DPR Trail Races

DPR Trail Races take place in Lake County, Illinois, on October 10, 2026, on the Des Plaines River Trail. Four trail formats are offered: a 50 Mile (80.5 km), a 50K (31 miles), a marathon (26.2 miles) and a half marathon (13.1 miles).

A river trail in northern Illinois means mostly flat, non-technical running, which makes this an unusually fast venue for trail ultras. If you want a first 50-miler without mountain climbing, or if you are chasing a 50K or trail marathon time, this kind of course is a good bet. The half marathon is equally friendly to road runners curious about trails. The flip side of flat terrain is that you use the same muscles for hours without variation, so your training should emphasize volume and steady pacing more than hill strength: aim for 16 to 20 weeks for the 50 Mile and 50K, with long runs on similar crushed-gravel or dirt paths, and practice holding an even effort rather than surging. Mid-October in the Midwest can swing from crisp to cold, so bring options for the start.