After reading everyone’s race reports about how much fun they had at the Muddy Monk Thriller in Schiller in October, I was super excited for the Schiller Chiller 10K & 5K! A trail run with my blogger friends?! Hells yeah sign me up!
Please note, Muddy Monk paid for my entry for this race. My opinions below are all mine and all that schiznit though.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your preference) this race was NOT a Chiller. I had really been hoping for a snowy trail run. But, it was in the high 40s the entire time! And we haven’t had any rain in awhile so the trail was mostly dry. Either way, I dressed a bit warmer than I normally would’ve – I have a bit of a cold and in my mind, running outside is okay when I am sick if I cover up a bit more. Right? Right.
I think that due to the warmer temps, a lot of people came out for this race. There were 400 pre-registered and a line for same day registrants! What a great turnout for the inaugural race!
And we got some schweet loot: a long sleeve cotton tee, a mug, and a shot glass for the 10Kers. Can you believe I didn’t have a shot glass before? What does that say about me… hmm… What should I drink out of it first? Ha!
On to the fun stuff! Which bloggers came?!
From L to R: Kelsey, Alyssa, Charlyn, me, Queenie, Erin, Lindsay and Kim.
And Ian was there volunteering!
Alyssa, Erin, Lindsay and I were doing the 10K and stuck together for the entire race. The course was very similar to the USOLE Trail Challenge that I ran in the same woods two weeks ago. A mix of single and double track, a few fallen trees (on the ground and head-height) obstacles, one large muddy puddle in a tunnel… not too technical! It was a warm day and an easy fun race with friends! I love running and chatting with friends!
Unfortunately… we did not run a full 10K. I am not sure if the course was marked wrong or if we missed a turn, but we ended up running just over 5. A few other runners doing the 10K said they ended up doing the same thing. We all noticed that the 3 and 4 mile markers were only .2 miles apart. Maybe that was our lost mile? Oops. Not a big deal for a non-chip timed, for fun, trail race. But something they might want to fix in the future.
That seemed to be the only snafu. Packet pickup was easy; parking was easy. I got to use the porta potties before the lines got ridiculously long (not everyone was this lucky). I didn’t want any post race alcohol or chili so I skipped that long line. It was fun just to be out in the sun hanging out with friends. I even got to have brunch after the race with Charlyn and her man, and Queenie! I love spending time with friends, and we had a lot of fun!
I really want to do more Muddy Monk races in the future because I love trail running. They have a lot of fun races coming up in 2013. I am eyeing the Double Down 10K & 20K in April because I think it’s cool you get to choose at the 10K mark if you want to continue to the 20K (and I would like to try a 20K!). Just gotta wait and see what my schedule looks like when that race is coming up!
Wah! Last trail race of the year… unless anyone knows of some the last weekend in December around here?!
Nice report Kim. Great seeing you there and meeting a few blogger friends. Nice grass root trail run. I heard the course was short and heard they forgot one out n back section up north. No biggie, it’s a trail race and all ran the same course. Nice swag (I got the T for volunteering). Muddy Monk as potential for the 2013 series. I hope to be at some, mainly volunteering but I’ll run some. The Deer Grove Half in August is on my plan and I might do the Double Down depending on winter training (there is a 50k twl weeks later I am eyeing in Crystal Lake).
I looked at the course map later today and saw where we missed that little out and back. Oopsie!!! 😉
What 50K are you thinking about? I think you’ve already told me and I’ve forgotten. Shame on me!
Looking forward to our next trail run!
Love love love! It was sooo fun out there today! You’ve got me hooked on trail races now 🙂 I can’t wait for the next one 🙂 so lovely to have brunch with you to celebrate our almost “last” races of the season.
So excited you are hooked! Trails are so fun. Much different than the road, right? And better when there are no scary cliffs and you aren’t on a bike!!!
I didn’t run a trail race today, but I did run at a trail. Actually at Swallow Cliff – I think Muddy Monk is doing a race there in June. I think it’s the same weekend as Ragnar though so I can’t do it 🙁
Maggie: Their June was is at Paw Paw Woods which is near Bullfrog Lake in the Palos FP so just a tad north of Swallow Cliff. It’ll likely be grass and single track as opposed to SC limestone trails (which can still get muddy at times hey). Did you know just above the SC stairs is a network of single track trails, not marked on the FP maps. I discovered them when doing an orienteering race there a few years ago, some big ravines as well. Open to all foot traffic but not wheels and hoofs. But you have Ragnar that weekend, good luck.
Sorry that I missed you! I also ran the 10k and people were talking about it being short when I finished as well. At first I thought my Garmin dropped the gps signal, but knew there was no way I had such a rockin time for a trail run! Also,the lines for food were no where near that bad when I finished, but I didn’t hang around. I was cold because I had over dressed for the race and gotten too sweaty. Congratulations on your race and maybe I will see you on the trail soon!
Jean! I was looking for you! And thinking of you too. It sounds like you had a good race. We need to meet again! Any more races in 2013 for you?
The wrong distance would annoy me. Isn’t that the point of a race?
On another note, you should of come to book club today. Stop living so far away.
I think it could potentially annoy a lot of people. Trail races are more laid back and never 100% spot on with the distance. And the distance isn’t always really the point of a trail race. This was obviously a mistake and since I was just doing it for fun I really didn’t care. I do wonder what they will say about it though!
Ha ha! I do live so far from the city! I wish going down there didn’t suck up so much of my day so I could hang out 🙁
That sounds like a lot of fun, Kim. I was thinking “She should have posted a picture of the darn trail” and then I looked up top and there it was. Pretty! Also… if you are sad that it was in the high 40s, it was in the 80s here today!
Ugh. Do you like the year round warm? I need my seasons! 😉
looks like a lot of fun!
It does get cold here, but usually more in January and February than November and December. It also gets less cold than it used to when I was a kid, I assume because of climate change. I would like it to be more seasonal, but not Chicago cold!
We were so excited to have you out there! Definitely messed up marking the northeastern most part of the course where there was supposed to be a .5 mile out and back (as per our course map). Apologies for that!
Our advice: have a drink from the shot glass first and ask questions later!
I actually tried to sign up for that last minute but it was sold out. Looks like fun. Who could have imagined such mild weather?
Bummer you tried to sign up too late! They did have the same day registration, but you didn’t get a glass and you only got tshirts until they ran out. Do you think you will do any of their other races in 2013?
Looks like an interesting and unique race! Not to mention the fantastic weather we had here. I would’ve been bothered with the short distance but I guess it’s fine considering the race was not timed. I actually ran the Santa Hustle this weekend and it was a quarter mile too short! Very annoying.
Was the Santa Hustle officially short? Or was your watch off? I only ask because we later found out they forgot to mark part of the course! But my watch is almost always off at a race. Except the one time I ran perfect tangents at a 10 miler, lol.
So glad I finally go to meet you! I had a blast at the race even with the short course. It looks like we will be getting $5 off a race in 2013 to compensate for the missed mile though!
I was so happy to meet you too! And surprised I got to run with your speedy self. What a treat!
Are you doing a 2013 race? I just signed up for the Double Down!
I like that they gave out mugs!!
SO jealous- a trail race and a pack of friends to run it with!
I thought I wanted real winter to hit, until I had to do speed work in freezing rain/snow yesterday. Careful what you wish for!
Yeah, that is the only time I won’t run outside – when it’s frozen ice (or really bad visibility).
That’s great that they were giving away shot glasses – very cool!
There is a really nice 20K trail race that I missed this past October, but I’m hoping that I can run it next year. I feel like that is about the perfect distance for a trail race. Not too long, not too short…
Yes! It seems a great distance! I just signed up for that one I mentioned and am excited about it!
Oh that double down race sounds fun. I’m really really hoping to get into more trail running next year (post baby) for sure. It’s just so much fun! I’m glad that you’ve been able to do so many fun races this year. And I loved the shot glass you got! Too cool!
It was so nice to run on the trails! I would love to do it more often with fewer people, though. So peaceful. The race itself was fun but I felt it was a bit crowded. I’m trying not to sign up for anything too far in advance but I’ll probably do at least one other Muddy Monk race next year. I think they are filling a nice hole in the Chicago race scene!
Yeah, the single track gets crowded! I preferred starting at the end of the race like I did at the USOLE Challenge!
I am also trying not to sign up for much too. Seems like people are filling up their calendars already! I just got my three races I always do (Frosty, WI Half, Corn Maze) and the Double Down.
It was nice to meet you Saturday! It kind of stinks that the race was short but I don’t mind too much since I don’t really “race” them.
I’m going to sign up for another Muddy Monk race in 2013, but I’m not sure which one yet. I’ll have to check out the double down!
So nice meeting you too! 🙂 We need to get together again! 🙂