5 reasons to run the Night Owl Trail Marathon

By Henry Howard

As of this writing, I am just over 10 weeks away from my next trail race, the Night Owl Trail Marathon, at the Caesar Creek trails near Dayton, Ohio.

It will be my third time running the Night Owl Trail Marathon. Last year, I ran the June version and wrote about how I used the race as a training run. That race was 30 months to the day after I ran the winter version. Both summer and winter versions also offer half marathon and 10K distances.

Last year, my “why” for running this race was strategic as it was part of the build toward Burning River, a hot 100-miler during the summer. This year, I have a different “why.” Make that “whys” — plural.

Why run the Night Owl Trail Marathon

In deciding which races to do this year, I kept circling back to 5 reasons to run the Night Owl Trail Marathon. In no particular order:

• Heading back to the trails: I spent the offseason since my previous race last November running almost exclusively on flat roads. That was partially intentional and partially due to winter. My training has been focused on the Locomotion 6-hour race at the end of April, which is held on a flat, 2-mile paved loop. After the Locomotion race, it will feel great to get back out on the trails again.

• Taking on the challenge of running at night: I like to mix up my races during the year. In 2025, I did six races of all different distances. Right now, I have five races set for this year, and the only duplicate distance is the marathon. But those races pose two different challenges — Night Owl is of course later in the day on trails and my other marathon is on roads at the fairly typical morning start time. Running at night on the trails poses a fun challenge I am looking forward to.

• Supporting the race director: It’s an honor to support Aneta Zeppettella, who was among the race directors I have featured in my monthly tribute series. We share a similar outlook on the sport. “Through running I found my place and my tribe and started to feel I belong,” she said. Zeppettella doesn’t just belong, she provides an atmosphere that is welcoming to all. For example, the Night Owl Trail Marathon is a Trail Sisters approved race. That’s because they offer equal podium spots, equal prize money and awards, as well as women’s specific swag and apparel. Additionally, there are menstrual products at all aid stations.

• Practicing running in the heat: Even though most of Night Owl takes places after the sun goes down, the race will still be hot. (The marathon starts at 6 p.m., the other distances start later.) Those conditions will serve as good prep for the Endurance Dream 8-hour race at Butler University, which will be held in July. It will definitely be a hot race, given it goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a mostly exposed course. Night Owl could give me a good opportunity to test cooling strategy and ensure I get my electrolytes dialed in.

• Focusing on a nearby race: The race is a short drive from my home, making logistics easy. Whether you live nearby the course or are driving for several hours or more, there is ample parking at the race start. Additionally, packet pickup is a breeze. While I would like to start working on my goal of running a marathon in every state, I will still patronize awesome races (and RDs) near me.

Frequently Asked Questions: Night Owl Trail Marathon

Q: What distance options does the Night Owl Trail Marathon offer? A: Marathon, half marathon and 10K distances are available at the summer and winter versions of the race.

Q: When does the Night Owl Trail Marathon take place? A: The race is held in both summer (June) and winter (January) in Waynesville, Ohio, in the southwest corner of the state.

Q: What is the Night Owl Trail Marathon course like?A: Caesar Creek trails are heavily wooded and will get dark earlier than when the sun sets at 9 p.m. The course is mostly single track trail with rolling hills. There are no significant climbs on the course. However, especially on the back part of the marathon and half marathon loop, there are a lot of back-to-back rollers.

Q: Who directs the Night Owl Trail Marathon? A: The race is directed by Aneta Zeppettella through Empower Ultras.

Q: Is the Night Owl Trail Marathon a good race for beginners? A: Yes! The race director is known for creating a welcoming atmosphere, making it approachable for trail runners of varying experience levels. The course is really well marked, volunteers are super helpful and the race is extremely runnable.

Q: What should I know about running a night trail race? A: You'll need a headlamp or waist light, should practice night running beforehand, and be prepared to account for the heat if you're running a summer edition (or the cold if running the winter version).

Q: What gear should I consider for night trail racing? A: I strongly prefer wearing a waist light instead of a headlamp. UltrAspire's Lumen 800 Solstice is the best solution for early morning training runs, all-night adventures or ultra races that require light sources. Regardless of what light source you choose, be sure to have a backup battery. I would also recommend having a pack or waist belt to stash nutrition, hydration or other needs. Since this is a loop course (one for half marathon, two for the full distance), you will return to the main aid station, which is adjacent to the parking lot. So marathon runners can restock if need be when they hit the halfway point. Depending on weather conditions, you may also want to have additional layers to protect against rain, or colder conditions for the January event.

What is on your race calendar this year? Add your races in the comments section or shoot me a message.