Featured 5k of the Week - Waterfall Glen Trail Race

The Waterfall Glen event is most known for the Waterfall Glen Extreme 10-Mile race.  I did not run that race - I ran less than a 3rd of it - the 5k (3.1 miles).  But before I continue, let me say this about the 10-miler.  It is 10 miles, and travels the circumference of Argonne National Labs.  Included in that trail is a 150-foot ascent in the span of only a 1/2 mile.  10-miles - plus that climb - that IS extreme.  The 10-miler started at 7:30 and the 5k at 7:45.  That means the 5k finished before the 10-miler.  I took that opportunity to watch the 10-milers exit the forest for the final 1/4 mile and cheered them on (along with other spectators and 5k-ers).  As I saw them run past - some exhausted - some looking just fine - but all of them looking happy - that sense of accomplishment, that glow that it provides.  I had (still have) so much respect for those runners.  And that is what running in events is about.  It's not about the time (but it can be for some, and that's cool too!) - but it's about the finish - it's about accomplishing a goal or conquering something (10 miles, 150 foot climb, etc etc).  It truly was inspirational watching the 10-milers complete their event!  And, even for those that chose not to tackle that challenge, watching them finish is incentive enough to sign up for at least the 5k.

Now, onto the 5k.  The 5k starts - and finishes - in the same place as the 10-miler.  The 5k starts on a grassy field for about 1/4 of a mile, maybe less.  This allows for a wide "cross-country" style start as runners fan out across the field.  At the end of the field is a dirt (or mud) entrance onto the crushed limestone main path.  The majority of the course is on this crushed limestone, which is very soft on the feet!  The course is an out-and-back style course, and just about at the 1/2 way point there is a small amount of asphalt, but not much.  Upon returning, the course traverses the grass field again, but this time there is no fanning out, as the runners stick to the inside as much as possible to cut down on as many steps as possible. The course then u-turns and heads back towards the finish line.  The final stretch is only about 20 yards away from the grassy field.  This allows spectators to actually stand in between both parts of the course and see runners exiting the woods and also crossing the finish line!  A pretty cool design in my opinion.  Anyhow, before the final stretch, the course goes through a small segment of tall-grass, sort of muddy and marsh-like.  As the announcer said "it can't be a trail run without some mud".  The final stretch finishes on the crushed limestone, while runners finishing can see runners exiting the woods - and vise versa.  Probably makes for a pretty cool helicopter photo or video.

The cool aspect of this horseshoe finish is two-fold.

One, it allows spectators to, literally, be in the middle of the action.  Friends of participants and participants who have finished can go right to the middle of this horseshoe finish and cheer on participants as they exit the woods and begin that crucial homestretch!  Then, they can simply turn around - and see them finish the race!

Two, it provides that extra motivation every runner needs during that final stretch (especially those who just ran 10 miles including a 150 foot climb!).  Every runner gets a boost out of the cheers and claps and words of encouragement from complete strangers.  And, every runner wants to do their best in front of people cheering them on.  When the final 1/4 mile is open for all to see - up close - that in itself is motivation to finish strong!!!  Personally, I think it's one of my favorite final stretches that I have ran.  (Of course, I did like finishing on the horse track at the finish line in front of the grandstands - I think that's my favorite final stretch)

The course (both of them) are scenic and tough.  Even the 5k is all rolling hills, there are very few stretches of flat running land, no steep hills, just constant rolling hills.  The 10-miler is TOUGH - not only is it 10 miles, the hills are not just rolling - they are climbing!!

Plenty of fruits, granola bars, donuts, water, and beer are available at the end.  Plenty of sponsor booths too - and a nice pavilion to wait in before/after the event.

By the way, I believe Argonne Labs does have a particle accelerator.  And since humans are filled with particles, I just figured it would magically accelerate us..........but it didn't - we still had to do the work.