Journey back in time to this rollicking run along forested, unpaved paths of our Palos / Sag Valley Trail Systems within the Cook County Forest Preserve – Regions 6 / 7. We’ve charted a stimulating course that’s sure to satisfy your primordial instinct to “go long.” Are you up to …
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Journey back in time to this rollicking run along forested, unpaved paths of our Palos / Sag Valley Trail Systems within the Cook County Forest Preserve – Regions 6 / 7. We’ve charted a stimulating course that’s sure to satisfy your primordial instinct to “go long.” Are you up to the challenge? Choose your distance wisely… take your training seriously… then come race day, it’s “finish or fossilize!”
For your adventure we will provide:
- Your choice of event distance… 50 kilometers or 25 kilometers.
- Space for 200 eager runners… permit restrictions limit race participation to the first 200 registrants, which is a total combined count of participants from both events. It’s possible that we’ll meet capacity, so don’t wait too long before committing (hint : ).
- An accurately measured, clearly-marked course, with well-stocked aid stations / checkpoints occurring each lap at 7.775-mile intervals.
- Chip timing & scoring with RunRace Webcasting and near realtime Results for all runners.
- Paleozoic Trail Runs Finisher Medals with colorful Lanyards for all participants… that is, those who “did not fossilize.”
- Special Customized Crystal awards to Top Overall and Top Masters runners for both sexes in each event.
- Age Group “Made the Podium” pint glass awards to top finishers in 10-year divisions for both sexes in each event.
- Way-to-go “My First Ultra” pint glass awards for first-time ultra finishers (50-Km participants).
- Well-earned “Five-Time Finisher” zipper-draw-string shoe bag for 5-time finishers of Paleozoic Trail Runs.
- Extremely well-earned “Ten-Time Finisher” pint glass awards for 10-time finishers of Paleozoic Trail Runs.
- Only once ever-earned “Fifteen-Time Finisher” ball cap in your choice of black or maroon for 15-time finishers of Paleozoic Trail Runs.
- Our racecourse is pre-approved by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (permit approved!).
A variety of surfaces make up our Paleozoic north racecourse. Wide crushed gravel paths comprise about 40% of this course. Along the way you’ll encounter a mix of narrower, more rugged dirt trails, occasional grass segments, and even stretches of eroding asphalt. The non-crushed gravel sections can be more-than-moderately rocky with occasional stray roots. Compared to most others in greater Chicagoland, our Paleozoic racecourse should be considered as “quite hilly.”
Trail shoes are recommended, but not necessary, especially if conditions are dry leading up to race day. The course will be well-marked, with fully stocked aid stations at ~7.77-mile intervals, plus an unmanned / water-only station near midpoint of each half-lap. There will be two (2) road crossings per lap, policed by FPDCC personnel. Each lap is 25 kilometers (~15.53 miles) in length.
Paleozoic Trail Runs will be sanctioned by USA Track & Field.
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Great introduction to trail running
This race starts in a large open field, then ushers runners to a wide dirt path, which has a few gradual hills, then becomes single-track, with a few technical patches … MORE
This race starts in a large open field, then ushers runners to a wide dirt path, which has a few gradual hills, then becomes single-track, with a few technical patches to spice things up. The way you run it makes it feel like an introduction to trail running with the terrain challenge increasing as you go along. The 25K is an out-and-back with 50K runners repeating the course. The course is inside the Chicagoland Palos Forest Reserve, whose paths are varied, though don’t absorb water very well. If it’s rained at all in the last week, expect marshy sections. The organization is great, the race fee is cheap, and the post-race spread this year included local homebrews.