private academy features 20 K of XC ski trail and 8K of elegant new single track. The race courses utilizes the best of both. We have also added a marathon relay to the Waugoshance Trail Marathon on July 12. The relay features two 13.1 mile legs, the first from Cross Village to the Goose Pond at Wilderness State Park, while leg two travels from the Goose Pond to the Mackinaw City School. Teams can be male, female, or mixed and age groups are determined by the combined ages of both teammates.
We again will feature the Iola Twilight Snowshoe (February 1, 6:00 pm) with an all lighted course. Last year featured a clear night sky full of stars and a fast groomed course. Two weeks later we reconvene at Tahquamenon Falls (February 15) for our 5th annual snowshoe race at this remarkable venue. As we write this Tahquamenon already has nearly a foot of snow.
Our trail running schedule opens with Iola on April 12. Last year the course was fully snow covered and a joy to race. The course includes XC ski trails and winding single track, all on the glacially carved terrain of the fabled Iola Winter Sports Club. After a two month break we travel up to the Conserve School (June 14) for a brand new event (20K & 5K) in Wisconsin’s northwoods. The Conserve School campus borders Michigan’s much loved Sylvannia Wilderness Area. On July 12 we feature our 3rd Annual Waugoshance Trail Marathon. This course features a point to point course that features some of the most scenic segments of the North Country Trail, including the pine needle covered stretch along the north shore of French Farm Lake. We are especially pleased to host the 10th Annual Grand Island Trail Marathon on July 26. Grand Island is simply one of the most beautiful places in the world to run and is a must on every trail runner’s list of must do marathons. August and September feature races with some of the best single track in the midwest. Tahqua (August 9) is a point to point course following the North Country Trail through the Tahquamenon River wilderness and finishing at the Upper Falls. Hartman Creek (September 7) showcases one of last and best Oak Savannah wilderness areas and the tranquil Emmons Creek Natural Area. Runners who want challenging single track in one of the most enchanted wilderness areas in
the midwest will enjoy the Porcupine Mountains Trail Marathon on September 20. The course includes 4800 ft of vertical, river crossings and far reaching vistas of Lake Superior and the Carp River Valley. Note, the date for the Porcupine Mountain event has been moved up two weeks on the race calendar. Please visit the race information pages for all of our events.
We are pleased to welcome our sponsors for the 2014 season including Patagonia Footwear, Petzl Headlamps, Hammer Nutrition and Atlas Snowshoes.