Friday, March 29, 2024

Third Tunnel Hill 100/50 mile runs planned this weekend

Known in the running world as the fastest and most scenic trail in the northern hemisphere, the Tunnel Hill State Trail in Johnson County will be the site for the third running of the Tunnel Hill 100 mile and 50 mile runs on Saturday, Nov. 12.

The races will begin and end at the Vienna City Park. The start time will be at 8 a.m.

The two races, running simultaneously, will each have a 30-hour time limit.

Unlike the River-to-River Relay, that is an eight-person team event, the Tunnel Hill Run is an individual race.

Participants in the race will run throughout the night and into Sunday morning. Local residents should be alert and use extra caution when driving near the trail crossings, especially after dark.

There are 556 runners scheduled to participate in the race. They come from across the country and around the world, including Canada and Japan.

There will be runners from 36 different states.

Each runner will have their own support team to cheer them on.

Hosting the event in mid November takes out the hot, humid nights.

The first running of the Tunnel Hill 100/50 mile runs was November 2013 with temperatures near freezing.

Temperatures this year are expected to be much warmer.

Many personal records have been broken at the Tunnel Hill runs.

Tracie Falbo from Charleston, Indiana ran 14:45:26 in 2014, the fastest known time for 100 miles run on a trail by a female.

Mike Bialick from Minnetonka, Minnesota ran 12:52:53 in 2015. His time was the fastest 100 run in North America last year.

The top female runner for the 100 mile run last year was Kristen Roe from Manlius, New York, who ran 17:34:55.

Spectators are welcome to attend the start of the race and to watch throughout the entire event.

Tunnel Hill State Trail stretches for 45 miles from Harrisburg to Karnak.

The trail continues on a trails spur for 2.5 miles from Karnak to Cache River State Natural Area – Henry Barkhausen Wetlands Center on the old Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad bed.

Click below to see the Tunnel Hill 100/50 Mile Run booklet.

Download (PDF, 12.32MB)