Despite having a new race course, Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust’s annual trail race still has the same champion.

For the third straight year, veteran runner Mike Norton secured the top finish in the race, with a time of 19:54. Things were a bit different this year, however, as DNRT moved the race to Destruction Brook Woods.

“This was an interesting race because it was one big loop,” Norton said. “The trails were a little slippery with leaves and tree roots too.”

Norton credited staying healthy leading up to the race and his consistent training with taking first place.

At 22:59, Jo-Ann Mathews was the top female finisher. She was no stranger to the trails, as she lives close to Destruction Brook.

“I run here all the time; I live on Fisher Road so I know the trails really well,” Mathews said.

This year was her first time participating in the trail race, and despite the 3.3-mile route, she felt it wasn’t long enough.

“I just wish it was a little longer,” Mathews said. “Three miles is short because once you’re on the trails it goes by like nothing.”

In previous years, the trail race was held at Slocum’s River Reserve and Parsons Reserve, explained DNRT’s Kendra Murray. Runners had to follow Horseneck Road for about a mile to switch between reserves, something DNRT wanted to eliminate this year.

“We looked to do something different this year by having a complete trail race,” Murray said.

Kinder Woodcock, who came in third place, was impressed with the challenge the new route provided, including technical difficulties like hills and terrain challenges.

“A good trail race should have trails,” added Doug Roscoe, who came in fifth place.

Funds raised through the trail race goes back to DNRT’s land conservation efforts. Murray said 135 runners had registered in advance, and several dozen showed up for day-of registration.