Catsmacker

AURA “Fun Run” (no UTS points)
Distance: 20-ish miles for the Catsmacker, 12-ish miles for the Kitty Run option. You can choose your distance on the day of the event.
Start/Finish Area: the start is at the Lake Sylvia Day Use area (where you would go if you went swimming in the lake). NOT at Camp Ouachita (where the Full Moon and Traveller start).

Cost: This is a donation-based run. That said, we need to cover costs for Forest Service permitting, insurance, aid station supplies, finish line cookout, and other race equipment/transportation/logistics. Please make sure that we can cover those costs and continue offering low-cost events. You can make an online payment here, or a cash/check donation on race day. Donations are non-refundable, and any proceeds will be donated to the non-profit AURA. (A suggested donation to cover costs is $20. Thank you!)

Driving & Parking Directions: You should be able to find Williams Junction, AR on most maps; it is approximately 30 miles west of Little Rock on Hwy 10, or 20 miles south of Morrilton on Hwy 9.  To get to the race site from Williams Junction, go north on Hwy 10/9 for 1.5 miles, then take Hwy 324 west and follow for three and a half miles. The Lake Sylvia day use area will be on your left about 1/2mile after Camp Ouachita. If the road turns to gravel you went half mile too far.

Parking is limited in the Lake Sylvia Day Use Area. Once this area is full, parking will overflow along Highway 324. Please carpool if possible!  Parking along Hwy 324 is limited to the west side only (on the right as you are driving in from Hwy 9/10). If you don’t see any cars parked on the east side of Hwy 324, there is a reason! There will be signs and volunteers to assist you with where you can and can’t park. Make sure your car is all the way to the right of the white line (completely out of the traffic lane) when you park.

Course Description: The course will utilize Forest Service roads and a small portion of the Ouachita Trail. There will be a combination of pavement (just a little!), gravel (mostly), and single/double track trail (it’s poison ivy season!).
Course marking will consist of signs, colored ribbon flagging, and flour arrows drawn on the ground. In general, course marking is focused on marking turns and intersections. Intermediate “confidence” markings in the absence of turns or intersections will be relatively rare. We recommend that participants print off maps if they are unsure of the course or unfamiliar with the area.