Just ran this full trail marathon last week. (Sept 2011) It took place in the Lincoln State Park, in Indiana, on a trail system that is very well maintained, clearly marked, and fun. Me & the Mrs. had so much fun at this race. The park is beautiful, even in the pouring rain. There was one section where the trail follows alongside a sort of hidden pond in the deep woods. Then a couple of downhill miles into the heart of the forest you might say. Just when you feel like you're miles from anywhere, the trail abruptly springs out of the woods and you're running along an earthen dam with a 30 ft slope on the left, and a huge beautiful lake on the right. I could see a pack of 6 or so runners waaaaay across the lake, just before the trail dives back into the forest. One of the runners let out a 'Wah-hooo!' that boomed across the expanse. I've never heard an echo repeat like that. In a few seconds I heard another runner from somewhere behind me, answer with a tremendous 'Arr-ooo!!!' It really was a moment of joy that a lot of non-runners may miss. It was the mood of the small set of runners just doing what they love, and enjoying that unspoken, common ground that runners loosely share.Around mile 24'ish, we stopped in a particularly enchanting part of the hardwood forest to admire our surroundings. Here in this area, I was slightly taken aback by the stillness, and quiet, and beauty. The trees here were large, tall, oaks, cypress, and other very tall and very old trees.The event had excellent support, and was a lot of fun. I give spectators a low score because this is a very low number of runners, and on trails at that, so spectators aren't plentiful, which was fine by me. However, at the end of the race, my kids were there to bring us home with cheers and gratz! I would do this race again tomorrow, I really loved it.

This race is a keeper. It was a rugged, wet, 26-mile, three-loop race that had excellent scenery. Race day was a bit cold (in the 40's) for October, so the hills helped warm me up. The race started a bit late, but the staff who stayed much later than anticipated more than made up for it. The staff also allowed a one-lap amnesty for the marathoners, which was an excellent idea. The beauty of the course and the simplicity of the loops make it adventurous without the risk of similar runs. Granted, this is a low-budget production and doesn't have the snacks or support of other runs. But the loops allows your supporters to see you every 9 miles and a chance to bring your own snacks.

If you enjoy trail running, this one is for you. This course offers many rolling hills, scenic views on a perfect two track trail through Lincoln State Park. If you are a pure roadie or flat-lander, this course is NOT for you. The race offers solitude while running the three-loop course, because spectators are few and would diminish the beauty of the trails. The small group of volunteers (maybe 12) were friendly and very helpful. For such a small town, they put on a great inaugural race. This race offers those who want to enjoy a relaxed trail run in Indiana the perfect opportunity. Remember it is a trail run, so supporting your water needs is a requirement because the water stops are about four miles apart, which was plenty. Thanks for a great event - one of my top five memorable races.

This race offered an awesomely challenging course! Between mud, tree roots, streams, slippery bridges, a down tree, hills, leaves masking the terrain, and the sun shining brightly, it was a great challenge not to be taken lightly! I felt it was well put together and delivered on everything promised. The course was marked with signs that could be missed, but only if you weren't paying attention (for which you would only be able to blame yourself, as everyone was informed of this before the race). I, for one, had no trouble staying on-course. Aid stations were a bit far between, so carrying some hydration source is advisable. However, with the brisk cool weather, the aid stations would probably suffice for most runners. There were very few spectators, as it wasn't a course that would accommodate spectators well. That's not a problem for me; I enjoyed the sounds of the outdoors! Personally, I loved this race and would definitely recommend it to others and come back to do it again!