The Funhouse Commons will present a 15k (nine-mile) trail and road run in and around the Turtleback Mountain Preserve on April 21.

The first organized run on Turtleback, the fundraising event will be called the “Leave No Trace Race” underscoring the importance of protecting the preserve, and keeping the impact on the trails to a minimum. The race will also be strictly limited to just 60 runners.

A truly challenging and beautiful nine mile run, the course features every type of terrain. It begins at the south trailhead, with a difficult hill climb that is rewarded with incredible views.

From there the course switches to a beautiful forested single track. The trail connects back to the dirt fire-service road and proceeds over the mountain, to the North trailhead, near the old school house on Crow Valley Road.

The rest of the race is on the roads, from Crow Valley to Deer Harbor road along the water’s edge, and back to the start.

“This is a course many Orcas runners have loved since the preserve opened,” says Pete Moe, Funhouse Commons executive director. “We are really excited to show it off to 60 lucky runners.”

The race was sanctioned by the San Juan County Land Bank and the Preservation Trust. Both organizations were supportive of the idea, so long as it did not harm the preserve in any way.

Runners will be required to sign a special waiver in which they will promise not to leave the trails under any circumstance.

“We are grateful to the Land Bank and Preservation Trust for letting us do this. We intend to make this a model of low-impact running events,” said Moe.

To register for the run go to http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?eid=3802 or www.funhousecommons.org.

If interested in volunteering at the event, contact the Funhouse Commons by emailing jen@thefunhouse.org.