Trail Running calendar near Mattoon 2025-2026

The Madder Than a Wet Hen 5K is a unique summer trail race held in Charleston, Illinois, at Willenborg Woods. This challenging 5K features about 1,100 feet of elevation gain and includes a memorable one-third mile stretch running directly through the shallow Embarras River, offering a wet and wild e..

The Washington Park Trail Trek is a 5K running and walking event held in Springfield, Illinois, at Washington Park. The course offers a unique trail experience through the park's lush forest pathways, marked clearly with cones, arrows, and safety tape for easy navigation. This event celebrates histo..

The Dino-Griffin 10K Bonus Run is a trail running event held at Griffin Bike Park in Terre Haute, Indiana. The race features a 10-kilometer course consisting of two laps around Stryker Lake, with moderate terrain, rolling hills, and generally stable footing. The wide trails allow for easy passing an..

The Tom Short 5K is an annual trail running event held in Shelbyville, Illinois, on the scenic General Dacey Trail in Forest Park. Established in 2003 to honor Tom Short, a local businessman, the race features a challenging and competitive 5K trail run alongside a 1-mile run/walk option. The event a..

The Lake Land College 5K is a unique cross-country running event held on the scenic campus of Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois. Unlike traditional road races, this off-road 5K features a course with rolling hills, grassy fields, and wooded paths, offering runners and walkers a genuine trail ex..

The Wild Wild Wilderness is an annual running event held at Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Oakwood, Illinois. Established in 1981, the race features multiple distances including a 5K and a challenging 7.45-mile trail run that covers steep hills, creek crossings, and scenic woodland terrain. The c..

The Shake Your Trail Feather Trail Run takes place at Willenborg Woods in Charleston, Illinois, offering a variety of distances including 5K, 8-mile, 16-mile, and 50K ultra runs. Set amidst pristine timber, grassy riverside paths, and babbling creeks, the course features technical single-track trail..

The Allerton Park Trail Run, hosted by Second Wind Running Club, takes place at Robert Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois. The event features a challenging 5.7-mile trail run along the Sangamon River, known for its hidden roots, ruts, and sharp turns, as well as a 2-mile nature..

The OPSF 50/50 Trail Race is a well-established event held in Owen-Putnam State Forest near Poland, Indiana, about an hour from Indianapolis. Organized by the Indiana Trail Running Association, it offers multiple distances: a 50-mile ultra, a 50K, a 14-mile run, and a 10K trail race. The course feat..

The Hawthorn Half Day Relay & Ultra, held in Terre Haute, Indiana, is a unique endurance event established in 2006, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026. Participants can choose between 6-hour or 12-hour races on a scenic 5K loop combining trail and road, with a shorter ½-mile course available n..

The Elsa Chicken Plucker Backyard Ultra is a unique trail running event held at Willenborg Woods in Charleston, Illinois, featuring a 4.167-mile loop that runners complete every hour. Set on 149 acres of scenic trails, the course includes single-track paths, groomed grass trails, riverside views, ri..