It will literally be “run for the hills” come Sept. 12 in Harvard. The Harvard Conservation Trust, with the Harvard Road Race Association, is sponsoring a 5K trail run through some of Harvard’s picturesque conservation land. Named Run for the Hills, the race will begin at the track in Harvard Park and will follow trails through the park and the adjacent Maxant Land.

“This race is a great opportunity to showcase the beauty and value of protected open space,” says Ted MacMahon, race director and HCT Trustee. “The planned route, suitable for all ages, will take you on a scenic run through relatively flat wooded areas, around open fields, and along Bowers Brook in the Maxant Conservation Land.”

According to the Harvard Trails guide, published by the Harvard Conservation Trust, the 19-acre Maxant Conservation Land was gifted to the town from Ted Maxant in 1987. The property’s trail follows the winding course of Bowers Brook through hardwood groves and around wetlands rife with bird life. The northern tip of the trail leads to a hill in a hemlock grove. Named Millie’s Path, the trail was developed to allow the residents of Foxglove apartments a safe route on foot to the post office. It was named in honor of Millie Henry, whose son, Michael Henry, was one of the key players of the path’s development.

Michael Henry also created Ginny’s Woodland Path in Harvard Park, where the race begins with a starting lap on the track, circling around to the end with a victory lap. The path is named for Virginia Thurston, past president of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, local resident, and town leader. Harvard Park is another example of the open spaces that abound in town. The park was purchased and designed by the town to provide residents with 30 acres of outdoor opportunities. This included a successful community fundraising effort to build the McCurdy Track, named after Harvard University’s inspirational track coach William (“Bill”) McCurdy, a Harvard resident who passed away in 1999.

Outdoor opportunities are plentiful in Harvard, largely through the efforts of the town’s Conservation Commission and the private, nonprofit Harvard Conservation Trust. For 37 years the Trust has attentively labored to help protect Harvard’s unique landscape through singular efforts or in concert with the town. In total, it has helped to protect more than 600 acres of open space, making its mission, “to preserve the unique character and natural resources of Harvard” a reality.

The Trust often sponsors events to bring people closer to the land around them. Walks and Talks are well-attended forays into conservation land to seek out specific nature sightings like the elusive woodcock. Run for the Hills is the first event of this kind we have sponsored,” says MacMahon, “but Harvard has a long and deep history of trail running. Given the buzz this race has already generated, I am confident it will become a popular annual event, something people will look forward to every year.”

One hundred percent of the race proceeds will go to the Harvard Conservation Trust to further its mission. To learn more about the trust, visit www.harvardconservationtrust.org.

Marylynn Gentry is executive director of the Harvard Conservation Trust.