Trail Running calendar near Portage 2025-2026

The Jennie Hamilton Memorial 5 Mile Trail Run takes place at Stoney Run County Park in Hebron, Indiana. This trail race features a challenging 5-mile course marked with flags and arrow signs at major turns. Runners may encounter natural obstacles such as mud, bugs, and a pond crossing near the end,..

The Oakadoke Trail Runs, held in Valparaiso, Indiana, is a summer trail running event featuring challenging courses through the scenic Creekside Trails. Participants can choose from three distances: 18 miles (two loops), 9 miles (one full loop), and 4 miles (half loop focusing on the Salt Creek sect..

The Summer Trail Classic is a trail running event held at Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. It offers three race distances: approximately 4 miles, 9.5 miles, and 13 miles, featuring twisting single-track trails that provide a true trail running experience. The event is part..

The Chupacabra Endurance Run is a 10-hour endurance race held at Bluhm County Park in Westville, Indiana, as part of the Crazy Legs Race Series in 2025. Participants run multiple loops of a 3.4-3.5 mile trail with minimal pavement, completing each loop within one hour to avoid elimination. The event..

The Naperville Trails Half Marathon & 10K is an annual running event held in Wheaton, Illinois, set for September 6, 2025. Participants can choose between a USATF-certified half marathon or 10K race, both featuring a flat and fast course that winds through the scenic Danada Forest Preserve on crushe..

Dirt Circus - Chicago is a free community running event held in Crystal Lake, Illinois, celebrating local trail running and races. Organized by UltraSignup, this one-day festival features a social group run with options of 3 or 5 miles through scenic Veteran Acres Park. The event fosters camaraderie..

Timely Nonsense is a unique timed running event held in Chicago, IL, at a 58-acre park located at California and Montrose. Participants run a 0.75-mile paved loop for either 6 or 12 hours, with an aid station at the start/finish offering typical ultrarunning fare and additional vendor treats like ho..

Half Day at the Lake is a unique 6- or 12-hour ultra-running event held in Evanston, Illinois, along a scenic 2-mile loop on the lakefront path near Northwestern University. The course features a mix of paved and crushed gravel surfaces, offering beautiful views of the Chicago skyline and the north..

The Tryon Farm 50k is a trail running event held at Tryon Farm in Michigan City, Indiana. The course features an 8-loop 4-mile circuit through a mix of open grassy fields, single-track dirt trails, and small pavement sections connecting different trail areas. The event also offers shorter distances..

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..

The Sandhill Crane All Trail Half Marathon is an annual running event held at Dr. T. K.Lawless County Park in Vandalia, Michigan. The 17th edition, scheduled for October 11, 2025, features a scenic, non-repetitive all-trail course through 820 acres of forest and fields, including six bridge crossing..

The St. Pats 24 Hour Race, held at St. Patrick's County Park in South Bend, Indiana, is a premier timed trail running event featuring 12- and 24-hour race options.Participants run primarily on scenic dirt and grass trails with brief asphalt crossings, enjoying a challenging yet picturesque course. T..

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 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 starts and finishes at Re..

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 St. Joe Valley Happy Trail Run takes place at St. Patrick's County Park in South Bend, Indiana.This event offers multiple distances including a 1-mile fun run, 5k, 10k, and a half marathon, all on beginner-friendly trails with beautiful scenery. The course features loops: 5k is one loop, 10k two..

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 trail. The course features two aid stations: one at the start/finish area and an unmanned station approximately 3.5 miles into..

The Dowagiac All Trail Turkey Trot is a classic running event held on the trails of Southwestern Michigan College's Dowagiac campus. Celebrating its 58th running in 2025, the event features a 10K Run/Walk, 5K Run/Walk, and a 1K Kid's Fun Run. Both the 10K and 5K races start simultaneously, with chip..

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..