The Dizzy Goat is a time race of either 3, 6, or 12 hours. During your chosen race, you try to complete as many 3.25 mile laps as you can, with a twist. Odd numbered laps are run in one direction, and even numbered laps, the opposite. In addition, there is about 600 ft of elevation change per lap, that may not sound like much, but it adds up quickly over multiple laps. Also, one of those hills goes up about 150ft in 1/4 of a mile. There are two stretches of pavement, but everything else is trail or grass running. The main aid station is at the start/stop point of each lap. The aid station is stocked with a bunch of food choices, my favorite always being watermelon! The volunteers will take your bottle and fill it while you munch. There are emts on site as well as a massage therapist and if I remember right, a chiropractor. There is also 1 manned and 1 unmanned water station on the course too. This is helpful for the first two events, (2013, 2014) have been held on some of the hottest days of the summer. That high heat (high 80's-mid 90's), humidity, and hills, really wear down on you more than you think.

The race boasts, and has some of the best volunteers around the racing circuit. A well known ultra-runner even encouraged me at this year's event and helped fill my water bottle! Parking is not a problem, and nice tech shirts with options to buy other memorabilia. But, be quick, this event has sold out both years!

I have run PKTR 15K four times and each time I enjoy it. It is a hilly race for Iowa twice going to the 2nd tallest point in Iowa at the Knob. Aid stations are just water, but that's fine as most people have their own bottles with them if they need it and can just refill or take a cup of water. The RD keeps costs down, but still gives a nice t-shirt each year, and local rocks with their geological information of who the area was created double as prizes. This year we all chipped in and brought food for a post-race potluck and sat out and cheered people in, cooking the hot dogs and burgers that the RD brought to share as well. Parking is not a problem. This is another hidden gem in the race calendar in Iowa. Course is about 9.4 miles long with several hills and some wooden steps. There's a little stretch of pavement as well.

This race is normally 1/3 road, 1/3 crushed limestone, 1/3 trail. But this year, due to flooding, both the 25K & 50K had to be reworked because we couldn't cross the high waters on the causeway connecting the crushed limestone part of the course to the trails. The reworking of the course meant an out and back on the roads that amounted to about 2/5 of the course, appoximately 6 miles. The other 9 miles were on trails with a double loop of part of it. The trails were snowy, icy and/or wet and muddy in places because the snows of arctic Iowa finally started melting the week before the race.

This race raises money for Lupus and is well put on with amply supplied aid stations. It is a simple event, but tech shirts are part of the schwag. People usually chip in and bring food for afterwards. A great event to get into the new year of racing.