Created to bring the ultra scene to the Midwest in the ‘80s, the Ice Age Trail 50 is now a competitive hotbed.

It’s incredibly well-run from course marking to aid station operations to post-race barbecue (complete with free food, beer and tunes!).  It’s one of my favorite races and one I would recommend for everyone.

Race-day production was top-notch. Despite being one of the largest 50-milers in the country, Ice Age reminded me why I miss low-key trail races. The course was clearly marked with…flags at every turn, aid stations were well-stocked and well-spaced…and without exception the volunteers were nothing short of brilliant.

The best part about ultrarunning is that even on a rough outing, the experience is always a blast. Race Director Jeff Mallach does a phenomenal job organizing things and providing a killer post-race atmosphere. It was really easy to stick around and chat with all kinds of runners about a variety of topics. The volunteers were great.

Besides the glorious trail running experience, the other main reason to run Ice Age is for the post-race party. Lots of free beer. The food is good. And there’s nothing like sitting at the finish line cheering on your friends.