By EMILY D. COOK / Community Columnist

Are you a runner? If so, Oak Mountain State Park is a runner’s paradise.

We have close to 30 miles of trails to run, plus the roads throughout the park.

One organization, Southeastern Trail Runs, hosts numerous runs here in the park. The races that STR offers each year range from short 3- and 6-mile races to more difficult 31 and 50 miles over mountain terrain.

Yearly, STR hosts the Tranquility Trail Run, the Run for Kids Challenge, the Memorial Day Trail Race, Hotter N Hell Trail Race, Ridge to Ridge Trail Race, Birmingham Stage Run (a three-day, three-mountain or two-day, two-mountain race), BOO Run, and the Blood Rock 50K/25K (formerly the Tranquility Lake 50K/25K). There are plenty of options to get your shoes broken in.

From the website of Southeastern Trail Runs comes the following: “The goal at Southeastern Trail Runs is threefold. First, provide outstanding trail races for local trail runners, runners from around the southeast and across the U.S.

“Second, introduce as many “road runners” to trail running as possible so they will understand why “we” love the trails so much.

“Third, support the local trail running community and our local parks. We believe the more time people spend in the woods whether hiking or running the more they appreciate the beauty of our parks and the harder they will work to protect and preserve our natural spaces. We are so lucky to have so many miles of beautiful trails right here in the Birmingham area.

“To preserve and maintain our local trails, STR does volunteer work at Oak Mountain State Park almost every week and invite members of our running community, or anyone else that enjoys getting out in the woods, to be a part of preserving the beautiful of our parks for all to enjoy. Join us for a few races and experience trail running. The roads will never be the same.”

For more information about Southeastern Trail Runs and the races they host, visit Southeasterntrailruns.com/Index.html.

Please remember that you keep Alabama State Parks open by visiting them. Thank you for your support.