XTERRA Trail Run Worlds November 24

The crown jewel of the worldwide XTERRA Trail Run Series is the half-marathon at majestic Kualoa Ranch on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

The race, held annually since 2008, takes runners through some of the most diverse and scenic terrain on the planet, and is open to runners of all ages and skill levels. The trails at Kualoa are normally closed to the public, so race day provides a rare opportunity for runners to experience “Jurassic Valley” – a 4,000-acre private nature reserve, working cattle ranch, and film site for a bunch of blockbuster movies.

In the men’s elite race four-time and defending champion Joseph Gray from Colorado Springs is looking to become the first man to win five XTERRA Trail Run World Championships. He’s come out on top in 2012, and the last three years. The legendary Max King won four straight from 2008-2011.

Gray is coming in hot, fresh off a win at the World Mountain Running Championships on Saturday in Argentina. He’ll be up against last year’s third-place finisher Andy Wacker, a pair of speedy Brazilians – Douglas Da Silva and Joseilton Santos – who finished 5th and 7th last year, and 2015 XTERRA triathlon World Champion Mauricio Mendez from Mexico.

In the women’s race Dani Moreno will not be on the start line, however, two-time XTERRA Trail Run World Champion Polina Carlson will be, alongside Grayson Murphy, who like Gray, won the World Mountain Running Championships Saturday in Argentina. Other top returners include Taylor Ward, who placed third last year, and Sam Lewis, who was fifth.

The fastest runners on the 21K course will be competing for $10,000 in prize purse, which is distributed to the top seven overall men and women. Everyone who conquers the half-marathon championship course will earn a finisher’s medal, and the top three runners for every age group in the 21K, 10K and 5K will receive medals and other prizes.

Learn more and register at www.xterrakualoa.com.