Registration for all Great Lakes Endurance Events is now open! The 2011 race season will feature two new snowshoe races: Tahquamenon Falls and Keyes Peak.
On February 20 GLE will host 20K, 10K, and 5K snowshoe races at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise, MI. Know for its abundant snowfall and spectacular frozen waterfalls, the park also features groomed ski trails which will be used for the snowshoe race course along with additional packed single track. Keyes Peak in Florence, WI is the site for our other new snowshoe event, this one will feature the standard race distances of 5K & 10K and will run in tandem with the annual Winterfest on March 5 at Keyes Peak Ski Hill. Our first trail running event of the year will be the new Iola Trail Run on Ap
ril 17. The event features a 15K & 5K and will be held on the renowned cross country ski trails at the Iola Winter Sports Park. The race courses also include an undulating section of the Ice Age Trail and some winding single track. GLE's only road race, the Pigeon River Classic 5K & 10K will take place in Olen Park in Clintonville, WI on May 7. The 2nd annual Keyes Peak Trail Marathon (June 25) will see us again returning to the forested highlands and wild river valleys of Florence County. Due to many requests, we have added a 50K to the Keyes Peak trail menu. Both the marathon and the 50K will still feature the much loved crossing of the Pine River at 18 miles (and now at 23 miles for the 50K). The 10K will also remain on the slate for Keyes Peak. The Grand Island Trail Marathon was featured in the October 2010 issue of Runner's World as one of the top trail running events in the U.S. and this year we are happy to announce that that its companion event, the 10K, will be changed to a half marathon. It will employ the old La Demi Grand course from 2008, which is one of my favorite training runs of all time - it allows the runner to experience Murray Bay, Duck Lake, Trout Bay, Echo Lake (briefly!), and the mesmerizing western shoreline of the island. This year the event returns to a Saturday start on July 30.The Tahqua Trail Run returns, this year on Saturday, August 13. This event has gained in popularity recently and has been filling to capacity at least two weeks ahead of race day. It just may be one of the most beautiful trail races in the U.S. and is on the must do list for those who yearn for 25K of point to point single track through some of the most wild country in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The 10K has quietly gained the reputation as the most difficult 10K in the midwest. Those who have run it will not argue that point. We end the season September 11 at Hartman Creek State Park in Waupaca, WI where runners can once again enjoy the highly diverse 25K that includes cross country ski trails, a classic section of the Ice Age Trail, winding Zen-quality single track, pine forest, tall grass prairie, the Emmons Creek Natural area, and one of Wisconsin's prime examples of Oak Savannah. Along with a 10K, both events start and finish on the shores of Hartman Lake. It is a beautiful way to end a great season of trail racing.
| Date | Event | Registration |
|---|---|---|
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Feb 20, 2011
|
Tahquamenon Snowshoe Race*
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Mar 5, 2011
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Keyes Peak Snowshoe Race
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| Apr 17, 2011 |
Iola Trail Run*
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| May 7, 2011 |
Pigeon River Classic
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| Jun 25, 2011 |
Keyes Peak Trail Run
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| Jul 30, 2011 |
Grand Island Trail Marathon
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| Aug 13, 2011 |
Tahqua Trail Run
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| Sep 11, 2011 |
Hartman Creek Trail Run*
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* Sunday Races