2025 Collegiate Trail Running National Championship Announcement

2025 Collegiate Trail Running National Championships Return to Fairfax County, Virginia

EX2 Adventures and Collegiate Running Association extend partnership

March 12, 2025 – Fairfax County, VA -The Collegiate Running Association (CRA) is excited to announce the return of the Collegiate Trail Running National Championship to Fairfax County, Virginia. Through an extended partnership with EX2 Adventures, the 2025 championship will once again take place as part of the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race, hosted in the stunning Fountainhead Regional Park. Scheduled for Sunday, May 18, this event offers a unique opportunity for college students of all experience levels to compete in a collegiate trail running national championship, a discipline not traditionally supported by NCAA or USATF programs.

Building on the success of the 2024 championship, the 2025 event marks the fifth Collegiate Trail Running National Championship. The race continues its tradition of offering prize money exclusively for college students, inviting participants from NCAA varsity teams, community colleges, post-graduate programs, and recreational college runners alike to compete for national honors.

On race day, college students will line up alongside the general public for the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race. Post-race, separate results will be provided for collegiate competitors, with awards presented to the top five college runners. The top five finishers will also earn Collegiate Running Association All-America honors, and prize money will be distributed to the top three male and female collegiate finishers. Along with prize money, top collegians will take home JAMBAR, the official nutrition bar of the Collegiate Running Association.

“We are thrilled to extend this partnership,” said Collegiate Running Association Co-Founder Steve Taylor. “The 2024 championship received fantastic feedback, and EX2 Adventures has been an incredible partner. Fountainhead Regional Park’s location in Northern Virginia makes it highly accessible for college students across the country. Our goal at the CRA is to create new opportunities for college students in areas of the sport not historically represented, and the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race fills that void by offering a national championship experience in trail running.”

The 2025 Fountainhead 10K Trail Race will also feature a separate half marathon event with only the 10K serving as the Collegiate Trail Running National Championships. Both races will showcase the natural beauty and challenges of Fountainhead Regional Park, situated just 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. The 10K course features sections of the renowned Bull-Run Occoquan Trail, including a side trail with a breathtaking climb, offering participants an unforgettable experience.

Andy Bacon, Director of EX2 Adventures, shared his enthusiasm for the event’s return: “EX2 is excited to welcome the Collegiate Trail Running National Championship back to the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race. Trail running is a fantastic sport, and this event provides an incredible opportunity for college runners at all levels to fuel their passion. We hope this championship inspires participants to remain involved in trail running well beyond their college years.”

For more details about the 2025 Collegiate Trail Running National Championship, visit the official Collegiate Running Association and EX2 Adventures websites.