| Eight miles of the race route is in the “Red Trail”, marked by the Park District with red markers on trees along the way. We felt the need to mark the course even more clearly so we have added yellow tape/ribbon. This yellow ribbon is along the entire course and is “official”. As an extra help (for those who tend not to look up) we have used white survey paint to arrow the turn where a choice of trails occurs. Disregard orange paint – orange is for the horse trails and means nothing in this event. Red, yellow and white — all mark the route. Orange — bad. |
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| 1. | Start/Finish line. All distances will start at the same time/place and run the same loop. |
| 2. | Tanners Pass takes you around a loop that starts out downhill, then flat, then up hill, across a grassy meadow towards the Red trail. |
| 3. | Head north on the Red Trail to the Totem Pole Turn. The route goes around the totem pole. The first aid station is under the shelter house. Next aid station is about 4 miles so don’t miss this one. |
| 4. | Pit toilets are about a quarter mile after the Totem Pole Turn on your right. |
| 5. | NEW SECTION: This rolling grassland is open and friendly. There are several bluebird houses in the area so call this the Blue Bird section. |
| 6. | Heading south you will run on some sand so we will call this stretch the beach. |
| 7. | Lick Creek crossing number 1. You can look for an easy way to cross but, trust me, head straight through for a refreshing cooling of the feet. It should be no deeper than mid calf – unless the water is brown which would mean recent rain has made a torrent! |
| 8. | Follow the yellow ribbons closely on the other side, as there are several trail options. After a couple of hills, you will have a short, flat, easy run. |
| 9. | That easy run ends at Golf Hill. We have a rope for your use. Enjoy the great view from the top as you will be heading back down soon. Listen for someone yelling “Fore!”. |
| 10. | Continue south through rolling hills (we call the last one “Hearbreak Hill”) until you get to Brick Corner. There is a stack of bricks on the other side of a fence and you can clearly see a private residence. |
| 11. | This turn puts you on the newest part of the Red Trail called the Sheridan. Included is another creek crossing of a tributary to Lick Creek. We call it Wobbly Rock and you can cross it dry by rock hopping but remember the name! |
| 12. |
The Sheridan exits at the Hairpin turn – names more for the nearby road. This turns you toward the north, across a wooden bridge and up the hill.
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| 13. | At the top of the hill is an agriculture field. You turn right and loop around what we call Cemetery Loop – the Meyers Cemetery is along the way. Run on the grassway around the field. |
| 14. | Heaven’s Gate is about half way around the Cemetery Loop and is a fun mile loop. An aid station is at the Gate so you get to stop there twice. |
| 15. | Finish the Cemetery Loop and run along another grassway to the Hooter Hill Loop. After you drop down to the valley floor, enjoy the longest, flat stretch on the course before climbing abruptly up to more rolling hills. |
| 16. | Hooter Hill exits to the Picnic Oak, a large grass meadow with a large oak tree and evidence of a few picnics. Head downhill and along another ag field the the 3rd Lick Creek crossing. If the creek is low, you might be able to cross dry on the left but will lose several seconds and be subject to a muddy shore. |
| 17. | Watch the yellow ribbons closely again as there are several cross paths on the other side of the creek. This last loop is called the Foundation Loop and when you see the old concrete foundation, you are nearing the end. |
| 18. | As you exit the Foundation Loop, you will run by another pit toilet, then cross the dam of the lake, up the hill and to the Start/Finish line. You will be running through the Frisbee golf course and these people take their sport seriously so watch for flying discs. |