Come join us for the what may be the toughest one day series of trail races in Illinois. While the Abe’s Trail Trek 5k is runner, walker and new-to-trails friendly, the 10k and Half Marathon will test the mettle of all but the most seasoned trail runner.
You will literally be running in the woods and village that Abraham Lincoln called home for 6 years. While Cardinal Ridge, Shady Hollow, Damselfly, Shickshack and Mentor Graham’s trails may have been named differently 200 years ago, the terrain remains the same. Rustic and tough.
All courses are rolling, primarily double track trails through woods, along the Sangamon River, across bridges and up and down steps – not your typical central Illinois terrain. Yes, we have climbs, but if Abe could do them, so can you, Honest!
The 5k course is perfect for the new to trails runner and walkers wanting to experience a side of New Salem many never see on their way to the village. You will start on Cardinal Ridge transfer to Shady Hollow and then proceed along the river on Damselfly to the Finish at the Under the Prairie Archeological Museum.
In addition to the terrain of the 5k course, the 10k and Half Marathon courses will take you past an 1800’s reproduction flatboat, grist mill, up and down more than 150 steps, past a pioneer cemetery and on to the Finish Line at the museum.
Both the 10k and Half Marathon courses take you down the main street of the 1800’s pioneer village and past the general store opened by Abe.
However, before you get to the roaring fire, food, drinks and pioneer artifacts, you will be challenged on long climbs, rapid descents and a technical course of your choosing.
Choose wisely; the 10k course is tough and after you have traversed the longest climb on the trek, you may see the Finish Line appearing just below but you still have miles to go.
The Half Marathon course is rolling, tight, technical, fast and a challenge regardless of your abilities. Not a typical Midwest course. The additional miles are on a mountain bike trail whose terrain is designed to challenge the toughest off road cyclist, however, we reversed the loop for a 70 foot ascent you can handle.
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