The Sean McNamara Valentine's Trail Challenge - 4 Miles
*February 15, 2025 @ 10am* We are proud to have this race honor our very dear friend and long time USOLE'r, Sean McNamara! Sean passed away in 2023, but his strong and infectious spirit will always live on in our races and in the Chicago running community. He loved the trails and loved our trail races. Now in it's 9th year, the USOLE Valentine's Trail Challenge is back @ Schiller Woods for 2025. Schiller Woods is a great location very close to the city with fantastic trails and plenty of tree lined scenery along the legendary Des Plaines River Trail (DPRT). Our Valentine's Trail Challenge course will offer a mix of challenging trails (snow covered) and beautiful scenery. For anyone wanting to try trail running, this will be a fantastic course for first timers! Plan to join us February 15 and find out the magic that is the USOLE Valentine's Trail Challenge. Waiting for everyone as they cross the finish will be Will's Famous Chili...a long standing USOLE Trail Challenge post winter trail race tradition. POSSIBLE WEATHER ALERT! DUE TO POSSIBLE SNOWY CONDITIONS, SOME SECTIONS OF THIS COURSE ARE SNOW, MUD AND ICE COVERED! WE RECOMMEND ALL RUNNERS WEAR CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK SPIKES OR A PAIR OF YAKTRAX (SEE PIC) TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE AND GAIN TRACTION ON THE SNOW/ICE SECTIONS. YAKTRAX CAN BE WORN ON ANY RUNNING SHOE! Race Details:
Packet Pick-Up & Race Day Registration: *Packet Pickup @ Fleet Feet - Details are TBD *We will have Race Morning Registration (cheapest price is to register prior to race day). *Packet Pickup will be race morning from the USOLE Tents starting @ 8:30am and finish @ 9:30am. Post Race - Will's Famous Chili, Craft Brews & Fun! Once the races are over, Will's Famous Chili and Solemn Oath craft brews for everyone! City Water Hard Seltzer will also be a part of the post run festivities as well! 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, Craft Brews, Hard Seltzer...and Water! We are always in for a treat when Will crafts his family three meat chili for all to enjoy (and a fantastic vegetarian chili as well)! BRING OLD RUNNING SHOES OUT TO THE RACE TO RECYCLE! Reduce Waste Chicago -- They help Chicagoan's reduce their waste output through reusing, repairing and recycling. They work with organizations across the city to host Reuse & Recycle Pop-Up events, where residents can drop off materials from our accepted items list that are not accepted by the city’s Blue Cart program. RWC distributes items to other organizations, local nonprofits, artists groups and recycling companies – all of which improves landfill diversion. Reduce Waste Chicago will be out at the USOLE Trail Challenge Races accepting running shoes for recycling. For more information, click here. |
IN MEMORY OF OUR DEAR FRIEND, SEAN MCNAMARA!
Volunteer Information: Please email Universal Sole ([email protected]) and let us know if you would like to take part by volunteering.
Strollers & Dogs: Strollers and leashed dogs are allowed, we ask that you start in the last start wave. *Please note: There are no refunds, exchanges or person to person entry transfers for this event. Discount codes can't be used on race day/night registration (best is to sign up pre-event on-line here). |
LocationSchiller Woods West Forest Preserve (Grove 3)
8400 West Irving Park Road Chicago, IL 60634 *There will be plenty of parking in the Forest Preserve Parking Lots! |
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 USOLE TRAIL CHALLENGE SERIES SPONSORS