Trail Running calendar near Eldridge 2025-2026

The Pinetum Mind Games Endurance Event, held at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois, is a unique running challenge featuring a 0.411-mile loop course through the pine tree upper loop area. Participants can choose from 6, 12, or 24-hour solo runs or three-person relays, starting on a Friday evening. The e..

The Lake Macbride Trail Races, held in Solon, Iowa, offer challenging 50K and 25K trail runs around Lake Macbride State Park, Iowa's largest state park. The course features one or two loops starting and finishing at the Macbride Spillway parking area. Runners experience a mix of crushed limestone tr..

The Chupacabra Trail Races take place in Dixon, Illinois, featuring night trail running on a 5-mile loop course composed of grass, gravel, dirt, and 30% single track. Participants can choose from distances of 5, 10, or 15 miles by completing one to three laps, or join a three-person relay team. The..

The Mines of Spain Trail Races, held at the EB Lyons Nature Center in Dubuque, Iowa, offer 4-mile, 7-mile, and half marathon trail runs through scenic and challenging terrain. Participants experience diverse trails including dirt single and double tracks, prairie grass paths, rocky technical section..

ScoCo50 is a trail running event held at scenic Scott County Park in Long Grove, Iowa, offering 50K, 10-mile, and 5-mile race distances. The course features a mostly dirt and grass trail loop of about 10 miles with approximately 950 feet of elevation gain per loop, winding through wooded and prairie..

The Gristmill Grind 10K is a challenging trail race held annually at Franklin Creek State Park in Franklin Grove, Illinois. Known as one of the most difficult 10Ks in the area, the course features technical trails with approximately 800 feet of elevation gain, multiple hill climbs, and four creek cr..

The Pleasant Creek Trail Run, held in Palo, Iowa, is an annual trail running event featuring three race distances: 15K, 30K, and 45K. The course runs on Pleasant Creek’s outer equestrian trail loop, primarily on dirt and grass trails with rolling hills and occasional small water crossings. All races..

The Tiger 10 Miler is an annual trail race held at Byron Forest Preserve and the Nardi Equine Prairie in Byron, Illinois. This 10-mile course features twists, turns, and hills, offering a challenging and scenic run through natural settings. Participants receive a custom finisher's medal, shirt, and..

The 4sta Hike is an annual trail running event held at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve near Andalusia, Illinois, along the Mississippi River. Participants run a challenging 1-mile loop featuring smooth single track, rocks, roots, downed trees, and steep gradients up to 48%. The course offers two option..

The Broken Anvil Backyard Ultra is a challenging endurance running event held in West Point, Iowa, at South Park and Pollmiller Lake Campgrounds. Participants run repetitive 4.167-mile loops on a mixed-surface course featuring paved bike paths, roads, crushed gravel, and trails, with minimal elevati..

Hindsight Ultra Trail Runs, held in Dixon, Illinois, offers a grassroots ultra running experience with distances of 25K, 50K, 100K, and 100 miles. The course features a 7.85-mile loop combining roughly 50% singletrack, 30% grassy meadow paths, and 20% gravel, with about 6,200 feet of elevation gain..

The Swiss Valley Trail Races, held in Peosta, Iowa, offer runners three distance options: 5.2 miles, 25K, and 50K. Set within the scenic Swiss Valley Nature Preserve, the course features rugged terrain, creek crossings, and steep inclines, with each 5.2-mile loop climbing approximately 875 feet. The..

The Hennepin Hundred is a premier ultramarathon held in Sterling, Illinois, featuring 100-mile, 50-mile, 50K, and 100-mile team relay races. The point-to-point course follows the scenic, flat, and fast Hennepin Canal State Trail, Illinois’ longest multi-use trail, stretching from Sterling to Colona..

The Haunted Heritage Trail Fun Run / Hero Walk in Dyersville, Iowa, offers a festive and spooky running experience with multiple events including a 5K Haunted Heritage Trail Fun Run, a 10K Trail Run, and a 1 Mile Hero Walk. Participants are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes as they navigate a 3...

The Iowa Trail Run Series: Sugar Bottom Fall takes place in Solon, Iowa, offering runners a scenic trail running experience with options of a 5K, 10K, and half marathon. This fall edition allows participants to challenge their times from the spring race and earn bonus swag. The event supports local..

The Mines of Spain 100 is a challenging Midwest trail ultramarathon held in Dubuque, Iowa, set in the scenic bluffs, prairies, and forests of the Driftless Region along the Mississippi River valley. The event offers two distances: 100 miles (five loops) and 100 kilometers (three loops) on a roughly..

The Geode Challenge Races, held annually at Geode State Park in Danville, Iowa, offer trail running events of 5K, 12K, and 25K distances. The courses feature diverse terrain including dirt and single-track trails, rocky sections, gravel, sand, grass, road segments, hills, and a creek crossing, with..

The Miner 49er is an endurance running event held in the scenic Mines of Spain near Dubuque, Iowa. It features two race distances: a 25K out-and-back course with about 2,200 feet of elevation gain, and a 50K race that covers the 25K route twice, totaling approximately 4,400 feet of gain. Runners exp..

Woodpecker Six is a six-hour endurance trail run held in Linn County's scenic Pinicon Ridge Park near Central City, Iowa. The course features a challenging 1.2-mile loop with two significant climbs and multiple stairs, totaling about 215 feet of elevation gain per loop through heavily wooded terrain..

The Skunk Ape 806/314 Trail Race, held at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois, is a unique endurance event featuring two main race distances: 33.75 miles to be completed in 8 hours and 6 minutes, and 13.5 miles in 3 hours and 14 minutes. The course consists of a 2.25-mile single-track loop through wooded..