Wet leaves and soggy soil couldn’t stop runners from hitting Dartmouth’s trails.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust held its first-ever trail race and walk. The event gave participants a work out, and gave the Trust an opportunity to show off their property – even if those exploring the reserves were doing so at breakneck speeds.

The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust has protected more than 5,000 acres of land in Dartmouth and surrounding areas since it was formed in 1971. This includes 35 miles of hiking trails.

“It’s a great way to get people out on the trails,” said Deborah Cunha, office manager with the Trust. “The two properties are the Slocum’s River Reserve and the Parson’s Reserve. Parson’s Reserve is well-known for our daffodil field. Currently at Slocum's River, we have The River Project going on.”

Nate Rego, who works as a financial advisor, volunteered his time to develop the course. Rego, who has never designed a race course before, said he wanted the race to feel different from a standard road race.

“I think runners get in their head that they want to keep running on the road. They develop those habits. I wanted to show the people that run 5Ks that there’s other stuff to do,” said Rego.

Rego said that next year, the course may change, depending on feedback the organization receives from participants.

“I know the reserves well. I grew up in Dartmouth. Logistically, we tried to blend in more than one reserve,” said Rego.

Runners were tasked with a 4-mile, figure eight-like loop. The course began on Horseneck Road, leading runners south to Slocum’s River Reserve.

“What’s great about [the course] is the hills. There’s going to be more of a challenge for the runners,” said Cunha.

The group darted along the rock walls leading to the waterfront in Slocum’s River Reserve. The even terrain, however, was short lived. The hill in front of Angelica’s Overlook gave runners a taste for what was to come during the rest of the course: steep inclines.

After looping around the outer edges of the reserve, participants made their way north to Parson’s Reserve. The entrance to the reserve opens with a large hill, and a photographer was poised and ready at the top to encourage runners to persevere.

The final mile proved the most treacherous. This stretch of Parson’s Reserve had runners leap over tree roots, traverse bridges over marshland and balance on one small bridge made from planks of wood. The planks had absorbed the rain from the night before, causing them to bow when runners crossed.

“The bridges were fine. The planks were the scariest. They were very spongey,” said Kenneth Ferro, 28.

Ferro, who was recovering from a head cold, placed first in his age group and twentieth overall. He said the hardest parts of the course were running “uphill, not seeing the routes in the trails and trying to keep a good footing.”

“The hardest part of this race was the last mile uphill,” said Michael Norton, 45. “Some of the turns in the last mile were technical. I went down one of the turns. I slipped, but I recovered, though.”

Norton’s fall didn’t prevent him from taking the top spot in the race. The Falmouth native finished the course in 25 minutes and 34 seconds. He said he’s been running for the past 30 years.

“Most of my training is in the woods. Trails, mostly,” said Norton. “I like trail racing because it’s more hilly and technical. It’s different.”