The Universal Sole October Trail Challenge
*Race Distance - Six Miles (Two Loop Course)*
October 24th & 25th, 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:
October 24th & 25th, 2020 - We will be headed back to Wolf Road Woods, part of the Palos Trail System to tackle the very popular 6 mile course (two loops)! This course will have a great mix of double & single track along with undulating terrain in the beautiful Wolf Road Woods! It may have a small hill or two to climb as well, but fun will always be had! USOLE Trail Challenge races are a great way to see the trails, get your long run and enjoy camaraderie with your trail running friends! This race will have limited entries so please be sure to sign up early as it will sell out due to COVID-19 in-person event restrictions.
Race Details:
  • We will be limited to the number of participants we can have out for our race! We will close the registration once we hit our race participant capacity! That number is pending at the moment but we will open registration and will communicate once we have reached out limit. We will not have race day registration and we are pretty certain this race will reach capacity and sell out!
  • USOLE October Trail Challenge Pricing:
    • ONE PRICE UNTIL RACE IS SOLD OUT - $50.00
    • RACE DAY, OCTOBER 24TH & 25th - NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION
    • No exchanges or refunds
  • The Goods:
    • Every registered runner will receive a custom USOLE Trail Challenge Gear Bag and a custom USOLE Trail Challenge 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.
    • Packet Pick-up on-site will follow all social distancing rules with 6ft distance enforced.
    • Once checked in, we are asking everyone to return to vehicles or social distance from others until your start time is called up.
    • 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 based on predicted race pace (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. 
  • Weather Issues: In the case of inclement weather, the only time we will delay a race or consider any action is in the presence of lightning. All other weather (rain, snow, tons of snow, tons of rain, etc) we will run the race. After all, this is trail running and some inclement weather makes it that much more fun!
  • Water and NUUN Hydration Drink at the Start/finish line. Due to Cook County Forest Preserve regulations and COVID-19 guidelines, we are not allowed to have any aid station in the trails. We will have an aid station at the start/finish line so you can fill up any bottles prior to the start of the race. It is highly recommended you come with your own bottle or hydration pack option.
  • Clif Bars, bananas & apples will be at the finish (in individual bags to ensure safety during COVID-19)
  • Refreshing Odell Brewing Craft Beer will be given to all runners after in a socially distant manner.
  • 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 site:
    • (Wolf Road Woods) - Coming from the north, take I-55 to Exit 279A, southbound La Grange Road. Drive south for roughly 2 miles and exit south onto Archer Avenue to 95th. Left on 95th and take that to the split and veer a soft right to the Forest Preserve Entrance/Wolf Road. Follow Wolf Road all the way to the end, go right and to the USOLE Race Site @ Wolf Road Woods - Grove #2.
Awards:
  • 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!
Packet Pick-up & Race Day Registration:
*We will be having a packet pickup with our retail partner, Commonwealth Running Company:
-Date/Time: October 23rd - 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 Brews & Fun!
Once the races are over, 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 beer! Once again we will have some brews from sponsor Odell Brewing as well as old friends for all folks to enjoy and sip while celebrating your accomplishment! Come on out, enjoy some great summer trail running, great craft brews and tons of camaraderie!
The Ryan & Katie Flynn Memorial Trail Challenge Series
As we prepare for the upcoming USOLE Trail Challenge Series Trail Races (October, November, December 2020), 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.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 USOLE TRAIL CHALLENGE SERIES SPONSORS