more information or sign up HERE October 29, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet - Regional Qualifier November 14, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk December 5, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk

4 2027 January 23, 2027 - Battle of the Run Clubs - For more information or sign up HERE February 26-28, 2027 - Yeti Dark Horse 24/48 Hour Ultra - For more information or sign up HERE April 2027 - Aiken Trailblazer Half Marathon/15k/5k/Kids Fun Run May 15, 2027 - UltraTrax Hiking/Rucking Event June 24-27, 2027 - Camp-Run-A-Muck - Registration begins October 1! August 21, 2027 - The Human Horse Trials 5k...information coming soon.

Benefits Include: Access to the Trail System @ Stable View Discounts at Stable View on Accommodations, The Bistro @ Stable View and Stable View organized trail events & races Discounts at Running Warehouse Access to HOT showers! For more information or to sign up, click HERE

Trails Club Monthly Letter As many are eagerly anticipating a change in seasons and reprieve from the heat, traffic has been picking up around and on the trails. Alongside the usual training activities of our adult members, the middle and high school teams have been practicing primarily in the grassy areas, gearing up for their first meets at Stable View this week! There has been mowing and maintenance out on the trail system, including pine straw removal on two single tracks - The Gully and The Deer Trail - on the blue loop. And let’s take a moment to welcome a new addition to our trail maintenance fleet —a smaller bush hog! She is beauty and she is grace! And the MOST wonderful part of the upcoming change in weather? After a summer of training through heat and humidity equivalent to a sauna while pondering when (or if) your Garmin will ever acknowledge you as 100% Heat Acclimated, all the effort should finally pay off! Whether or not your Garmin agrees will not matter because you should feel strong - and it should feel as wonderful as Christmas morning! The Stable View Team

The Aiken Trailblazer In 2022, Stable View set out to establish a running event on its trails, leading to the decision to find a race director and create a Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, and Kids Fun Run. After collaborating with race director Victoria Seahorn from Marathon Majic, her initial visit affirmed the beautiful rolling hills and potential of the terrain. The first Aiken Trailblazer race took place on a cool, rainy day in November 2023, featuring a 10k, 5k, and Kids Fun Run, with around 70 participants braving the muddy conditions. Despite the weather challenges, the feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, prompting the event organizers to plan a Spring race that would include the Half Marathon and explore the possibility of adding a Marathon in the future—aiming for a course without loops. This evolution led to the Aiken Trailblazer transforming into a Half Marathon, 15k, and 5k in Spring 2024, while the Fall race shifted closer to Halloween and was renamed the Headless Horseman Half Marathon.

As the events grew into biannual races with various distances, a new vibrant community at Stable View emerged. There are returning runners, enthusiastic volunteers, families participating together, children progressing from the Fun Run to the 5k, groups walking/hiking and dedicated sponsors who contribute to making the events possible. The race continued despite damage incurred from Hurricane Helene. With the intent of creating a challenging trail race showcasing the region’s natural beauty and promoting a healthy lifestyle, this October, the final distance will be added to the Trailblazer’s offerings: the Marathon. This course will stretch across four different properties, enhancing the experience for participants and showcasing the beautiful trails of the “neighborhood”. This year’s Fall Trailblazer will be on Saturday, October 24th and Fall Trailblazer participants are encouraged to wear a costume in the seasonal spirit!

Fall 2026 Aiken Trailblazer Schedule of Events Friday, October 23 Events Packet Pick Up @ Stable View Pavilion from 4:00pm–6:00pm Yoga Class with Cate @ Stable View’s Healing Arts at 6:00pm (Mats and Blocks Provided) Stretch it out after picking up your packet! Saturday, October 24: Race Day Location: 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC 29801 **Follow event parking signs and head to The Pavilion @ Stable View for Packet Pick Up at the Start/Finish. The Pavilion is 3-story building with three flags flying on top. Packet Pick-Up: 7:00am–8:30am Race Start Times: Marathon: 7:45am Half Marathon: 8:00am 10K: 8:30am 5K: 9:00am Kids Fun Run: 10:00am Rain or Shine Event – No Refunds

Fall 2026 Sponsored By:

Grass & Trails Maintenance Regimen by Barry Olliff

Most runners probably don’t think about the paths, tracks and grass they compete on. There’s no reason to - they’re just there. A bit like the weather, it’s raining, sunny or there’s a frost - it just happens. I guess it really was like that in the old days when life was more simple - there were tracks, paths and grass, and no one worried much about their condition. With advancements in technology, it’s now different, some runners spend $100’s on clothing, similar amounts on “correct” food and supplements, and probably rather more on shoes. In the increasingly competitive environment, they increasingly also focus upon footing. Gone are the days when athletes accepted muddy, bumpy, hard, root infested and invasive branches. Now it’s about grooming cutting, weed eating and tree and branch management. Sorry, the hills are non-negotiable – they will remain.

And why not? Facilities need to improve. Toilets, Showers, Restaurants (good food), Accommodations, Nearby Parking are requirements? Why not good footing? The grass regimen on Stable View’s two 3-Day Eventing cross country courses is comprised of an annual program with Harrell’s with an annual c$100,000 spend on pre-emergent, fertiliser, army worm and fire ant treatments and vehicle traffic is strictly limited on these two courses.

Aeration is undertaken twice a year, this softens up the soil, and allows the weather and nutrients in. This grass is cut around eight times a year. Originally developed and maintained for equestrian competitors, now runners also use significant parts of the 85 acres of cross country course[s]. Virtually all of the school X-Country Meets Stable View hosts only use the cross-country courses. The Conserved land containing nearly 20 miles of Trails - the 850 acres – are looked after by the Trails Management Committee. These trails are bush hogged twice with certain areas receiving the treatment three times a year and low limbs are removed throughout the year. At 2 to 3 MPH, this takes around five days. This does not include clean up of branches and fallen trees after storms.

Because of the miles under treatment, it’s less likely that you’ll be bothered by roots, and anyway, Pine Tree roots go primarily down not out.With Stable View’s first Marathon added to The Aiken Trailblazer this Fall, competitors will not reuse track or run 2 loops of the Half Marathon. We’ve been loaned land for the day. The 26 plus miles will be on a single course - with a little elevation - but you’ll only see a runner that you’re immediately in front of or behind. All areas of the proposed Marathon Course are at present under treatment. Why wouldn’t they be? Stable View’s Marathon Course if like your investment in Atheltic Clothing, Food and Shoes, it’s a part of the competitive environment we all find ourselves in.

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. T hroughout 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.

September Brings... The start of school, the beginning of cross-country season, the hopes of cooler temps, and the excitement of the fall marathons. Fall Races As I am recovering from some surgery and unable to run, I have been reflecting on my Marathon days. This particular time of the year was always so exciting as my favorite marathons, the Marine Corps marathon and the New York City marathon are fastly approaching. There are so many excellent races, big and small, road and trails to choose as a fall goal. I can definitely say my favorite time to run is October and November.

I have done the New York City Marathon three times, the Marine Corps Marathon seven times, the Chicago Marathon as well as Portland, Maine Marathon to name a few. For those that are slated to run a marathon, an ultra, half marathon or any other distance now is a time to squeeze in those long distance training runs. Hopefully the humidity won’t be as intense as it has been this summer and putting on the miles won’t be as difficult as running in July and August. Your summer training will have helped with your endurance.

Fuel Now that you are ramping up your mileage, don’t forget your fuel. Nutrition is more important than ever. Now is the time to experiment and find what works best for your body. Whether it be a certain type of bar, Gu or whatever energy supplement, now is the time to try it out. The same goes for your carbohydrates and what foods work best for your pre-race meals. Electrolytes are equally as important. There are so very many brands out there, so figure out which one works for you. If you’re doing a race that provides fuel on the course find out what they are using and practice running with that particular product. I’ll never forget a few years ago running the Honolulu marathon and the electrolytes was a product I had never tried, and it did not agree with my digestive system . I should’ve brought my own, so it was a lesson well learned!

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Race Calendars If you haven’t chosen a fall race, check with your local running clubs, running store, runninginthe usa.com or findarace.com for some great ideas. Don’t forget that our Aiken Trailblazer Halloween extravaganza is now featuring a Marathon distance on October 24th!! The Trailblazer will now offer a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K. And there is plenty of time to register. For more information or to sign up, click HERE. Most importantly, enjoy your Running whether you have a race on the calendar or not! Happy Running, Coach Victoria

The OG Trailblazer: Signs of Early Autumn

While The OG Trailblazer is a legend, he is definitely not a myth. He was tearing up the trails as a kid long before Stable View was even a thought. Today, one is likely to spot him on the trails wielding a pair of loppers like a pro, decked out in his eye-popping orange Clemson gear, crafting new single tracks. When he’s not busy making trails, he volunteers as a spotter at cross country meets and at the Aiken Trailblazer aid stations. If you ever find yourself lost on the trails, just look for the guy in the eyeburning orange—he's your go-to GPS, but will likely take you off-trail to show you a new path he’s quite literally be dreaming of blazing.

As summer is winding down at a snail’s pace, early signs of fall can be observed during your next jaunt on the trails. The muscadines are almost at their prime and add to the charm of the early autumn landscape, ripening to a gorgeous deep purple around Labor Day. Their rich color isn’t just a feast for the eyes —the darker the muscadine, the sweeter the fruit! That makes them a delightful treat for both animals and humans.

Another sign of seasonal change are the traces of nature left all over the trails by some little litterbugs as they prepare for winter — SQUIRRELS! While it is common knowledge that squirrels primarily eat and gather tree nuts, such as acorns, for the colder months, their diets are more varied. They absolutely love munching on the seeds found inside pinecones, and the greener the pinecone, the more delectable (and nutritious) it is to their little palates. Once they gather the seeds, they leave their messy pinecones wherever they please.

The trails are not only home to the charming brown and gray squirrels we commonly see but also to the distinctive fox squirrel. You’ll know you've spotted a fox squirrel when you do a double take and wonder to yourself if you’ve just seen a giant squirrel wearing a mask. Fox squirrels thrive in mature pine forests, particularly in longleaf pine ecosystems like those found along the trails. Next time you stroll through the trails, keep an eye out for these industrious little rodents as they feast. And kindly remind this array of squirrels to keep their mess off the paths— we have a marathon to get ready for this Fall!

Aiken Trails Club Loops Map:

Click here to join the Aiken Trails Club at Stable View.