Edit--I actually did this race in February 2014, but accidentally put in in 2015!

I've said it before and I'll say it again-- Go Run Events puts on a fantastic race. If you're looking for a challenge, and to not break the bank, do yourself a favor and drive half a day south to do one of their races.

The course elevation profile isn't published on the site for this race...and with good reason. I think it would scare a lot of runners off. There's a pretty detailed written description of the race. I honestly didn't know what I was in for when I started the race. Once I hit the first big incline I started to panic a little...and this panic lasted a couple of miles. Once I got it through my head that yeah, there were going to be a lot of hills, and it was okay to hike up them, I calmed down. The first 7 miles of the race has a ton of elevation gain, but when you get to the top of the mountain, the view is totally worth it. Go Run Events also does a really good job in designing their courses, so even though that first 7 is mostly uphill, the incline gets broken up by short flat or downhill sections to give you a break. Sometime near the end of the race (between mile 11 and 12) there's a river crossing. Don't worry, it's pretty shallow (below the knee), but be careful with your footing.

Here's the thing too...the course may be really hard, but it's harder to drop. The course is a loop, and there's really no access to the trail by car. There are 3 aid stations, and the volunteers have to bike in all of the supplies. If you drop you either have to come back the same way you came, or finish the course. Either way it's easier just to keep moving unless you're seriously injured (in which case I'm sure they have some kind of protocol in place). I didn't bring water with me, and I probably should have. It takes awhile to get from aid station to aid station.

Loved this race. Even though it was my slowest half ever, it was the one I felt most accomplished for finishing. You'll hike, you'll crawl, you'll run, you'll laugh, and you may cry, but it's all worth it in the end. For me it was a great little escape from the Chicago winter, and fantastic experience on trails.

I love the races put on by Go Run Events--cheap, no frills, beautiful scenery, and stupid difficult--exactly what a trail race should be. If you're ever in the South, look up their races. They put on quite a few.

Expedition Paris Mountain offers a 5 mile, a 10 mile and a 15 mile. A friend and I opted for the 15 mile this year. Everyone starts off together. The beginning of the course is pretty tame--some single track with rolling hills. Once the 5 milers veer off, the fun starts. By fun, I mean a climb. A huge climb...a climb so big you can't really help but laugh, because you're pretty much on your hands and knees crawling up a mountain, but it's so pretty out there that you don't even care. Go Run does a really good job mapping out their courses, because after every tough climb there's always a payoff, whether that's a downhill or a really fun runnable section. You really get a good mix of terrain on this course--very technical, rooty, rocky single track, switchbacks, wide track, river crossings, jumping over trees, pavement (not much, don't worry)--you name it, and it's probably on the course. Trust me, there's a reason they don't publish the course elevations on their website. If you're really curious, you can check it out on my Strava.

The aid stations are few and far between. Like I said, it's pretty no-frills. Plan on bringing enough water and nutrition to last you the race, and then bring a little extra because this race will take you awhile. The same friend and I did another one of Go Run's races the year before-- the South Mountains Half Marathon (there was a reason it was called the toughest half in the Carolinas). We had a similarly positive experience.

If you're looking for a challenge, definitely check out one of Go Run Events races--you won't be disappointed...but you will be sore.

My first thought when I arrived at the race start at the Kettle Morraine State Park in the morning for the race was "wow. This is a fancy ultra." I had run both Lakefront ultras in Chicago, as well as attempted the Ice Age 50 in the spring previous to this, so my experience with ultras was pretty low-key. TNF Endurance challenge had quite the set up, which thankfully made the race start really easy to find. The race start is staggered...50 milers at 5am, 50kers at 7am, Marathoners at 9am (I think). Between this, and starting the first bit of the race on pavement, the runners are really spread out through the race. I definitely appreciated this organization, as it's really easy for trail to get congested and stressful.

I absolutely loved this course--lots of hills and climbs, but they were broken up through a lot of runnable sections, as well as quite a few sections on prairie. I've heard this course described as "easy"..while I don't necessarily agree with that, I think overall it's much more runnable and easier to get some good speed going in sections. I was worried about not having access to a drop bag for the 50k, but found that between what I could carry and the well-placed aid stations, I didn't really need one.

All the hooplah at the finish line was great--you get the zen of an ultra while you're running with the energy of a city finish at the end. I usually don't care that much about swag...but getting handed an Endurance Challenge water bottle (filled with water!) along with your medal at the end of the race was pretty clutch.

TNF offers packet pickup in Chicago at the John Hancock North Face store for this race as well, which was super convenient for me (and a lot of others, I imagine). You also get a pair of smartwool socks in your swag bag, along with the Tshirt. I can always use more socks!

Couldn't stay away from this race series-- I'll be back in Wisconsin for the 50 miler this fall! At some point I would love to do one of the other races in the series.

You really can't beat running over the ambassador bridge into Canada right at sunrise, while the Canadian customs officers blast "Blurred Lines" and offer you very enthusiastic high fives. Running back through the underground tunnel makes you feel a little like you're going to die (although I will admit, the fact that I was getting flashbacks of being 19 and hungover driving back from Canada might have contributed to that), but emerging on the other side to the sunshine and a huge crowd makes it all worth it.
All-in-all, great race. Really fast, flat course, with the exception of the bridge where it gets a little clogged up from people walking up the incline and taking selfies. Pretty good crowd support--but in my opinion the Canadians were the best supporters of them all (step yo game up, Detroit!). The course takes you through a lot of the Detroit neighborhoods. I grew up about half an hour from Detroit in the burbs, but never got to see a lot of it, so getting a tour of it while running was pretty cool. Later in the race you cross over onto Belle Isle, which is very scenic. I had someone warn me before that race that it would be windy on Belle Isle--they were right. Without the buildings to block the wind you get quite the breeze.

Parking is a little bit of a pain--there's nothing super close to the start/finish, so get there early, and expect to hobble for a bit after or plan on taking the People Mover.