OXFORD — There is still time to register for the second annual Four in the Forest Trail Run, a half-marathon happening Sept. 23 on Bennett Lane in Oxford. The race is being hosted by Rick and Karen Bennett on the trail system they have built on their property.
The Bennetts refer to the trail as the Happy Moose, as when viewed on satellite GPS it resembles a moose.
Maine Sen. Rick Bennett and his wife Karen are hosting a half-marathon on the trail system, the Happy Moose, they have built behind their Oxford Home.
“We have been building the system over time,” Rick Bennett told the Advertiser Democrat. “Last year was the first time we held the trail run, and we had six runners participate.
“The route has changed a bit since then. It covers a one-eighth mile run to start, and the race continues through three loops totaling 4.1 miles to make it a full five.”
Rick and Karen Bennett of Oxford have build a 4-mile trail system on their property. Supplied photo
The Happy Moose Trail may be the only system in Maine that has been tested by a ratite (emu).
Bennet, who serves in the Maine Senate, said registrations are significantly higher in 2023 and he expects up to 30 registrants, including some of his colleagues in Augusta like Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
The route for the Happy Moose Half Marathon/Four in the Forest Trail Run at Bennett Lane in Oxford. Supplied photo
Proceeds from the run will go to the Western Foothills Land Trust and its campaign to purchase the 84-acre Staples Forest in Oxford.
According to a post on WFLT the Staples Forest is close by Oxford Elementary School on Pleasant Street. The forest will provide opportunities for nature-based education programs and outdoor space for students to simply explore. The parcel includes approximately 1,140 feet of river frontage, an important snowmobile trail juncture, and trails for hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing.
“The land trust is a big asset for our community,” Bennett said. “We fully support their mission, and this is a fun way for our friends and neighbors to do the same.”
Participants can register at runsignup.com. The cost is $50 and event registration will remain open until Sept. 22.
Information is also posted on the Facebook page for the Happy Moose Half-Marathon.
The public is invited to come and root for runners as they make their way around the Happy Moose.
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