Trail Running calendar near Springfield 2026-2027

Five Thursday nights in July at Maxwell Park in Normal, IL featuring 800 meter, 2 mile and 3 mile cross country races. Weekly entry is $5 or $20 for all five nights; awards night with age-group prizes is on 7/30.

A July 4 road race in Springfield with 5K, mile and 10K options, professional timing for the 5K and 10K, participant shirt, medal and age group awards. Volunteer roles are available.

Experience flowing singletrack and deep ravines at Black Partridge Park in Metamora. This five mile trail race features creek crossings and steep climbs through mature Illinois forests.

Test your endurance on the technical river bluff trails of Illinois with distances ranging from a half marathon to 100 miles. Experience rolling hills and steep climbs within the beautiful wooded canopy of Camp Wokanda.

Experience a trail run through Forest Park on the General Dacey Trail in Shelbyville. Participate in a 5K or 1 mile race featuring team competitions, post race refreshments, and a gathering at the local aquatic center.

A cross-country 5K on the Lake Land College campus in Mattoon, Illinois, featuring rolling hills, grassy fields and wooded paths. The event highlights the college's second-year cross country program and includes packet pickup at the Field H..

Experience the final race of the summer at Farmdale Reservoir in Washington Illinois. This five mile trail run features a mix of prairie woods and singletrack paths through a diverse landscape.

Timed 6 hour and 3 hour endurance runs on a 1.01 mile loop at Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville, IL, with a mixed crushed limestone and pavement surface. Field limited to 120; proceeds support the nature center.

A youth and family 2K obstacle course at Maxwell Park with about 15 obstacles. Waves serve ages 5 and up; participants get a shirt, medal and a timed result, with trophies for top three in each competitive age group.

Hill of a Race 2026 in Bloomington, IL combines a lap based Endurance Challenge with multiple 3 mile obstacle course waves, including competitive men, women, masters and several recreational waves.

A day of looped trail events at Comlara near Hudson, IL, with timed options from one hour to twelve hours, a relay race, and an open course option. Runners complete roughly four mile loops and must return each hour to continue.

Experience an all terrain trail race through the scenic Big Horse Vineyards featuring natural obstacles and mud. Choose between a competitive 5K or a social beer mile followed by wine tasting in Central Illinois.

Test your limits at Decker Farm with a grueling combination of military boot camp and farm chores. Choose between 4, 12, or 36 hour endurance challenges featuring heavy carries and undisclosed physical tasks.

A multi-distance ultramarathon at Sand Ridge State Forest offering 200K, 100K, 50K and a 10K out-and-back; awards include buckles and a 50K challenge coin, and camping is included at the start/finish.

Experience fast rolling terrain at the Sand Creek Trail Run in Decatur. Choose between 4.4 and 7.6 mile distances to support the Special Operations Warrior Foundation through the scenic Macon County Conservation District.

A timed, mostly flat 2 mile obstacle course at Richland Community College on September 19, 2026, raising funds for the Student Veterans' Resource Center with 20 to 25 obstacles and finisher rewards.

A 5K trail run or walk at Patriot's Park in Greenville on 09/26/2026 focused on community support for children and families affected by childhood cancer, with registration open 03/02/2026 and a $35 fee.

Run The Woods is a trail event at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center in Hudson, IL featuring 5K and 8K races with youth divisions and a one mile untimed trail walk. Proceeds benefit Easterseals Central Illinois and Timber Pointe Outdoor Center.

A multi-distance trail event at Farmdale Reservoir near East Peoria, IL on October 10-11, 2026, featuring races from 10K to 100 miles, single-track and prairie trails, on-site camping, aid stations, and awards for finishers.

A chip timed 5K and an untimed 1 mile fun walk at GE Park in Bloomington on October 18, 2026, raising funds for BN Sunrise Rotary Youth Services and the CCHS Rotaract Club. Awards include ceramic steins for top 5K age group finishers.