Sycamore 8

Sycamore 8 is a trail race in Johnston, Iowa, on December 5, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM. There is one format, 12.7 km, which works out to about 7.9 miles, with roughly 70 feet of climbing across the course. That elevation figure tells you most of what you need to know: this is a flat trail distance, closer in feel to a fast road race than to a mountain event.

An eight-mile trail race sits in a useful spot on the calendar. It is long enough to reward steady aerobic fitness but short enough that you can race it without a full taper, which makes it a good early-winter fitness check or a hard workout inside a longer build. Trail footing in Iowa in December can be firm, frozen or soft depending on the week, so pack shoes with some grip and plan to start a little easier than your road pace.