The day opened under a ceiling of low clouds pressing over Kennedy State Forest. Then, just after 7 a.m., a light rain moved in, steady, and brief, just enough to settle the dust and cool the air. By race time, the clouds had begun to break, light filtered through the canopy, and conditions turned nearly ideal for a late-July morning on the trail.
On July 26 in Virgil, NY, 113 runners took on the 15K and 7K distances. Calvin Burke led the 15K in 1:09:36, while Christopher Petroff took the 7K in 30:31. Nora McIver-Sheridan was the top female finisher in the 15K in 1:17:29, and Sarah Woodyear led the 7K women in 35:51. Strong performances all around, but the Frolic has never been just about the clock.
There are PRs to chase and hills that demand effort, but what defines the Frolic is what happens in between: conversations that pick up where they left off last year, familiar faces at the start, and new connections formed somewhere along the trail. It is equal parts race and reunion.
The Forest Frolic has long been a place where younger runners find their footing, and this year was no exception. There is always a strong youth presence here, one of the race’s quiet strengths, and it continues to serve as an ideal introduction to trail running. Some arrive already seasoned beyond their years, moving confidently and reading the trail with practiced ease. Others are just beginning, learning in real time what the sport offers: the challenge, the rhythm, the quiet reward of moving through the woods under their own power. It is less a glimpse of the future than a reflection of the present, the next generation already out there, stride by stride, becoming part of the tradition.
Behind the scenes, that experience is built through hours of work. In the weeks leading up to race day, race directors Mike Stone and Peter Dady, along with volunteers from the Finger Lakes Trail community, pushed back against the steady entropy of the forest, clearing blowdowns, reopening overgrown sections, and restoring the course to a fast, runnable state. Marking was clear and consistent, and every runner returned safely.
These races do not come together by accident; they are built through care, consistency, and a shared commitment to something larger than any one result. To everyone who played a part in making the Forest Frolic what it was this year…THANK YOU! From those who spent long hours in the woods clearing trail, to those managing registration, timing, and logistics, to the volunteers stationed along the course offering direction and encouragement, your efforts shaped the day at every level. To the photographer who captured moments runners will carry with them long after the race, and to the spectators whose presence, whether at the start, along the trail, or at the finish, added energy and warmth, your contributions mattered. They are noticed, they are appreciated, and they are what keep people coming back, year after year.
View photos from the event here and check out the race results here.