How Fast Do You Want to Run?Looking for your first 100? How about your first sub 24? Sub 20? Lower? It’s possible at Tunnel Hill. There are a large % of first-time finishers in the 100 or the 50 miles. For those who have run a 100 or 50 elsewhere, …
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How Fast Do You Want to Run?
Looking for your first 100? How about your first sub 24? Sub 20? Lower? It’s possible at Tunnel Hill. There are a large % of first-time finishers in the 100 or the 50 miles. For those who have run a 100 or 50 elsewhere, the majority of them set a personal record, and oftentimes by a wide margin. Are you next?
The course begins at the City Park in Vienna, makes a celebratory loop around the parking lot, and heads south on the Tunnel Hill State Trail, to the Wetlands Center at 13.25 miles, where it turns back north to run 25 miles to the northern turnaround, and then back 11.75 miles to the start/finish. This gives you 50 miles. Repeat this course for the 100. By repeating the 50 mile course we are giving you the best course, with the most scenery.
We have been blessed that these outstanding runners chose to run Tunnel Hill:
2025: 100 mile F world record: Caitriona Jennings 12:37:04
2025: 50 mile F world record: Anne Flower 5:18:57
2024: 50 mile F world record: Courtney Olsen 5:31:56
2023: 50 mile M world record: Charlie Lawrence 4:48:21
2017: 100 mile F world record: Camille Herron 12:42:40
Is it a Road Course, or is it a Trail?
This was a hotly debated topic after Camille Herron slaughtered the women’s 100 mile World Record.
Well guess what? It’s both! Because it is sanctioned, and course certified by the USATF & IAAF (and course ratified), it’s a Road or Open course. And, because it is not paved, it is considered Trail by the American Trail Runners Association and the International Trail Runners Association.
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Supporting my local race
All good at this one. Signed up for the 100k, and while I could have done it physically, crossing the finish line at 50 miles got the best of me. … MORE
All good at this one. Signed up for the 100k, and while I could have done it physically, crossing the finish line at 50 miles got the best of me. I had been thinking about a Dairy Queen hamburger for about the last 6 hours of the race, and decided to drop to the 50 mile and go get a burger. All good. If you want a fast ultra, this is your race.
Great race for a first timer.
This was my first 50 miler so I wanted to start with something fairly flat, and it was. There were some inclines but nothing steep. ALL the participants and volunteers … MORE
This was my first 50 miler so I wanted to start with something fairly flat, and it was. There were some inclines but nothing steep. ALL the participants and volunteers were friendly. The check in process needs a little work but not bad. I am very glad I did this race and would recommend it for both first timers and repeat offenders. I got lucky with the weather. It was a light rain for about my last 3-4 hours which felt good. Be sure and have a headlamp for the tunnel.
Signed up for 100, stopped at 50
Overall Rating: Fast course with outstanding production; potential for PR. Course Difficulty: Long slow ups and downs (think 15 miles at 1%) on a crushed limestone surface. Really easy course … MORE
Overall Rating: Fast course with outstanding production; potential for PR.
Course Difficulty: Long slow ups and downs (think 15 miles at 1%) on a crushed limestone surface. Really easy course with none of the rocks, roots, or water crossings. Be warned though, this course hurts me like no other; my hips, knees, and ankles dread this trail.
Course Scenery: As good as it gets for southern Illinois, 100% rural running.
Race Production: Outstanding! These folks always do a fantastic job and you can have about anything you want at aid stations. Race starts and stops where it should, and the race manual (printed) has everything you could want.
Race Swag: High quality custom buckle, nice thin cotton hoodie, hat of your choice, bib belt, and a couple of drop bags.
My Performance: It was an average run, not great – not terrible.
Final notes: I signed up to run the 100 miler, at mile 35 I called my wife and daughter who came out to crew for me and told them I was thinking of dropping to the 50 because I was so bored. This had nothing to do with the race, I e just done 1000’s of miles on that trail, and couldn’t get excited about another 14 hours out there. I told them I would do whatever they wanted me to,; I was definitely going to be able to finish, and likely with a good time.
We decided I would stick with it and do the 100. At mile 45 we got a call from my dad and my son was really missing mom and dad, combine that with the cooler than expected temps and rain and it was an easy choice for me, so I ran it in with a friend who was on the course, took a PR and a 50 mile buckle and came to the house to see my boy.
If you do this race, just know it will hurt in all kinds of new ways, you will probably still get a PR, but it will come with aches and pains.
Running is better with friends...
Overall Rating: Really good first time or PR race. Course Difficulty: I think this is about as easy as a fifty miler gets; enough scenery to keep it interesting, but … MORE
Overall Rating: Really good first time or PR race.
Course Difficulty: I think this is about as easy as a fifty miler gets; enough scenery to keep it interesting, but no elevation or challenging terrain to speak of. The cold sort of hurts, but it is November.
Course Scenery: Nice southern Illinois scenery with wetlands, hardwood forests, creeks and rail trestles.
Race Production: Always good. DRM does a great job with the aid stations, volunteers, and general race coordination. No surprises, so all good.
Race Swag: One of the best buckles you’ll ever get, and a pretty sweet hoodie and hat to go along with it – free race pic downloads.
My Performance: I ran this entire race with a friend for her first 50 miler, and she beat her 12 hour goal…she said anything less than 12 was a win, so we won!
Final notes: TH100/50 is a great race. Be prepared for the cold, and spend some time training for repetitive foot strikes and you can definitely get this one done.
Very fast course, good organization
This race should be very high on your list if you're looking for a fast, "easy" (in relative terms) 100-miler. It's all rail-to-trail, so while there's a slightly more uphill … MORE
This race should be very high on your list if you’re looking for a fast, “easy” (in relative terms) 100-miler. It’s all rail-to-trail, so while there’s a slightly more uphill section, there are no large hills and no technical terrain. You can basically run it like a road race, but it’s softer on your legs. The aid stations are great, and the scenery is fairly nice for a flat race—the woods, rock walls, bridges, and infamous tunnel make it somewhat interesting. It’s a good one for spectators/crews, too—they can easily get around to most of the aid stations and see you several times. Plus, it’s a Western States qualifier!
First rate production
This was a great first 100. Unfortunately I went into it nursing a knee and after the first 50 knew I was in trouble and dropped. That being said it … MORE
This was a great first 100. Unfortunately I went into it nursing a knee and after the first 50 knew I was in trouble and dropped. That being said it was an excellent race. First rate aid see. Everything you could need they had they for you. Right when you need it. Signed up to try again in 2019!
More challenging than I thought...
Overall Rating: Great race with a lot of great people. Course Difficulty: All rail trail-non technical course. I thought I may just skate through this one, but with the cold … MORE
Overall Rating: Great race with a lot of great people.
Course Difficulty: All rail trail-non technical course. I thought I may just skate through this one, but with the cold and the really long uphill, it turned out to be more challenging than I thought. Really wanted a sub ten hour run, but realized about 25 miles in that wasn’t going to happen.
Course Scenery: It was good. Course runs through the Cache River wetlands and quite a few outcroppings on the way back to the tunnel.
Race Production: Packet pickup was a little confusing, but ended up not being any problem. Aid stations and volunteers were excellent. Food was good at the end.
Race Swag: Outstanding buckle for 50 and 100 milers, nice thin cotton hoodie, choice of several hats.
My Performance: Not great, but I just don’t do well in cold weather. All in all I’m satisfied.
Final notes: This was a good 50 miler that was close to home, so I wanted to give it a try. I’m flirting with the idea of trying this as my first 100 miler, but may try for a warmer climate instead. Will just have to see. This course is obviously fast for those runners looking to PR or set a record, for the rest of us, it’s a large enough race that you have people to talk to the entire run. Worth it.