DUE TO THE CONTINUED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES IN COOK COUNTY, WE HAVE BEEN CONSULTING WEEKLY WITH THE FPDCC (FOREST PRESERVES) AND AT THIS POINT, WE WILL BE POSTPONING OUR DECEMBER 19TH USOLE TRAIL CHALLENGE RACE. THE FPDCC HAS ASKED ALL EVENTS THAT WERE SCHEDULED AFTER DECEMBER 14TH, TO POSTPONE FURTHER TO STAY WITHIN ALL COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS. WE WANT TO BE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE AND WILL FOLLOW ALL COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS PUT INTO PLACE. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES - PLEASE BE WELL AND STAY SAFE!
**FOR THOSE REGISTERED, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS (WE WILL ALSO EMAIL ALL PARTICIPANTS AS WELL):
**FOR THOSE REGISTERED, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS (WE WILL ALSO EMAIL ALL PARTICIPANTS AS WELL):
- USOLE staff will head out on December 19th to Schiller Woods (West) at Grove 3 and have small set up in the parking lot where you can pickup your race number, event premium (the custom portfolio) and hit the trails on your own as a Fun Trail Run. We will have a course map for you and have the course lightly marked (with flags only, no trail signs) and all are welcome to come run (on your own and socially distant from others). When you are done we will have some water/goodies and a brew waiting for you. We will be at the trail location from 9am-11am for folks that want to come out.
- Run the December Trail Challenge Virtually - we will mail you your race number, event premium (see below, custom USOLE Trail Challenge Portfolio Notebook) and limited edition decal and you can head to any trail you would like to run your own virtual USOLE November Trail Challenge.
- We can transfer your entry to any of the other 2021 USOLE Trail Challenge Races coming up January 9th, February 6th, or March 13th
- Once we set a makeup date with the FPDCC (Schiller Woods West), we will transfer your entry to the approved makeup date in April of 2021.
The Universal Sole December Trail Challenge - 5 Miles - RACE HAS BEEN POSTPONED!
December 19th, 2020 @ 9AM!
Trail running has always been in our USOLE DNA! We were the first running store in Chicago to bring trail racing to the Chicago running community. These trail races are great courses for folks wanting to get off the roads and enjoy some of our beautiful trails, but not have to be an expert trail runner to get to the finish. Our trail races are very laid back and great fun for the entire family, making it fun & easy for all! The USOLE Trail Challenge is great for people of all ages and all abilities looking to change up the running routine and get “off” the roads!
Trail Race Location:
We will be headed back to the Far Northside of Chicago and Schiller Woods! This is the original USOLE Trail Challenge course and location and we love this place! A great location very close to the city, but has the great trails and scenery of the woods in beautiful Schiller Woods. The trail will be a flatter off road course with crushed limestone, rocks & roots to run over. A nice blend of single and double track will satisfy all levels of trail runners! If we get a little rain, the course will have some mud section which will make it even more fun! Come our and run in our original USOLE Trail Challenge location!
Race Details:
- ONE PRICE UNTIL RACE IS SOLD OUT - $50.00
- RACE DAY, DECEMBER 19TH - NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION
- No exchanges or refunds
- The Goods:
- Every registered runner will receive a custom and personalized USOLE Trail Challenge Portfolio (see photo->) so you can take USOLE Trail Challenge with you to work or play! All runners will also receive a limited edition, custom USOLE November Trail Challenge Decal - each month will have a different decal!
- Courses will be trail & off road with crushed limestone, dirt, rocks, & roots...and maybe some mud. Fun is the name of the game!
- Races will begin promptly @ 9:00am! Race day pickup & registration will begin @ 8:00am!
- Directions for race start with special COVID-19 precautions will be announced closer to the event as we will be enforcing state and local guidelines for all 2020 USOLE Trail Challenges!
- COVID-19 Rules & Regulations:
- All participants will be required to have face masks worn at all times prior to the state of the race and after the race while on race site.
- All participants will be required to start the race with a mask and can remove the mask during the race (you sill must carry the mask).
- We will require all registered runners follow all social distance guidelines with folks have a 6ft or greater distance apart.
- We will be starting in time waves, each wave will start 10-15 runners in a total of 5 waves every three minutes (race start is 9am).
- Each runner will be able to choose a start wave at packet pickup or on race morning (first come basis).
- We will have start circles for runners to stand in for each wave at the start line corral with 6ft or more distance between the circles.
- During COVID-19, please refrain from on-site physical forms of contact (hugs, high fives, etc)
- Please be responsible and socially distant for any activities pre and post race (selfies, group selfies, etc)
- Tissues/Handkerchief required for all spitting or nose blowing while on the race site and during the race.
- Persons from high-risk groups for COVID-19 complications should consult their physician before participating.
- Do not participate if you are feeling sick or ill, and or have a fever, or if you have been in contact with someone unrecovered from COVID-19.
- Water and NUUN Hydration Drink at the Start/finish line. Due to Cook County Forest Preserve regulations, we are not allowed to have any aid station in the trails. Be sure to bring your hand held bottle or hydration backpack if you will need on-course fluids.
- Clif Bars, bananas & apples will be at the finish.
- Refreshing Odell Brewing Craft Beer will be given to all runners after along with other goodies.
- Race day gear check will be at the Universal Sole Tents
- Parking Info: Plenty of parking in the forest preserve parking lots!
- Directions to race sites:
- Schiller Woods - From I-294 take the Irving Park Road exit east. From I-90, take the Cumberland Avenue exit south to Irving Park. Entrances for Schiller Woods West entrance is along Irving Park Road (right turn into the grove). We will be at Grove # 3.
- Top Five Overall for Male & Female will receive custom award tiles
- Post race raffle with great prizes from Universal Sole & all of our sponsors to be held at our post race party on-site!
*We will be having a packet pickup with our retail partner, Commonwealth Running Company:
-Date/Time: December 18th - 1pm-6pm
-Location: Commonwealth Running Company
1631 Sherman Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
*Packet pick-up will also be available on race morning starting @ 8:00am from the USOLE Tents.
Post Race - Will's Famous Chili, Brews & Fun!
Once the races are over, Will's Famous Chili and craft brews for everyone! We will have some other goodies for folks as well to enjoy, but let's run, have some fun and enjoy some of Will's Chili & Odell Brewing Craft Beer! We are always in for a treat when Will crafts his family three meat chili for all to enjoy! A great post race treat after hitting the trails! Will's Famous Chili along with some ice cold Odell Craft Brews are not to be missed!
The Ryan & Katie Flynn Memorial Trail Challenge Series
As we prepare for the upcoming USOLE Trail Challenge Series Trail Races (October, November, December 2019), we are honored to dedicate the entire series in memory of our dear running friends, Ryan & Katie Flynn! Both were very active runners in the USOLE and Chicago running communities and we will miss them dearly! They always loved the trails and we always enjoyed having them being a part of our grass roots trail races! A portion of the Trail Challenge Series Proceeds will go to Ryan's Charity, Anixter Center and Katie's Charity Girls on the Run-Chicago! We hope everyone can make it out to our trail races, enjoy nature in the fall (a fantastic time to be on the trails) and keep Ryan and Katie in your thoughts.
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 USOLE TRAIL CHALLENGE SERIES SPONSORS
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