This past weekend, I had an amazing time at the Badger Trail Races. The race weekend included a 100 mile, 100K, 50 mile, 50K, full marathon, and half marathon distance option. Yes, you read that right. The races offered something for everyone throughout the course of the weekend.
The 100 mile and 100K began on Saturday and the other distances began on Sunday. With the exception of the 100 mile race, which transported runners to a town called Orangeville to begin their journey, the rest of the runners began in Belleville Community Park. This scenic park was located in the heart of the quaint town of Belleville and featured a lake, picnic shelter, and free camping for runners! It was also known as race headquarters for the weekend’s festivities.
This race is put on by Ten Junk Miles racing which is a part of the Ten Junk Miles podcast. The podcast was founded by Scott Kummer and features multiple formats including a gang show, long run, and meet the listeners. There is always new content coming out on the podcast for runners to use throughout their weeks of training. But, beyond the entertainment value that this podcast provides, it has created a community of runners from the across the world. Runners have formed various social media and messaging groups to get to know each other and exchange running tales. This race was brought many of those listeners together for a weekend of community and running.
I ran the full marathon, which Kylia and Scott Kummer, co-race directors, made clear was longer than a normal a marathon, clocking in closer to 28 miles. For me, this was the hardest part. I had to wrap my mind around the fact that I would not be back in my car, sitting, at 26.4 miles. But, the course made it easy to get lost in the run.
We left the park, ran a small bit through the town, and almost immediately entered the along the Badger State Trail in Wisconsin, which was had soft sand/dirt trail and was mostly tree covered. We were on the trail for about 3.5 miles before hitting our first aid station, headed by running coach Nora Bird.
The aid stations were not what you would find at a traditional half or full marathon. These were ultra aid stations, meaning everything was ultra. There was food, soda, water, multiple fueling options, and amazing people.
After the aid station, we hit the hardest part of the race, and a temporary portion, as the tunnel the race normally uses is under construction. The next 2 miles took runners through a beautiful countryside with sun, sun, sun, and hills, hills, hills. The scenery made it somewhat easier to tackle the hills, but for me, hills and heat are my kryptonite.
Following the detour, runners were routed back into the plush, covered trail which eventually turned into the Jane Addams Trail in Illinois for some distances. The entire course was 95% rail trail and only 5% asphalt, and aside from the hill detour, was flat and shady. It was lovely to run through the trails and often I found myself alone with nature.
Around mile 9, I hit my second aid station, led by Holly Lindroth, and her crew, aptly named “Hollywood”. This aid station was a party full of high energy and so much fun. Again, unlike a traditional road race aid station, there was a ton of food and beverage options and people willing to do anything to keep runners going.
As we were running out on the trail several 100K and 100 mile runners were running in, after having spent the last 24 hours running, and these aid station workers were incredible. They were helping runners patch up blisters, cool down, take quick rests, deal with cramping, attempt to get food in their bodies, and everything else you can imagine that a runner would need after hitting those high mileage marks.
After leaving Hollywood, I headed to my final aid station, where I would turn around and make the trek back. The course was clearly marked where each distance should turn, which is so important when you have multiple distances running at the same time.
The aid stations, community, and inclusiveness that this race provides is unlike any other. Cut off’s were extremely generous for all distances clocking in at: 100 Miler – 36 Hours; 100k – 33 Hours; 50 Miler – 12 Hours; 50k – 12 Hours; Marathon – 11 Hours; and Half Marathon – 11 Hours.
It was a hot day, but not unbearable for runners. And the energy was magnetic. I had multiple conversations on and off the course and enjoyed the free pizza and beer at the end. I even found myself falling into the ultra-culture as I downed a glass of Coke at my final aid station before heading back to the finish line. I would highly recommend this race series for next summer. It’s a great way to kick your summer training into high gear and enjoy a weekend with friends.
