Great Lakes Endurance is pleased to announce the opening of registration for its 2013 season.  We open up the season on February 2 with the Iola Twilight Snowshoe Race, a one of a kind nighttime snowshoe race under the lights.  The Tahquamenon Snowshoe Race follows on February 16.  The area already has 10” of snow on the ground as this is being written.  This year the race will feature a 15K with abundant packed single track .  Atlas Snowshoes and Petzl proudly sponsor our 2013 snowshoe races.  

The trail running calendar opens with the much loved Iola Trail Run on April 14.  The event features a 5K & 10K course that follow the XC ski trails and single track through this beautifully glaciated terrain in central Wisconsin.  The Waugoshance Trail Marathon & Half Marathon returns again this year on July 13.  The first edition of this event filled early in 2012.  The course features point to point single track on the North Country Trail from Wycamp Lake, just north of Cross Village, to the west end of the village of Mackinaw City.  The award winning Grand Island Trail Marathon & Half Marathon returns for its 9th year on July 27, preserving its much loved course around the island’s perimeter with a jaunt into the Tombolo and Thumb and return course along the shores of Trout Bay.  Trail runners will again enjoy the demanding yet beautiful single tract at the Tahqua Trail Run on August 10.  Like the Waugoshance, the 25K at Tahqua is point to point along the North Country Trail, through highly varied forest types.  The Tahqua also features the most popular kid’s race among all GLE youth events.  Tahqua reaches capacity earlier every year (early June in 2012) so we encourage early registration.  Some of the most varied terrain among all GLE events can be found at the Hartman Creek Trail Run, held on September 8 this year.  Runners will enjoy a classic section of the Ice Trail that flows through pine forest, tall grass prairie, and oak savannah.  The 2013 season will finish with one of our most anticipated event debuts ever:  the inaugural Porcupine Mountains Trail Marathon and Half Marathon.  The course is a beautiful loop of single tract featuring waterfalls, Mirror Lake, Lake of the Clouds and the stunning views along the Escarpment Trail.  The event will occur on October 5, typically the peak of color season in this small mountain range along the Lake Superior coast.  All races start and finish at the Porcupine Mountain Ski Lodge.  Patagonia Footwear is the proud sponsor of our trail series for 2013.