The colorful running shoes and flame-colored socks gave Martin Miller away when he arrived at the Beattie Street trailhead Thursday afternoon.

With a roll of fluorescent ribbon in his hand and a hat on his head, Miller embarked down the shaded path, tying ribbon around trees as if marking his way through the forest like some modern-day Hansel.

Of course, Miller, an endurance runner, knows these trails as well as anyone. But today, when runners set into the South Hills on the annual Don’t Fence Me In Trail Run, Miller’s orange ribbon may help guide their way.

“We flag the course really well, especially the shorter races, assuming that some people doing the shorter races aren’t real experienced at trail running,” Miller said. “We expect the 30K people to be a little more alert and self-sufficient.”

The Prickly Pear Land Trust’s annual race, which celebrates open lands in the greater Helena area, has grown in both popularity and participation in recent years.

What started out as a simple 10K run several years ago has since morphed into a 12K race. A 5K run was eventually added, and, this year, a 30K was tossed into the mix “for the fun of it,” drawing participants from around the West.

“I’m sure in the longer races people are going to be having a few words on how tough the 30k course is,” Miller said with a grin. “I don’t mind that a bit. I think it’s sort of entertaining.”

Miller may notch it up a bit next year by improving the course even more. To him, that means adding more hills. Running up steep inclines is something he described as “fun.”

Fun or not, gearing up for a race that scatters runners across 1,000 acres of wooded land involves a team effort. Volunteers have marked nearly 24 miles of trails and hauled water to aid stations like Porcupine Flats, which offers splendid views of the Helena Valley.

“There are a couple of aid stations we hike to and we have to lug water in,” said Miller. “That’s quite an effort. We provide water to all the runners and the dogs, too.”

Heather Nese, administrative services and events coordinator for the Prickly Pear Land Trust, has helped organize the race for three years now.

Once upon a time, she said, less than 300 people competed in the event. This year, she expects the numbers to reach 450, with nearly 80 runners competing in the new 30K.

“There are well over 100 volunteers involved in this,” Nese said. “It makes you kind of nervous when you think of all the things that have to happen.”

Down in the city, those not running in today’s event might check out the second-annual Open Space Fair at Heritage Park.

The outdoors celebration, which coincides with the trail run, includes food, vendors, music and nonprofit groups, such as the Audubon Society, the Native Plant Society and the Montana Discovery Foundation.

The Lewis and Clark Humane Society will also bring adoptable dogs to the event. Look for the dogs on the trail. Last year, the event helped three canines find a home.

“The trail system here is great,” Miller said, just before disappearing into the woods, his orange ribbon in hand. “To have a trail system like this right on the edge of town that’s so accessible — and something you can make so much variety out of — is pretty unique.”

Reporter Martin Kidston: 447-4086 or mkidston@helenair.com