Skeleton Trail Shuffle & Kids Dash

Skeleton Trail Shuffle & Kids Dash takes place in Cisco, Illinois, on October 31, 2026. A kids' dash opens the morning at 9:00 a.m., and the Skeleton Trail Shuffle 5K, 3.1 miles on trail, starts half an hour later at 9:30 a.m.

Off-road footing changes your running more than most people expect: the stride shortens, effort spikes through the turns and climbs, and a watch-based pace target becomes close to useless. Run by feel, look a few strides ahead instead of down at your feet, and choose shoes with some tread. In the weeks beforehand, shifting one or two of your regular runs onto trails will prepare you better than any track session, even if the total mileage stays the same.