There are many options for running in Chicago but have you ever wanted to run AROUND Chicago? Well, this is your chance to run a good chunk of it on the Outerbelt Trail in the first trail ultra race designed to feature this exciting new trail around Chicago. The Chicago …
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There are many options for running in Chicago but have you ever wanted to run AROUND Chicago? Well, this is your chance to run a good chunk of it on the Outerbelt Trail in the first trail ultra race designed to feature this exciting new trail around Chicago.
The Chicago Outerbelt Trail is a 210+ mile hiking and running trail that connects some of the best nature surrounding our city. It extends from Downtown’s Buckingham Fountain to the south suburbs, west to the Des Plaines River Trail, up north to Lake County, and finally back south along the Chicago lakefront. Primarily it consists of municipal properties pieced together for the first time – like the Cook County Forest Preserve District, Chicago Park District, and Lake County Forest Preserves. With some sections traversing secluded wilderness, and others right near urban populations, the result is a trail running experience you won’t find anywhere besides Chicago.
2021 was a great first year with some amazing performances and lots of lessons learned to improve. We’ll plan to start and finish in Palos Woods at the Pulaski Woods Grove #1 Picnic area and run as far south as Camp Sullivan for the 100K distance.
The Outerbelt trail is a mix of dirt, gravel, and native footpath with the balance paved trails and a few road crossings. All distances from the 100K down to the half marathon are a mix of dirt and gravel trails with some paved surfaces. The half marathon, 10K, and 5K are mostly dirt trails within Palos Woods. Our race route will be heading south and we hope this will also help make the run feel more natural and less urban with fewer miles of urban “trails” (bike paths and road connectors) along the route.
The 50K has 0.8 miles of road adding up to 97.4% of amazing trail. The 50 mile has 8.0 miles of paved bike path and road resulting in a 84% trail experience. The 100K has 14.0 miles of paved bike path or road making it 77.4% trail surfaces. Pacers can join 100K runners at Lake Katherine (Mile 37) and 50M runners can have pacers join at the SE end of Saganashkee Slough (Mile 34). Bags can be dropped at the the 50K turn (SE end of Saganashkee Slough), Lake Katherine (50M turn), or the 100K turn at Camp Sullivan
We are excited to assemble a competitive 100K, 50 mile, and 50K distance along the route as well as distances for the marathon, half-marathon, 10K, and 5K.
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