Trails Entice Runners To “Ditch the City”

Local Chris Wiley, 38, and Nashville, TN native Kayla Bailey, 20, won their respective divisions at the XTERRA Runnin' the Rocks 10k at the Georgia International Horse Park on Saturday.

Wiley, an Atlanta native, turned in the fastest time of the day in 36:20 - nearly a minute ahead of runner-up Bill Baldwin from North Carolina.  In the women's race Bailey blazed to a 47:21, more than a minute better than Kinsey Snell of Loganville.

A total of 261 runners, ages 14-to-64 and representing seven states, "ditched the city" and braved the chilly 32-degree temperature at start time to kick off XTERRA's 2008 Trail Running Series.

"Great course, and hopefully all these XTERRA runs will be as tough as Conyers," said Wiley.

"This was my first XTERRA event, but it won't be my last," added Travis Dye, 50, of Cumming, GA.  "Even though it was a little chilly at the start, I really enjoyed the event."

XTERRA Runnin' the Rocks was the third race in the XTERRA Georgia Trail Running Series with only two more chances for runners to add points to their total series scores.

Next up is the XTERRA Thrill in the Hills Xduro in Winder, Georgia on March 1st.  Runners looking for a serious challenge will not be disappointed in this grueling, not-for-the-weak-hearted, off-road half-marathon.

Complete results from Saturday's race can be found here ( RESULTS ) and more information can be found online at www.xterratrailrun.com.  Media interested in photos from this event should contact Emily@xterraplanet.com.

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC