Trail Running calendar near Elgin 2025-2026

The Des Plaines River Trail Races, held in Lake County, Illinois, offer a scenic and fast trail running experience with distances including a Half Marathon, Marathon (Boston Qualifier), 50K, and 50 Mile ultra. Starting and finishing at Half Day Forest Preserve, the course features a flat, wide, crus..

Soul Crusher is a challenging trail running event held in Crystal Lake, Illinois, offering 5-mile and 10-mile distances. The course, designed by Jeff Lenard, is known as the toughest 5-mile loop in the Midwest, with runners able to complete it once or twice depending on their endurance. The race sta..

The Buckley 5 Miler is a scenic and challenging cross-country trail race held at the Buckley Homestead in Lowell, Indiana. The 5-mile course features a 2-mile loop on the north side of the park followed by a 3-mile loop through the park, finishing at the pioneer farm. Runners encounter a picturesque..

The Palos Park Spooky Shuffle is a 5K and 10K trail run/walk held at Swallow Cliff South Forest Preserve in Palos Park, Illinois. The event features scenic courses through the Sag Valley Trail System, known for its unique topography with ravines and hills uncommon in the Chicagoland area. The 5K cou..

The Fancy Nonsense 25K/50K is a whimsical ultramarathon held in the Palos Trail System near Willow Springs and Lemont, Illinois, about 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. Runners can choose from 25K, 50K, or 5-mile distances on a mostly single-track, 5.5-mile loop course that encourages joy and imagin..

Among the Trees is an ultramarathon event held in Dousman, Wisconsin, featuring 100k and 50k race distances. Set within the scenic Southern Kettle Moraine Forest along the historic Ice Age Trail, the course offers runners a challenging and picturesque experience amid vibrant fall colors. Both races..

The Fast Track Cross Country Open is a 3-mile cross country running event held in Schaumburg, Illinois, on the MacNider course near Hoover Elementary School. Open to all ages and abilities, the event features separate women's and men's races. Participants can enjoy running on grass and have the opti..

The Big Timber XC Challenge is a trail running event held at Camp Big Timber in Elgin, Illinois. Participants can choose between a 3-mile run/walk (one loop) or a 5-mile run (two loops) through a natural wooded area featuring grass, gravel, dirt, and a notable creek crossing with a rope for support...

The Forge Trail Run Festival, held in Lemont, Illinois, offers a challenging late-fall trail running experience with distances of 10K, 20K (half marathon), 30K, and 60K. The courses start and finish at The Forge and wind through single and double-track trails in the woods, gravel paths, and around t..

The Bigfoot Half Trail Run is a half marathon event held at Stoney Run County Park in Hebron, Indiana. Participants complete the race by running two loops around the park's scenic trails. The course features two aid stations: one at the start/finish area and an unmanned station approximately 3.5 mil..

The Bucks & Does 13.1 Pointer is a trail running event held in Nashotah Park, Wisconsin, featuring distances of 5K, 10K, and a half marathon (13.1 miles). The course is primarily wood-chipped with some grassy sections, shaded by trees for a comfortable run, and is run in a counterclockwise direction..

The Fast Eddie 50K and 5K take place at Lapham Peak in Delafield, Wisconsin, celebrating endurance and community while honoring Ed Condon's legacy. The 50K features five loops on the scenic and challenging Blue Loop trail, known for its rolling terrain and beautiful woodland views. The 5K offers an..

The Abominable Trail Race is an exciting autumn trail running event held annually at LG Ziplines and Adventures in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It features three race distances: 5K, 15K, and 30K, with the 30K available for individual runners or teams of 2 to 4 in relay format. Participants navigate chall..

The Quiet Silence 50k is an ultramarathon held in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, featuring an out-and-back course on the Glacial Drumlin State Trail. Starting at Rotary Park in Lake Mills, runners head west to the trail's terminus in Cottage Grove, covering a mostly flat, crushed gravel path. Participants h..

The Arctic Frog Run in Libertyville, IL, is a challenging winter endurance event featuring multiple race distances: 50K, 25K, 15K, 10K, and 5K. The course offers a scenic mix of pavement, wooded, and crushed limestone trails around the Des Plaines River and Casey Trails, with rolling hills adding to..

The Frozen Feet 5k Trail Run takes place at Creek Ridge County Park in Michigan City, Indiana. This winter trail race features a two-loop course with one hill per loop, including natural trail elements like roots and small branches, requiring runners to be cautious. Participants receive a winter hat..

The Frozen Gnome is a challenging winter trail running event held in Crystal Lake, Illinois, at Veteran Acres park. Featuring a "Triple Black Diamond" rated course, the race offers a 50K ultra run, a 10K race, and relay options for teams of two or five. The course consists of a scenic 10K single-tra..

ARKTOS is a challenging ultra running event held in Dousman, Wisconsin, featuring 6, 12, and 20-hour race options for solo runners or relay teams of up to four. Set in a cold, wooded environment with frozen ground and brisk winds, the race offers a unique, rugged atmosphere that tests participants'..

The Tombstone 50 Trail Run, part of the Crazy Legs Race Series, takes place at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Valparaiso, Indiana. The event offers three distances: 30k, 50k, and a newly added 50-mile race. The course features challenging terrain including the notable "Roller Coaster" hills, with a..

The Muddy Shamrock @ The Forge is an annual trail running event held in Lemont, Illinois, featuring a Trail Half Marathon (approximately 13.1 miles) and a Trail Quarter Marathon (about 6.6 miles). The race courses wind through wooded single and double-track mountain bike trails and gravel paths arou..