Soul Crusher

Soul Crusher takes place in Crystal Lake, Illinois, on October 17, 2026. Two trail distances are offered: a 10-mile (16.1 km) and a 5-mile (8 km), both run northwest of Chicago in the middle of October, when the fall running weather in northern Illinois is usually at its best.

These are approachable lengths, which makes the event a sensible first trail race for a road runner or a good sharpening effort for someone in the middle of a marathon build. The move from pavement to dirt costs most people time per mile, so judge the day on effort rather than the watch, and shorten your stride on anything technical. If the 10-mile is your target, six to eight weeks of consistent running with one weekly long run on trails is enough preparation.