The MUTT Team Trail Race

Hey, check out this TEAM trail race in mid-lower Michigan! (Roughly the palm of the mitten if you need a visual aid). As of this printing, the Mid-Michigan Ultra Team Trail race is the the only one of its kind and it sounds Really. Seriously. FUN!

Each team will consist of a 5, 10, 20, and 31 mile runner. At the start of the race, each team will start out running together and MUST stay together until they reach the 2.5 mile mark, then the 5 mile runner will turn around and return to the start/finish line completing the 5 mile run, while the remaining three runners continue on. At the 5 mile mark, the 10 mile runner will turn around and head back to the start/finish line, with the remaining two continuing on. At mile 10, the 20 mile runner will return and so on. Once all 4 runners return to the finish line completing their individual distances, all four times are tabulated for the total team time. The MUTT team trail race is two races in one. All four individual times are added together to make up the team time, but each individual time is also used for individual distance awards as well. Because each team member is running a different distance, they are not competing against each other for individual awards, so it’s a true team effort.

Sign up before March 31 to beat the price increase!

Badlands 50/50

Not sure if this is a new event, or I’m just hearing about it for the first time, but there is an ultra coming up soon on the beautiful Maah Daah Hey trail near Medora, North Dakota!

The Badlands 50/50 features a 50K, 50 mile, and 2 person relays for both distances! Sounds like the course is an out and back 4-6 times on the same section of the trail.

Click here for photos and more details!

Zachariah’s Acres Fundraiser

Zachariah’s Acres, a place where kids with special health care needs and their families can enjoy nature and experience the outdoors, is thrilled to announce their 2nd Annual Trail Run/Walk/Roll to benefit the Zachariah’s Acres mission. The trail run takes place on 125 acres of pristine land in Southeast Wisconsin and features rolling hills that meander through prairie grass, woods, ponds and cornfields. Looks like a 5K run and 1 Mile fun run/walk/roll, with 100% of the proceeds going to support children with special needs.

After the Family Run/Walk/Roll, Zachariah’s Acres will host its Fourth Annual Fall Harvest event held exclusively for children with special health care needs and their families.

Savage 100 Mile Adds a 100K

The inaugural Savage 100 mile race being held at Murphy-Hanrehan Park just south of the Twin Cities this May 18 just added a 100K kids race for those who aren’t ready for a full hundo!

Registration closes on April 30, so toss your hat in the ring soon!

Endurance United St. Paul Trail Races

I just stumbled upon a cross country ski organization (right here in my own back yard) that is hosting some FUN sounding trail races! Endurance United started over 25 years ago as a ski club in St. Paul, MN and has grown into a non-profit organization that promotes a healthy outdoor lifestyle through cross country skiing and running. This year, they’ve got four different trail races lined up:

Go Green Trail Run – 5K, 10K, or a 4 x 5K relay! Battle Creek Park in St. Paul.

St. Paul Urban Trail Marathon – Inaugural Event! Choose between a 10K, half, or full marathon. Each distance starts at Rice Park in downtown Saint Paul. Runners will run adjacent to the Mississippi River before winding through the trails on the East Side. The marathon course is 60% dirt trails, 30% paved trails, and 10% roads. Check the site for course maps.

Night Light Trail Run – this one sounds fun and different! You can choose between 5K, 10K, or half marathon distances on a 5K loop course…. in the dark of the night woods! You can also do a 2 person relay. Don’t forget your headlamp! Battle Creek Park in St. Paul.

Turkey Day Trail Trot – 5K or 10K at Battle Creek Park in St. Paul.

Registration is open!

Conserve School Trail Run

Great Lakes Endurance is introducing a new trail run on June 14, 2014 in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin!

The Conserve School is a private academy that is nationally recognized as environmentally focused, and even features a green wastewater treatment facility as well as an organic community garden. The Conserve School Trail Races will include a 5K race on cross country ski trails and a 20K course on cross country ski trails as well as single track.

All Great Lakes Endurance races strive to make the events environmentally friendly and support the local economies where the races are held. In my own personal experience, they are top notch events. Registration is now open for the 2014 season!

Black Friday Sale at FrontRunner

FrontRunner is offering it’s annual Black Friday thru Cyber Monday sale on ALL 35 of their events! From November 29 – December 2, 2013 you can register for only half price on any (and every) event that they put on – and they have some great ones!

Chippewa Moraine 50K & 10K in New Auburn, WI on the beautiful western end of the Ice Age Trail is April 26.

William O’Brien 10 Mile is a beautiful run along the St. Croix River through William O’Brien State Park near on June 28.

Lakewood Hills 5K is in one of White Bear Lake’s most scenic parks on July 12.

Trees and Trails 5K is in Mahtomedi, MN on Sept 20.

Run For the Apples 5 Mile and kids run is in White Bear Lake, MN and features apple treats after the run.

The Great Pumpkin Chase 5K, 10K, and Dracula Dash is in Lake Elmo, MN on Oct 25. Costumes are not only welcome, but encouraged!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

T Bunk Endurance Challenge

Anyone who knows anything about ultra running in the Upper Midwest has heard of Tom Bunk. He is a legend in the trail running community not only as a competitor, but as a dedicated and generous guy who has given countless hours of his time behind the scenes directing races, developing, measuring, and marking courses, volunteering in any way possible, and actively promoting the sport. The Lapham Peak Trail Runners decided to honor Tom by creating the T Bunk Endurance Challenge, and you’re invited!

When: November 1-3, 2013

Where: Nordic Trail Head, La Grange Wisconsin. If you’ve ever run Ice Age 50 or Glacial Trail 50, you’ve been there.

What: The kids race is a 50K fun run, but feel free to challenge yourself with distances of 50 miles, 100 miles, 150 miles, and yes…. 200 miles!

A portion of each entry fee will go to the charity of Tom’s choice. This one’s coming up fast and is sure to be epic! Sign up before October 31 to get in on the fun 🙂

 

Icebox 480

Introducing a new event in western Wisconsin: the Icebox 480 on November 9, 2013!

It’ll be a 10K loop on sweet single-track that you’ll run as many times as you can (or want to) in 8 hours (480 minutes). In other words – you can choose your own distance and not have to worry about cut off times – other than the 8 hour time limit for the event.  This will be a great tune up race for the Tuscobia Winter Ultra, which runs in late December!

Proceeds will go towards purchasing new uniforms for the Humbolt High School Girls Cross Country team and the Kinni Off Road Cyclist organization, who help to maintain the trail system.

Early bird registration is open until mid-July and costs only $25. That’s not a typo! After that, registration goes up to $30, which is still dirt cheap.

How far will you go?

Maffitt Lake 5 & 10 Mile in Iowa

There will be a new trail race at Maffitt Lake in Des Moines on September 8, 2013!

Sounds like a 5 mile loop course with a little bit of everything: gravel, grass, dirt, single track, and a few hills. Runners will run the loop either once for the 5 mile or twice for the 10 mile. Walkers are welcome, but are expected to register for the 5 mile event. Swag includes arm warmers for all the runners!

Registration is open and you can save a few bucks by signing up before August 1.