Question regarding driving: I’ve heard that the backup to get in to the parking lot is less if approaching from the south going north-bound on 15. If so, how do you go? All directions have us on 267 to 15S. Is it worth it to go another way to avoid a backup at the entrance?

The kids love the merch from this race!! It's a harder course but the experience is top for those kids! You can do "very well" and still finish in the hundreds.

The first year my daughter ran it, she was in a race with 330 other kids. Insane! The meet is absolutely huge. It's also awesome.

Plan to arrive at least an hour before your kid's race. The one road into the plantation gets very, very backed up. Bring $10 cash. Once you've parked it's super easy to get to the start line. If you are athletic, wear running clothes and shoes so you can chase the kids to the various spectator points. The concessions are pretty good if you want food. If your kid wants merch, get in line early - the shirts are good and they sell out.

Afterwards, there are lots of wineries nearby, and downtown leesburg isn't far away, if you want to take advantage of being out there. That's what I do.

Anonymous wrote:It is the VA state course so this is a good practice session for those runners who will be competing at the State meet.

Parking is $10 and there is plenty but there is a single lane road to get into Oatlands so there is a back-up. I think last year it took us 45 minutes to go the last mile.

There are a ton of runners.

We just got a reminder email from the coach that the parking is $10 cash. Bring your $10 bills!

Honestly, ds is in one of the last groups running. We might skip the meet this year and have him take the bus there and back.

the hills at the end are hard. no one is getting a PR for a 5K on this course but it is good to run the state course.

Last year, there were ambulances at the finish line and some kids were in them.

According to my kid, first mile is downhill, second flat, last uphill.

It is the VA state course so this is a good practice session for those runners who will be competing at the State meet.

Parking is $10 and there is plenty but there is a single lane road to get into Oatlands so there is a back-up. I think last year it took us 45 minutes to go the last mile.

There are a ton of runners.

Anonymous wrote:I saw a video where they run through a stream. Is that standard for the course, or was this particular event held after a huge rain storm?

I raced here when I was in school (graduated 2009) and remember this particular course because of the little creek and also there’s a massive hill at some point. If I remember correctly the level of water varied depending on the weather. One year it was pretty high but it’s not that wide of a stream.

It is a fun meet OP! I miss my XC days.

Anonymous wrote:I saw a video where they run through a stream. Is that standard for the course, or was this particular event held after a huge rain storm?

A few weeks ago the stream was bone dry.

I saw a video where they run through a stream. Is that standard for the course, or was this particular event held after a huge rain storm?

Beautiful and challenging course. I've been two prior years, and I do not remember the parking being any more of a headache than a typical Saturday meet. Oatlands seems to know how to manage bigger events. Good luck to your xc runners!

Anonymous wrote:If it’s the one I remember, parking was a nightmare last year. Dh went and was texting us updates as he waited in a long line of cars to get in. He did get to see ds run, but it was close.

2 years ago, it took me an hour to get out of the parking lot. Pretty course though.

If it’s the one I remember, parking was a nightmare last year. Dh went and was texting us updates as he waited in a long line of cars to get in. He did get to see ds run, but it was close.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone been and have experiences to share? Our DC (freshman) is running JV. From what I understand there could be anywhere fro 3-5k kids running from schools in multiple states. Parking at the past two events has been atrocious, so if anyone has any experiences or guidance that would be great.

Milesplit shows about 3,700 entries between boys and girls. I've never been, but getting there early seems like the best plan.

Has anyone been and have experiences to share? Our DC (freshman) is running JV. From what I understand there could be anywhere fro 3-5k kids running from schools in multiple states. Parking at the past two events has been atrocious, so if anyone has any experiences or guidance that would be great.