The Ice Age Trail 50K was my first 50K. I have to tell you, now, if you are considering this event, set your alarm for the sign-up date and time. The race also offers a marathon and a 50 mile option, and I am not sure about registration for those events, but the 50K filled up in less than 10 minutes!!

On Friday before the race we picked up our bib/timing chip and race shirts. They're a very nice long sleeved tech tee that is one of my favorite race shirts. The expo is fun if you're in to race history, because they have a display of all of the prior years' buckles, articles on past winners, etc. It was very interesting and worth taking the time to look over.

Race day did not disappoint. We had perfect weather. The start/ finish area is large enough to accommodate racers, friends/family, drop bags, etc. The first 13 miles of the course is a 6.5 (or so) mile out and back along the Ice Age Trail. This section can be a little dicey in some technical areas, and the trails are not very wide, so when the faster runners are coming back from the out and back, while slower runners are still headed out, it can get crowded. The views from the bluffs are beautiful. After the initial 13 or so miles, runners then complete two 9-mile sections of the Nordic Trails. The loops are well-groomed, rolling hills. There is nothing technical about this section of the course, but the numerous ups and downs can wear out the legs, especially a couple of the steeper and longer climbs.

All-in-all, this was a wonderful experience for my first 50K, and I am definitely planning to go back some day. I sustained a hip injury in a prior race and it started to bother me during this one, so the last 18 miles were slower than I had hoped. I plan to go back some day to get a better time on this fun course. If you're looking for a fun trail 50K in the area, I would highly recommend this race.