Pennsylvania's toughest 10k trail race, held during the peak of summer.

Statistics

1 - 2

hrs

521

m

521

m

10

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

The Sproul 10k in Hyner, PA, is a remarkably difficult trail race with stunning views, techy singletrack, and water crossings - all explored during the punishing heat of July.

It's often noted as one of the *toughest* 10k's in all of Pennsylvania, and the massive 400-person field hits the trail at 10 a.m.

bound for the top of McCloskey Mountain.

[PA Wilds](https://pawilds.com/10-pa-wilds-trail-races-not-missed/) considers it one of their top 10 races *not to be missed* in the state, and the challenge is dominated by PA residents though several states are represented each year. The first 3-miles of the course climb constantly for nearly 1,500 feet to the top of the mountain.

Your return trip is a screamin' fast 3.7-mile descent leading back to the finish.

The hand-drawn course map does vary slightly from the listed trails seen here - but the route is well-marked and marshaled, so don't worry about memorizing it beforehand.

Given its difficulty, finish times vary drastically based on the field, but the fastest recorded times for men are just under 43-minutes.

Top finishes among women hover around 57-minutes, with many closer to an hour.

Held in the summer, registration typically opens in December of the preceding year.

The race director notes how there are no race-day sign-ups, refunds, or deferrals, in addition to a zero-tolerance policy for bandit runners (those to attempt to race without paying).

Importantly, phone reception is very limited in the area, so it's recommended to study the map thoroughly before you head out and not to solely rely on your phone for navigation.

As such, a list of local accommodations, camping, and food is available [here](https://www.patraildogs.com/sproul-race-day-details), though a post-race meal is included for every participant.

Racers also receive a few swag items included with the cost of registration. [Event Website](https://www.patraildogs.com/sproul10k) [Pennsylvania Wilds](https://pawilds.com/10-pa-wilds-trail-races-not-missed/)