I like to run challenging running races - road or trail – and am looking for suggestions on any challenging races in Illinois specifically,and maybe northern IN, Michigan and Wisconsin. Any ideas, please post along with date, location and a link to the race website and your comments if any. I have some ideas but am looking for new options. Thanks.
In the Peoria area, there’s the Steamboat Classic. The 15K has a few tough hills.
Also, the trail runs at McNaughton Park in Pekin are brutal. Potawatomi in April has 30, 50, 100, and 150 mile races. McNotAgain in November does 10 or 30 on the same course.
Ice Age Trail 50, 50 miles or 50 km, may 11, 2013 southern Kettle Moraine in Wisconsin, or inthe fall Glacial Trail (50miles or 50 km), Northern Kettle Moraine in Wis. Contact www. badgerlandstriders.org
Madison to Stoughton, WI, called the Syttende Mai 20 miles.
Frozen Otter Ultra Trek is probably the hardest one I know of, have not raced it but I’ve run on that trail in summer 
. If there is deep snow and subzero temps, I just can’t imagine it. A 64 mile run with full pack is pretty epic even on a nice day but in Mid January, its got to be tough. It’s on my bucket list but probably still a few years off of my depth. Really more of a speed hike/survival test. I think in some years only one or two people have completed it.
More reasonably one of the tougher (and more fun) races I’ve done here in Southern Wisconsin is the Blackhawk Ridge Trail Run. The16K flavor is tough, it goes up and down the ridgeline twice and includes some positively steep descents and ascents. At least for the Midwest they are steep. I had just over 900 feet of elevation gain for the 16K. There is also 10K which covers the second half of the other course, much flatter with only moderate rolling terrain…This races always fills within a few weeks of entries going up and I’ve never once seen a promotion for it…just word of mouth.
Thank you some of these look good. What about races in northern IL / greater Chicago area that are considered tough course. I have a few favorites, but am looking for opinions.
There’s the Quarryman 5k/10mi in Lemont every spring (I ran the 5k 3 years back so don’t know about the 10mi). Lots of climbing up from the river/canal and back down. Figure the 5k is 30 sec slow, so the 10 mi should be somewhere in the region of 2-3 min tougher.
Outside of that one, I’m not really sure what you’ve got. Would probably need to be north, as topography south of Wisconsin gets flat pretty quickly.
Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run
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There is also a 50 and 100 miler on this set of trails in September.
Also, The Huff.
The Bix. Brady Street hill, nuff said. http://bix7.com/2013/
You could check out this one:
http://dwd.runningfitsites.com/gnawbone-info/all-the-details
They have a 50K, 50miler, or a 10K that is supposed to be pretty tough.
http://dinoseries.com/marathon.html
Trail marathon 3500ft climbing
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http://dinoseries.com/marathon.html
Trail marathon 3500ft climbing
Tecumseh Trail Marathon (near Bloomington, Indiana) - here is how Dean Karnazes describes it:
Dean Karnazes during his Endurance 50 quest described it as follows:
“Hardcore. That’s the best way to describe today’s marathon. Along with the 3,500 feet of climbing, most of the course was on technical single-track trail, with numerous stream crossings, hordes of logs and branches to climb over and navigate around, deep pocket of mud, slippery rocks, and gnarled tree roots hiding silently under thick canopies of fallen leaves…
Yet for all the challenges, the setting was absolutely beautiful. Running on trails refreshes the senses; being out in nature renews the mind, body, and spirit. Today was about enjoying the elements and the wonders of the natural world. The colors of the leaves, the smells of earth and of the water, the sunlight streaming through the trees, and the crackle of twigs underfoot were all engaging and invigorating. It was impossible not to get swept up in it, even after miles of running.”
I ran the December 2012 event and it was a perfect sunny, dry, and 65 degree day on December 1st - much different than the conditions described above… I can add - you better have your climbing legs ready (add about 30 minutes over your street time for a finishing estimate)
I think only 2 people have broke 3hrs on this course (elite level runners) - i finished in 4:14:59 with moderate training (roughly equal to 3:30 to 3:40 on a flat run)
Good Luck!
Tecumseh is a bitch. I little farther south, Louisville Lovin’ the Hills is also a tough one, although I think this last one (Feb) is the last on the old course for a while. Alot of trail recovery and maintenance going on, and I think the new course will end up a little less challenging. I hope not though. Only a couple have broken 2 hours on the 15 mile course.
I’ve not run it due to schedule conflict but the various North Face endurance challenges in SE Wisco. look fun.
50 mile: 9/14/13
13.1, 10k, 5k: 9/15/13
http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/endurance-challenge/madison-wi/?stop_mobi=yes