Oh, my! Sure you don't want to change your screen name to cactus? I absolutely love running in Umstead. The cool part is I can run to the Reedy Creek entrance from my apartment - it's about 3 miles - so that makes a long run to and around inside and back from Umstead quite doable! I've been having fun over on the Sycamore trail lately. (Get there from the Glenwood entrance, drive as far back as you can.) It's seven miles, and takes me just under 2 hours. Given that my normal easy pace is about 13 - 13 1/2 minute miles, this might tell you about the quantity/quality of hills there. It's a good run. There is a bridge out on it too. However, the creek that it crosses is quite crossable with dry feet if you're good at stepping on rocks, and they're rebuilding it. Every time I've gone by they're just a little bit further along, so someone really *is* working on it. Run for the Oaks is a fast race. It was shaped like a figure 8, with the finish in the middle. This meant I actually got to see the lead runner finish! That was fun! The hills there are very gentle and gradual, but they *are* there. The only reason I didn't PR is that I'd just PR'd over at Myrtle Beach the month prior, which really *is* a flat race!!! There were lots of people, and there was a St. Patrick's Day festival going on at the same time, so there were tons of booths. The Arbor Foundation was giving away tree seedlings, and there were lots of booths. You should go next time!