Running to the finish line on Liberty Mountain

Have you ever seen a group of runners stampede across campus and disappear into the woods on the mountain top? Just up the hill, running trails cover Liberty’s acres with miles for runners to explore. Over 5,000 acres of campus with 65 miles of trails, to be exact. 

Mario Cosentino, a journalism major, originally started running on some of Liberty’s mountain trails. 

“I didn’t really have a group to run with at first,” Cosentino explained. “But I did a lot of runs out on Candlers Mountain or Liberty Mountain, which is a trail system that has many, many trails, and it’s just a lot of fun to go out there and be by yourself. And after a long day of class, it was a great way to unwind. It’s challenging (to run), but (it’s) definitely very peaceful and serene when I’m out (there).” 

Julia Macchione, a secondary education major, enjoys the running trails at the Hydaway Outdoor Center, which are just on the other side of Candlers Mountain. 

“Any of the Hydaway trails are really great,” Macchione said. “They go up past Snowflex (and) past the monogram. There’s just a multitude of them. I don’t even think I’ve run all of them at this point.”

Another popular trail for Liberty students is the Blackwater Creek trail located at the Hollins Mill Park.

“Blackwater Creek trail … is beautiful,” Cosentino said. “Running by Holland’s Mill, which is a waterfall, and going under bridges and over bridges. It’s just so beautiful in the fall.”

For runners more interested in the competitive aspect of running, there are also a variety of races in the area. Five of those races are held on Liberty Mountain. 

“I have done all five of the Liberty Mountain trail series,” Macchione said. “The first one is in the fall. It’s the Deep Hollow 5k, and that’s a real fun one, (a) real beautiful trail. I also did the Mike Donahue 5-miler, which is another Liberty trail up on the mountain. (It’s) much more challenging, but fun. And … every year (Campus Recreation) does a Reindeer Run up on the mountain. (That’s) a real fun Christmas race.… They do the Arctic 5k in February … (In) the spring, they do the King of the Mountain race, which is a trail run that goes up the Snowflex mountain.”

The city of Lynchburg also hosts many races that students can participate in. One of the most popular of these races is the Virginia 10-miler race. 

“My favorite race was the Virginia 10 miler,” Cosentino said. “It was just one of those races where you went out to have fun. There was music along the course, and there’s … spectators along the course. The environment is just a lot of fun, and I highly recommend (running) a half marathon or a 10-mile roadway … They’re just a really unique experience, and the atmosphere is electric.”

If students want even more information on races around Lynchburg, one of the best methods is to join a running club or community. Some communities off-campus include the Blueridge Trail Runners and the London Trails. Another option is Liberty’s Running Club. 

Cosentino explained how the Liberty Running Club (LRC) meets twice a week for running workouts. Sometimes they loop the campus on the trails or hold a weekly run at Blackwater Creek. Many runners may be concerned that they aren’t good enough to join a running community, but Macchione encourages runners to reach out. 

“You really don’t have to be some fantastic athlete,” Macchione said. “It’s just about getting active and being … out in nature. I definitely say don’t be scared. Go out and give it a try, and it’ll certainly be a memorable experience.” 

For more information on the Liberty Mountain trail series, contact Campus Recreation or go to its website.

Brown is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion