Trail Running calendar near Ames 2025-2026

Death by 5k Waterloo is a challenging 24-hour running event held at George Wyth State Park in Waterloo, Iowa. Participants must complete ten 5k runs or walks, each starting 2.5 hours apart, on a paved out-and-back course along the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail. The event offers a supportive atmosphere wi..

The Iowa Trail Run Series: A Midsummer Night's Run is an exciting running event scheduled for June 21, 2025, at McFarland Park in Ames, Iowa. Participants can choose between a 5K or 10K trail run, featuring a mix of single track, prairie, and gravel paths as the sun sets on a summer evening. A porti..

The House of Hope Trail Blaze is a running event scheduled for July 12, 2025, at George Wyth State Park in Waterloo, Iowa. Participants can choose from three race options: a Team 10K, an Individual 10K, and an Individual 5K. The event promises a scenic experience on the park's hard trails, with timi..

The Whiterock Ultra is a trail running event held at the scenic Whiterock Conservancy in Coon Rapids, Iowa, featuring 50K and 50-mile race distances. Set within a 5,500-acre nonprofit land trust with 40 miles of trails along the Middle Raccoon River Valley, the course offers challenging terrain with..

The Trench Run is a challenging 10K trail run held at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. This unique race features a course that includes military simulations such as trenches, smoke, pyrotechnics, blank fire, military vehicles, fire trucks, streams, and occasional helicopter flybys, offering an immersiv..

The Iowa Trail Run Series: Annett Nature Center is a scenic running event taking place at the Annett Nature Center in Indianola, Iowa. Participants can choose between a 5K and a 10K race, both designed to showcase the beautiful landscape of the area, including gravel paths and dirt trails. A portion..

The Booneville Backroads Ultra, scheduled for August 30, 2025, offers a challenging running experience through the scenic rural landscapes of Iowa, including the iconic Bridges of Madison County. Participants can choose from various distances: 100 Miler, 100K, 50K, and 10K. Notable changes for 2025..

The Iowa Trail Run Series: Jester Park offers participants a scenic running experience along the shores of Saylorville Lake, featuring a mix of trail surfaces such as gravel, dirt, and grass. Scheduled for September 28, 2025, the event includes two race options: a 5K and a 10K. Participants can expe..

Meyerhoff's Mayhem is a unique endurance running event held at Big Woods Campground in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Participants run or ruck 4 miles every 4 hours over a 48-hour period, with an optional 2-mile add-on after the final leg. The course features a mix of paved trails and a disc golf course, offeri..

The Equalizer Endurance Run is an inclusive running event held in Des Moines, IA, designed for both new and experienced runners to challenge themselves at ultra distances. The event features a unique age/sex 'equalizer' scoring system, allowing participants to compete fairly across different age gro..

The Stuffed Turkey Endurance Races, taking place on November 22, 2025, at Jester Park in Granger, Iowa, offers a challenging experience for runners with distances of 10 miles, 50K, 50 miles, and 100 miles. This event is recognized as a UTMB index race and features a 100% trail course with rolling hi..

The Critter is a running event taking place at Ingawanis Adventure Base in Waverly, IA, featuring three race durations: 12 hours, 8 hours, and 4 hours. This event encourages participants of all levels to challenge themselves and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow runners. Registration for the 12-hour a..