The North Country Trail Run is one of the top trail runs in the United States. Home of the largest half marathon and ultra-marathon, as well as the 3rd largest marathon finisher medals in the country. The race starts and finishes at Big “M” in the Manistee National Forest. The …
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The North Country Trail Run is one of the top trail runs in the United States. Home of the largest half marathon and ultra-marathon, as well as the 3rd largest marathon finisher medals in the country.
The race starts and finishes at Big “M” in the Manistee National Forest. The course is a well marked 25 mile loop. The marathon runners will run a 1.2 mile section on the paved road prior to hitting the trail. This allows them to run the same 25-mile loop the ultra runners will and also spreads the runners out prior to reaching the 1-track trail. The trail is a single-track hiking trail with enough hills to make for a challenging race. There is no high altitude to contend with, no rocks to jump over, and no stream crossings to wade through, just a beautiful forest with some roots to remind you you’re not on pavement. The course is flagged approximately every 100 ft with landscaping flags.
Ultra and marathon runners follow the red flags while the half marathon runners follow the yellow flags. When all three events are on the same trails you will see both yellow and red flags. We will mark off where trail crossings may confuse runners by hanging caution tape at these points and also placing additional flags to direct you on the right path. It is also important to review the course maps and even print them off prior to race day.
Each participant and volunteer of the North Country Trail Run will be given free tickets to one of the best post race parties in the country. We begin grilling on Saturday and won’t stop until the last runner crosses the finish line on Saturday, and then we’ll do it all over again Sunday.
A tradition started in 2018, any runner, spectator and volunteer may request a free ticket to receive one root beer float at the post race party. A local group takes care of serving the delicious treat and the race provides a donation to the group as well as supplying all items for the root beer float area. That allows you to enjoy this sweet treat anytime during race weekend.
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A solid trail marathon, with caveats
Pros: + Most of the volunteers were fantastic - super friendly at the aid stations! + The race course was well marked with flags and signs throughout. The only confusing … MORE
Pros:
+ Most of the volunteers were fantastic – super friendly at the aid stations!
+ The race course was well marked with flags and signs throughout. The only confusing part was around mile 3, when you loop back near the start line. There were a lot of people hanging around, no one directing, and I couldn’t see the next aid station.
+ Aid stations were well-stocked and spaced roughly every 3–4 miles.
+ Post-race food was good, with vegetarian options available.
+ Parking was fairly easy, with availability in a main lot and overflow lot if you got there early (6:30 AM). I saw a lot of people got tickets for not paying the $5 cash fee though.
+ The trail was about 95% shaded in the woods with some roots. Very quiet throughout and while not overly scenic, it felt very peaceful.
+ Bugs weren’t bad, and I didn’t need bug spray.
+ General crowd size wasn’t too bad. The start was smooth with no delays.
Cons:
– Communication before the race was lacking. I didn’t receive any emails, and my inquiries went unanswered. I wasn’t even sure if I had a bib number until it appeared on the website a week before the race.
– The listed elevation gain was way off. The website said 4,322 ft for the marathon, but my Garmin recorded just 2,333 ft. That’s a significant difference for training purposes.
– Aid station info was inaccurate regarding food options. I had been expecting substantial food (like sandwiches) at the Eagle aid station around mile 9.5, but they only had chips and snacks. The substantial options didn’t appear until around mile 13.
– For the marathon, the faster half marathoners caught up with me from miles 3.5-7.5, when the courses split. On the single-track trail, I had to constantly pull over to let them pass, which disrupted the tranquility.
– About half of the aid stations had loud music or cowbells/noisemakers. It felt out of place for a trail race and broke the focus, especially for anyone sensitive to loud sounds.
– Swag was plentiful (hoodie, t-shirt, hat) but lower quality. I’d have preferred just one nicer item instead.
– Medals are huge but don’t really fit the minimalist trail vibe. The design didn’t really reflect the wooded single-track course.
Overall, a well-supported race with friendly volunteers and good food, but a few inconsistencies and logistical issues make me unsure if I’d do it again.
wrecked by horrible customer service
so disappointed and let down by what I thought was such an incredible race! Did my first 50 miler there in 2022 and hoped to return in 2023 with a … MORE
so disappointed and let down by what I thought was such an incredible race! Did my first 50 miler there in 2022 and hoped to return in 2023 with a discount code that was promised but I never received. I contacted the race multiple times through FB and email and never heard anything back… Just saw that the 2023 race is full and I never even got the opportunity to register months ago because I was never sent the code or ANY response to my inquiries. 🙁
The trail race you'll want to do again
I had heard so much about this race from local running friends that I had to do it myself. I will definitely return! Plan a year in advance because it … MORE
I had heard so much about this race from local running friends that I had to do it myself. I will definitely return! Plan a year in advance because it sells out early–numbers have to be kept small due to the limited space and narrow trails. The race director does a great job communicating all sorts of information about what to expect running in a National Forest. There were course modifications in 2022 due to forestry maintenance where we were routed to fire roads but it was fine. The turns were marked well and having multiple aid stations in the woods was a great upgrade compared to the last time I did a trail marathon. Awards go 5 deep in each age group, so you might walk away with a plaque. Even if not, the humungous finisher medal will be a showstopper for your collection. At the finish, the post-race food situation is the best I’ve had at a race, especially considering it is in a remotely-populated part of Michigan where restaurant options are minimal. Pull up a camp chair and chow down on the feast! Be sure to tell your friends because they are going to enjoy this event, too.
The Root of all Falling
The climb was doable; the aid stations were the bomb (fresh fruit, burritos, chicken broth, and a LOT more); the course could do with a LOT fewer roots; I fell … MORE
The climb was doable; the aid stations were the bomb (fresh fruit, burritos, chicken broth, and a LOT more); the course could do with a LOT fewer roots; I fell 5 times and tripped over 60 times. We’re still waiting for some of the promised swag.
Great Trail Race!
This is a great trail race with enough difficulty to keep your eyes on the ground to watch for tree roots. As a guy from Ohio I was not prepared … MORE
This is a great trail race with enough difficulty to keep your eyes on the ground to watch for tree roots. As a guy from Ohio I was not prepared for the sand which caused my calves to cramp but thankfully I wear compression sleeves. The swag is top of the line with more than you would expect. Post race food was phenomenal. I recommend this as a bucket list and I will be back for the full or ultra. A very well run and orchestrated race in a great National Forest.
If you like trails, add to bucketlist
This is true single track running ... only without a lot of pain and agony of falling on rocks or other impediments. This has what must be the best trail … MORE
This is true single track running … only without a lot of pain and agony of falling on rocks or other impediments. This has what must be the best trail surface I have run on, either hard pack sand or soft pine/leaf covered. Minimal rocks, but does have roots … which against the white sand was usually easy to see. The RD for the race is awesome. This is a true runners race. Despite thunder, lightning and heavy downpours, Chris Nicholas, managed to put on a safe and fun event. The volunteers were unbelievable, cheering on each runner as they came into the aid station, providing lots of food with it being provided in eatable portions. And, the medals, post race party and general overall goodies were awesome. Really love the sweatshirt and the shirt. The only negative on the entire race is that the maps are wrong and it caused confusion coming into the finish since most of our Garmins are wrong because of the loss of GPS signal.
Fast, well-shaded course; lots of aid
This was my first 50-miler, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an inaugural 50. Don't let the late-August date scare you away with concerns about the heat … MORE
This was my first 50-miler, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an inaugural 50. Don’t let the late-August date scare you away with concerns about the heat — Manistee is far north enough that even the summer weather is pleasant, and the woods offer plentiful shade. With extremely well-stocked aid stations every 3-5 miles, you won’t need to run with a pack if you don’t want to — just carry 1 bottle and some salt tabs, and the volunteers will take care of the rest!