About This Race
The YoungLife Run & Relay combines trail running with charitable purpose, taking place on the scenic trails of Mobberly Baptist Church and Williams Lake in Longview, Texas. This community-focused event offers multiple distance options across technical singletrack and flowing lakeside paths, making it accessible to runners of varying experience levels while supporting the non-profit YoungLife organization. The race showcases East Texas trail running at its finest, featuring the shaded switchbacks of the Mobberly Baptist Church MTB trails paired with the more open terrain around Williams Lake. Runners experience both technical forest sections and flowing lakeside running, creating a diverse and engaging course experience. The event's charity focus brings together the local running community for a cause beyond personal achievement. With distances ranging from a 5K trail run to a 25K team relay, plus unique offerings like a 10K ruck option, the event caters to various interests within the endurance community. The relay format particularly encourages team participation and camaraderie, while individual distance options allow for personal challenges across multiple skill levels.
The course combines two distinct trail systems, beginning with the technical switchback trails of the Mobberly Baptist Church MTB network before transitioning to the Williams Lake loop. Runners navigate shaded forest singletrack with moderate technical features before emerging onto more open lakeside terrain that offers scenic water views and flowing trail surfaces.
The MTB trail sections feature well-maintained singletrack with characteristic East Texas pine forest coverage, providing natural shade and classic woodland trail running. The Williams Lake portion offers contrast with its more open feel and water views, creating a diverse trail experience that highlights the varied terrain available in the Longview area.
Notable Features
The YoungLife Run & Relay stands out for its strong charitable mission, with all profits supporting the YoungLife non-profit organization. The event uniquely combines individual trail races with team relay options, plus the distinctive 10K ruck division that adds a military-style challenge element. The dual-trail system approach showcases both technical MTB singletrack and scenic lakeside running in a single event.