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Amherst Land Trust Hosts Competitive Distance Races -- "The ALT Twilight Challenge"

On September 10, 2011 the Amherst Land Trust will host an exciting evening of competitive distance races, including a 6-hour ultra-marathon; 13.1 mile trail half marathon; and a half marathon relay. This high-quality distance running event, designed and directed by a team of experienced runners and organizers of numerous marathon, road race, track and field and cross country meets, will be of interest to competitive runners, outdoor and fitness enthusiasts, and organizations with an environmental ethic. It is expected to attract competitors from throughout New England and the Northeast.

The event site is at Freestyle Farm, a 300+ acre equestrian center located in Amherst, New Hampshire, approximately 60 minutes from downtown Boston, MA and within 20 minutes of Nashua and Manchester, NH. Hartford, CT, is about 2 hours away by car. The farm specializes in the boarding and training of event horses and also hosts running and XC ski events.

Races will be run on a 2.62-mile loop (1/10 of a marathon) of groomed trails surrounding a 20+ acre pond. Virtually all segments of the course can accommodate 5 to 8 runners abreast. There are no paved surfaces, no houses, and no vehicular traffic on the wooded course. The start-finish area is an 8+ acre field offering unobstructed viewing and good course visibility. There is ample space for parking, tents (overnight camping permitted), and concessions. This venue also offers excellent opportunities for product placement and display in close proximity to a captive audience. For further details concerning the event, go to Twilight Challenge or Contact Information.

Proceeds of this fundraising half marathon and ultra-marathon will benefit the Amherst Land Trust and ecological/biodiversity research programs conducted by Souhegan High School in southern New Hampshire in collaboration with the El Eden Eco Reserve in Quintana Roo, Mexico, under the auspices of HABITATNET: a Global Biodiversity Monitoring project. Fundraising prizes include the opportunity for up to five persons to travel to and conduct biodiversity research at El Eden.

The Amherst Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization incorporated in The State of New Hampshire. We seek to protect potentially developable land so as to preserve the rural aesthetic of our community, conserve natural resources, and preserve open space for active and passive recreation. We are actively seeking sponsorship from corporations and organizations that share our interest in land preservation and stewardship and who are invested in the development and promotion of environmental products and services or who serve environmentally conscious clients. One or two primary sponsors are being sought to underwrite event costs.