The HUFF 50k is awesome and plan on making the 4 hour plus drive to this every year. This year the turn out was 100 runners less than previous years … MORE
The HUFF 50k is awesome and plan on making the 4 hour plus drive to this every year. This year the turn out was 100 runners less than previous years (if not 200 or less) because of freezing rain and pour travel conditions. I enjoyed the terrain and layout of the course as it is 90% trails. The aid stations were also awesome and it was nice to see every 4 miles with 2 loop have warm chicken soup. I now think chicken soup at 50k races should be mad story in the winter. Again awesome time and can’t wait until next year.
Good Challenge and Great chicken Soup
The HUFF 50k is awesome and plan on making the 4 hour plus drive to this every year. This year the turn out was 100 runners less than previous years … MORE
The HUFF 50k is awesome and plan on making the 4 hour plus drive to this every year. This year the turn out was 100 runners less than previous years (if not 200 or less) because of freezing rain and pour travel conditions. I enjoyed the terrain and layout of the course as it is 90% trails. The aid stations were also awesome and it was nice to see every 4 miles with 2 loop have warm chicken soup. I now think chicken soup at 50k races should be mad story in the winter. Again awesome time and can’t wait until next year.
Winter Trail Race Fun
The Huff is a great trail race from beginners to experienced runners it has something for everyone! I took part in a 50k relay where each runner had an 11 … MORE
The Huff is a great trail race from beginners to experienced runners it has something for everyone! I took part in a 50k relay where each runner had an 11 mile loop (yes it adds up to more than 50k) that was awesome!
Being a December race you can bet it was cold but not unexpected. The ground had a beautiful frost to it and you could hear the crunch of the runners as we headed down the trails. There are hills, roots, mud, water and a small amount of road that is run on.
The aid stations had flat cola, flat orange soda, sandwiches, cookies, chips and water. The volunteers were awesome and made sure every runner was well taken care of.
Plenty of restrooms along the way and a nice warm tent at the halfway point of the 50k for runners to change, warm up, eat soup, and refuel.
Each runner received a tech shirt, a tech santa hat, tech beanie, a double shot glass and a plastic mug! Plus when you crossed the finish line you received a finishers belt buckle instead of a traditional medal! The race organizers really had it all together for this! Lots of un was had and I will definitely be going back!!!
Great ultra for beginners & vets alike
This was my first time running The HUFF 50K, and I was very impressed with both the course as well as the event's overall organization. Aid stations were plentiful, and … MORE
This was my first time running The HUFF 50K, and I was very impressed with both the course as well as the event’s overall organization. Aid stations were plentiful, and the large heated tent at the Start/Finish area made for an enjoyable pre- and post-race experience. In no particular order, here are what runners can expect from the event:
THE COURSE;
–I’d estimate that between 75-80% of the course is “runnable,” but with enough hills to satisfy ultramarathon diehards out there. The course is around 85-90% trail, with a few short stretches of paved & dirt road mixed in, and the entire course is double-wide trail at minimum. There is no single-track, which makes it ideal for running with a companion.
–The 50K course consisted of 2 loops, each loop roughly 15-16 miles in length. Aid stations were no more than 4 miles apart, and with the cool race-day temperatures, I didn’t even need to run with a water bottle.
–The course difficulty would be somewhere between a 2-3 out of 5. For comparison, this course was tougher and with more hills than the Palos trail network that’s southwest of Chicago, but it was easier than the Ice Age 50K course that takes place in Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. Obviously, the HUFF’s terrain won’t compare with any of the mountainous ultramarathons out west, but it has a fair number of hills during the latter 1/3 of each loop.
–Chain O’ Lakes State Park is BEAUTIFUL, even in winter, and I can only imagine what the course would look like in the summer. By my count, the course took us past 9 or 10 different lakes, and ran virtually the entire length and width of the park. This race was a great showcase for the area.
–There weren’t any “wet feet areas” to speak of in the 2014 running of the HUFF; it sounds like past events may have run through a river or two, but the race organizers helped fund the building of a footbridge for the 2014 race.
ORGANIZATION:
–The Start/Finish area features a very large, HEATED tent in which runners can loiter before and after the race, or even during the middle of the race after coming in from first loop. Gear check was located inside the heated tent, with an area for drop bags for 50K runners.
–LOTS OF SWAG: As a 50K runner I received a shirt, a plastic HUFF mug, a HUFF glass, a HUFF running hat made of tech fabric, and a HUFF santa hat also made of technical fabric. All 50K runners received belt buckles, rather than medals.
–Aid stations came roughly every 4 miles, with lots of water, Gatorade, Coke, and salty foods on offer. The aid station that came at Mile 8 of each loop had plenty of broth/noodles, and that station even had cheeseburgers on the 2nd loop.
–There were plenty of radio personnel visible out on the course, in case any runner was having medical difficulties.
–The post-race spread featured a variety of “world famous” soups, and I can vouch for the chili in particular (my friend Betty also raved about the vegan tomato soup). There were at least 4 different kegs of beer from local Indiana breweries to drink from, too. The heated tent for the post-race party was a godsend.
All in all, great race — I plan on being back in 2015
Nice Beginner Trail Race
Nobody does a trail race better than Huff. If you haven't ran an ultra before, start here. Then you can compare each one thereafter to Huff. Easy packet pick. Warming … MORE
Nobody does a trail race better than Huff. If you haven’t ran an ultra before, start here. Then you can compare each one thereafter to Huff. Easy packet pick. Warming Tent. Multiple Race distances so your friends can go even if they are scared of the 50K distance. Homemade, hot soups and candies at aid stations. Great scenery. Trail is groomed and wide enough to run beside a friend. Super friendly beginner race for those wanting to start trail running and/or would like to venture into the ultra distance.