I have been excited about this race for months; in fact I registered the day it opened! I had heard rumor that this is one of the most beautiful trails in Indiana, though quite tough, so I trained pretty seriously for this one. I was certainly not disappointed by the scenery; this trail passes through dense forest where you can view ponds, dodge frogs, hurdle trees, and splash through cool creeks. But there was one massive disappointment - contrary to what the race website would imply, this trail is NOT suitable for barefoot or minimalist shoe running because for several miles at the beginning and end, the surface is loose, large, jagged white rock. I wear a trail-designed Vibrams Five-toe that holds up on almost everything due to a thicker sole than most minimalist shoes, but these parts of the trail were so painful on my feet that I had to walk in order to avoid the biggest and sharpest rocks (since no trail is worth injuring yourself!) The parts of the trail that are actually dirt are absolutely perfect, but I spent my whole race wishing I'd worn my more solid running shoes. I'd highly recommend that the Hoosier Hiking Council specify on the website that this trail is best for traditional shoes. Otherwise, good race. It's small and intimate, with only 225 participants, and there are a variety of lengths to run. There were donuts and fruit before the start, then hot soup and goodies after. The volunteers were friendly and aid stations were well placed and stocked. But please please please warn people about the surfaces!