In the heart of Virgil, NY, where the trees whisper secrets and the trails twist like serpents through the undergrowth, two men emerged, not as mere mortals, but as stewards of the wild. Peter Dady (@tpdady) and Michael Stone (@me.runalot), Race Directors of Uncommon Resolve, ventured into the forest on the eve of the great run. The sun blazed overhead like a molten eye, casting down its fury upon the earth. The air was thick, oppressive, alive with the breath of the wilderness.
For six relentless hours, they toiled, placing nearly 600 purple flags like breadcrumbs for the brave souls who would follow. With chainsaw in hand, they carved a path through nature’s tangled defenses, felling fallen giants, trimming the grasping limbs of ancient trees, and banishing thorny sentinels that lay in wait for the ankles of the unwary.
Then came the dawn.
Sunday morning broke with a hush, as if the forest itself held its breath. The skies, once cruel, now softened. Clouds gathered like watchful guardians, and a gentle rain fell, neither too heavy nor too light, providing just the right amount of mud. It was not a hindrance, but a gift. For the Forest Frolic is a trail best run with a little wildness beneath the feet.
The 15K wave surged forth first, mostly veterans of the trail, their eyes sharp with memory and muscle. Thirteen minutes later, the 7K wave followed, mostly newcomers, wide-eyed and eager, stepping into the unknown with courage in their stride.
And amidst it all, three things stood out like fireflies in the dusk: the radiant smiles of first-time trail runners, the warm clasp of old friends, some we are meeting for the first time, and watching three generations of the Leonard family run side by side, embodying the spirit of community, bound by blood and the call of the trail.
Of note: Sarah Woodyear dominated the 7K, winning outright by a wide margin, even beating a swift 13-year-old. And in the 15K, Banyan’s victory over Chris Petroff dashed the tantalizing possibility of Chris achieving a Stonehead score evenly divisible by 100 from winning every race he ran. Still, Chris remains in the lead for Stonehead, is poised to win Pebblehead, and is currently tied with Steve Jesch for Boulderhead. We’ve never had a three-way winner. The tension builds.
But every tale has its twist.
On this day, a new record was set for the “Most Lostiest”. The name of the record holder will remain a secret, out of respect, and perhaps a touch of mystery. This intrepid soul paused for water at the powerline water stop, then veered off course, running a staggering 6.3 kilometers to the Parker Street Cemetery before calling for rescue. A feat of endurance, yes, but also a cautionary tale. Let it be known: when the trail marks vanish, do not press forward into the unknown. Turn back. Return to the last mark. Never, ever trust that the flags will simply reappear. The forest does not forgive such optimism.
This was no mere race. It was a rite of passage, a communion with the wild, and a testament to the enduring spirit of those who dare to run where the forest rules.
We await next year’s Frolic with cautious optimism. After all, we’ve endured sun so unbearable it made sunscreen beg for mercy, rain so biblical it changed the course of creeks, and mud, thick, relentless mud, that tested the limits of even the most seasoned veterans. We’ve had it all… except snow…
Write-up by race director Michael Stone.
Check out the 2025 race results and the updated FLRC Trail Circuit leaderboard. Also, peruse through the photos and feel welcome to upload yours to the community photo album.