Race: Des Plaines River Trail Race (50 miles)
Runner: Vince Kwok
Race Date: 10/15/2022
Location: Vernon Hills, IL
Results: 9:52:51
Strava Activity Link: https://strava.app.link/Xd0t0lNIcub
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- Super flat.
- Logistics were easy.
- Volunteers were friendly and helpful.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I prepared well all summer for this race. It’s a local race for me and so I knew the course very well. This was my first ultra and so I wanted to set myself up for success. For the first 7-8 miles, there were other runners around me but after that, I was pretty much by myself. So I just treated it like any of my other long runs. I tried to not get caught up with what other runners were doing and stuck to my gameplan. I stayed consistent, relaxed, and just kept going. At the halfway turnaround, I was able to see the runners behind me. There were a few people that I thought were ahead of me but were actually behind me. So that was a nice little surprise. I also executed my nutrition plan very well and had no stomach issues. I ran at a steady pace to around mile 35. The last 15 miles were tough but I was able to employ a “run a couple miles and then walk for a few minutes” cycle.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
It’s a north-south course. From the start, you go south ~1.75 miles, turnaround, and go back north to start ~1.75 miles. Then you head north ~25 miles to halfway turnaround. They you come back to south to same start/finish point.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
It is in a forest preserve along the Des Plaines River. Most of the course is surrounded by trees. There are some open areas. Some of the leaves were starting to change colors. But I wouldn’t describe it as a pretty course.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Not difficult at all. Very flat. It is crushed gravel for majority of course. Not technical at all.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very organized and well run. Website and details about race were clear. Packet pick-up was easy (although no day before packet pick up available for out of towners; but if you stay at host hotel, you can pickup packet there). Pre-race instructions were clear. Course markings for the different distances were clear. Volunteers were great. They had porta potties at start/finish and a few other aid stations. There were also permanent bathroom structures along the course.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
It’s a small and local race in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. There were 89 people signed up and 62 finishers.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
This year the host hotel was fully booked for the first time. But I believe they provided an alternative hotel option.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Aid Stations were standard. They were about every 5 miles. This is a cupless race. They had tailwind and water.
Weather and typical race conditions
The weather was perfect. At race start (7am), it was about 33F. Around 11am, it was around 46F. The rest of the afternoon was low 50s. At the start, the ground was a little wet but it dried up after a couple hours. I heard a few years earlier, it had rained a lot. So they had to do an alternate course (6-8 mile loop) because the Des Plaines River flooded. They had to still go through large puddles of water.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Standard gear. I used a Salomon vest with two 500 mL water bottles. Not technical so no poles or trail shoes required. I wore my Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. I chose them because they were comfortable and light.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Very friendly for spectators. I had my crew meet me at one of the aid stations (mile 31.7) so I could eat some whole food and restock up on gels/bars.
How’s the Swag?
I got a belt buckle. It’s okay. The only thing I wish they added to it is the year. The shorter distance medals (50K, marathon, 1/2 marathon) looked pretty cool as the center part of the medal spinned. Also got a t-shirt.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5/5. This was a perfect first ultramarathon for me. The weather was great. The course is very flat. It was a local race so I got to practice on the course all summer. I had an awesome time!
