THE POCAHONTAS
STATE PARK COURSE

The courses on Bright Hope Trail has been USATF approved for
a 5K & 10K distance.

This is a forest trail run that is a mix of dirt and pine needles that makes for a softer run. There are some minor hills throughout the route. The 5k and 10k are out-and-backs once each, while the half is out-and-back twice with a detour at the beginning. Check the course map for more info on the elevation gain.

Back of the Pack time: 11:00 (5k/10k); 12:00 (half)

5k – VA17045RT

10k – VA17046RT

Course Maps

5k (Bright Hope Trail)
10k (Bright Hope Trail)
Half-Marathon (Bright Hope Trail) 2 Laps of the 10k, with a detour at the beginning
5k (Beaver Lake Trail)
10k is two laps of the trail

Course Records

Think you could dominate this course and set the fastest time?
See below for the course records and which races they were set in…

5K (Bright Hope Trail)

Mens Course Records Womens Course Records
1 Chance Hobday 0:18:19 2019 Summer Pocahontas 5k 1 Dana Hayden 0:21:36 2020 Summer Pocahontas 5k
2 Gerod Green 0:18:33 2021 Pocahontas 5k 2 Amelia Seabury 0:22:47 2019 Pocahontas 5k
3 Travis Booker 0:18:45 2020 Summer Pocahontas 5k 3 Claire Beville 0:23:49 2023 Pocahontas 5k
4 Randy Shelton 0:19:04 2018 Summer Pocahontas 5k 4 Carolyn Beville 0:24:32 2023 Pocahontas 5k
5 Randy Shelton 0:19:28 2019 Summer Pocahontas 5k 5 Laura Burke 0:25:08 2019 Summer Pocahontas 5k

10K (Bright Hope Trail)

Mens Course Records       Womens Course Records    
1 James Waters 0:38:21 2018 Pocahontas 10k   1 Caroline Ballam 0:46:17 2018 Pocahontas 10k
2 Jack Slagle 0:39:06 2021 Pocahontas 10k   2 Ellis Mumford 0:46:21 2023 Pocahontas 10k
3 Brian Waters 0:39:09 2018 Pocahontas 10k   3 Anna West 0:49:00 2020 Pocahontas 10k
4 Matt Popowski 0:40:13 2022 Pocahontas 10k   4 Juliana Perry 0:49:12 2020 Pocahontas 10k
5 Jesse Sewell 0:40:36 2018 Summer Pocahontas 10k   5 Riley Campbell 0:49:51 2024 Pocahontas 10k

Half Marathon (Bright Hope Trail)

Mens Course Records       Womens Course Records    
1 William Orndorff 1:21:26 2024 Pocahontas Half   1 Anna Purcell 1:38:46 2018 Summer Pocahontas Half
2 Joseph Hengoed 1:24:38 2020 Summer Pocahontas Half   2 Katie Carbiener 1:39:15 2021 Pocahontas Half
3 Jared Monseur 1:25:34 2019 Summer Pocahontas Half   3 Allyson Castle 1:39:42 2024 Pocahontas Half
4 Payton Nevills 1:26:15 2024 Pocahontas Half   4 Kacey Gibson 1:39:33 2019 Summer Pocahontas Half
5 John Robertson 1:29:13 2024 Pocahontas Half   5 Rachel Aubert 1:41:28 2018 Summer Pocahontas Half

5K (Beaver Lake Trail)

Mens Course Records Womens Course Records
1 Bryan Browe 0:25:29 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 5k 1 Anne Condon 0:26:56 2020 Devil’s Halloween 5k
2 Riley Rodriguez 0:31:09 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 5k 2 Marcia Byerley 0:28:57 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 5k
3 Joel Zuloaga 0:31:34 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 5k 3 Marcia Byerley 0:29:26 2020 Devil’s Halloween 5k
4 Rich Nolan 0:31:51 2020 Devil’s Halloween 5k 4 Brooke Swarringim 0:31:25 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 5k
5 Mark Swarringim 0:32:28 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 5k 5 Gail Holstrom 0:35:27 2020 Devil’s Halloween 5k

10K (Beaver Lake Trail)

Mens Course Records Womens Course Records
1 Chris Vinciguerra 0:48:28 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 10k 1 Sarah Brooks 0:56:47 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k
2 John Hussar 0:52:06 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k 2 Laureen Trice 0:59:35 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k
3 Bryan Browe 0:52:19 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k 3 Deanna Krautner 1:03:03 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k
4 Gregory Krautner 0:53:45 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k 4 Trisha Brooks 1:05:09 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k
5 Ben Katzman 0:55:47 2020 Devil’s Damn Hot 10k 5 Tracy Applewhite 1:05:09 2020 Devil’s Halloween 10k