Frozen Gnome
Crystal Lake, United States • 10 Jan 2026
Event details
The Frozen Gnome is a winter trail running event in Crystal Lake, IL, held at Veteran Acres and Sterne's Woods. The course uses single-track trails and is described as a triple black diamond rated route. Distances and formats offered:
- 50K
- 10K
- 50K relay - 2 person
- 50K relay - 5 person
The 50K follows a 10k loop repeated five times. The course includes a main aid station called the Gnome Depot with hot food, coffee, heat, and volunteers.
Logistics and policies
The race start area is at 431 Walkup Road, Crystal Lake, IL. Packet pickup is at the large building by the main parking lot. There are two parking lots on Walkup Road; the northern lot is closer to the start and smaller. Race swag includes a tech race shirt and a finisher medal for all runners; shirts are pre-ordered and sizes are allocated through registration. Awards include prizes for 1st to 3rd overall male and female and age-group awards for 1st place. Relay teams must register each member and perform exchanges at the main aid station while passing the timing chip. BIB transfers are accepted until 10 days before the event. Entry rollover is allowed if requested 70 days before the event; 50% race credit is available if requested 25 days before the event. Registration will move to a waitlist once the event fills. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.