Showing 50 events within 25 km in the next 90 days. Page 1 of 3.
8:30am 6.0K (3.72 miles)
10:00am 1600m Run
10:30am 60-yd Kid's Dash
Register Online
parkrun is such a simple concept: turn up every Saturday and volunteer, walk, jog or run 5k.
parkrun is such a simple concept: turn up every Saturday and volunteer, walk, jog or run 5k.
On August 1st, during our Alumni Weekend, come join us for the 3rd Annual 5k hosted on COD’s main campus! There will be a 5k timed race & post race Alumni party & pizza. Start and Finish at the College of DuPage Track. View the Course Map Here
What is included with your race entry:
• A first-class running experience
• Chip-timing for accurate results.
• A totally set up and well-marked course.
Start Times: 5:00 PM
Packet Pickup: Will take place on race day at the start area.
Course Type: Road and Paved Trail with some grass crossings.
Stroller friendly? Yes
Dogs allowed? Yes
Transportation: Parking is available at the start area.
Course time limit is 7:30 PM
#codxche
Event details and schedule
Join us for the Heatwave Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K!
A sun-soaked summer challenge that’s perfect for the whole family.
The fun includes –
Great Swag – designer shirt & custom medal
Chip-timing with live results and awards
Free photos
FREE ice cream at the finish to help you cool off
Plenty of hot fun in the summer sun!
Grab your friends and family—you won’t want to miss this one!
Can’t make the race? No problem! We offer a virtual race option where you can run anywhere, at any time, and still earn the fun swag!
Youth-based pricing is available: ages 12 & under are only $17!
Half Marathon/10K/5K registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!
1 Mile registration is untimed and includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!
Kid’s Dash is a fun, untimed dash for ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specially crafted medal for our youngest runners! (If your child wants to run the kid’s dash without swag, they’re welcome to run free on race day!)
Register by midnight on Thursday, two Thursdays before race day, to guarantee your shirt!
Light up the night on this exciting 2.25-mile course around Hamilton Park! This fun, non-competitive event kicks off at sundown, so grab your light-up running gear or any glow items you can find. Participants will receive a t-shirt with their entrance fee. Come early to enjoy pre-event activities, including games, a photo op, glow body paint, and music. Don’t miss this glowing good time!
2026 Midwest Regional Series Part of the 2026 Midwest Regional SeriesYour race is more than a single event—it's part of the EverFurther Midwest Regional Series, a collection of trail endurance events held across the Midwest using The Next Loop's signature 5K loop format. Each venue offers its own unique terrain and scenery while delivering the same welcoming atmosphere, consistent support, and opportunity to challenge yourself one loop at a time.Whether you're running a single event or planning to experience every venue, the Midwest Regional Series gives you the chance to explore new trails, connect with the EverFurther community, and measure your progress throughout the season.Unique trail venues across the MidwestConsistent race format that's easy to learn and rewarding to masterPerfect for first-time trail runners, marathoners, and ultrarunners alikeBuild endurance, compare performances, and celebrate every mile earnedRun one event—or make it your goal to experience them all. Every
course is different. Every loop counts. Every mile matters. The Next Loop Endurance Series Race Date: August 8, 2026Race Distances: 5K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon (13.1 miles), Marathon (26.2 miles), 50KRace Location: Palatine, Illinois (Deer Grove East Forest Preserve)Cut-off Times: None specifiedStart Time: 7:00 AM CDTWho this race is for: Whether you're tackling your very first trail 5K or looking for a creative way to train for your next marathon or ultra, The Next Loop is designed to meet you where you are. New runners will appreciate the low-pressure format, while experienced athletes can experiment with pacing, nutrition, and endurance strategies in a supportive, community-focused environment.What if you never had to decide your race distance before the starting horn? The Next Loop Endurance Series flips the traditional race format on its head, allowing runners to earn every mile one loop at a time. Set among the scenic woodlands and open prairie of Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in
Palatine, Illinois, this unique endurance event gives you complete control over your day—continue when you're feeling strong or finish with pride knowing every completed loop counts.Rather than locking participants into a single distance, The Next Loop encourages progression instead of pressure. Every lap is an accomplishment, every finish is official, and success is defined by your own goals—not by arbitrary cutoffs or predetermined distances. The Next Loop: Deer Grove East Join us at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in Palatine, Illinois, for a trail-running experience built around flexibility, endurance, and community. Set on a scenic 5K loop through mature woodlands, open prairie, and well-maintained trails, every lap returns you to a centralized Start/Finish area with full aid, crew access, and personal gear just steps away.Choose the experience that fits your goals—from the flexible Endurance Series where every completed loop counts, to the continuous 40 Mile and 50 Mile Challenges
designed for runners ready to push deeper into ultra-distance racing.The Next Loop Endurance Series – Flexible 5K to 50K hourly loop formatThe Next Loop 40 Mile Challenge – Continuous 40-mile trail ultraThe Next Loop 50 Mile Challenge – Continuous 50-mile trail ultra The Next Loop 40 Mile Challenge Race Date: August 8, 2026Distance: 40 MilesRace Location: Deer Grove East Forest Preserve, Palatine, IllinoisTime Limit: 12 HoursStart Time: 7:00 AM CDTWho this race is for: The 40 Mile Challenge is ideal for runners stepping beyond the marathon or looking for a substantial ultra-distance effort without committing to 50 miles. It rewards smart pacing, efficient fueling, and the ability to stay consistent throughout the day.The Next Loop 40 Mile Challenge brings a traditional continuous ultra format to the scenic trails of Deer Grove East Forest Preserve. Unlike the Endurance Series, there are no hourly starts or decisions between laps. Once the race begins, you'll continue until you've completed
approximately 40 miles or reached the event cutoff.Using the same beautiful 5K loop through mature woodlands, open prairie, and well-maintained forest preserve trails, runners enjoy frequent access to aid, crew support, and personal gear while taking on the physical and mental challenge of a true trail ultra.Complete approximately 13 loops (course mileage may vary slightly) to finish the challenge.Race FormatDistance: 40 MilesRace Style: Continuous trail raceTime Limit: 12-hour hard cutoffStart: Mass start with other 40-mile competitorsField Limit: 75 runnersCourse: Approximately 13 loops of the scenic 5K trail courseAthlete Support & LogisticsFully stocked aid station every 5K loopPersonal gear staging area with access every lapDedicated athlete staging areaMedical and safety support throughout the eventChip timing with individual lap splitsWho Should Race It?Perfect for first-time ultra runners, marathoners ready to step up in distance, experienced trail runners seeking a fast and
supported ultra, and athletes who appreciate loop racing with constant crew access and strategic pacing opportunities. The Next Loop 50 Mile Challenge Race Date: August 8, 2026Distance: 50 MilesRace Location: Deer Grove East Forest Preserve, Palatine, IllinoisTime Limit: 12 HoursStart Time: 7:00 AM CDTWho this race is for: Built for ultrarunners seeking a supported, continuous 50-mile trail race. Whether you're chasing a personal best or earning your first 50-mile finish, this event rewards smart pacing, steady effort, and determination.The Next Loop 50 Mile Challenge takes place on a scenic 5K loop through the woodlands, open prairie, and well-maintained trails of Deer Grove East Forest Preserve. Unlike the hourly Endurance Series, this is a traditional continuous race where every lap returns you to the same fully stocked aid station for efficient fueling, crew access, and personal gear.Complete approximately 16 loops (course mileage may vary slightly) within the 12-hour cutoff. The
repeatable loop format simplifies race-day logistics while demanding physical endurance, mental resilience, and disciplined pacing from start to finish.Pacers are permitted beginning at 4:00 PM to help athletes through the closing miles.Race FormatDistance: 50 MilesRace Style: Continuous trail raceTime Limit: 12-hour hard cutoffStart: Mass startField Limit: 75 runnersCourse: Approximately 16 loops of the scenic 5K trail courseAthlete SupportEvery lap includes access to a fully stocked aid station, personal gear, crew support, medical coverage, chip timing, and live lap split results, allowing runners to adjust pacing and fueling throughout the day.Age GroupsOpenMasters (50–69)Grand Masters (70+)PacersPacers may join beginning at 4:00 PM after checking in and wearing official credentials. One pacer is permitted per athlete at a time and must enter and exit the course through the designated start/finish area. Course Description The race takes place on a clearly marked 3.1-mile (5K) loop
through the scenic trails of Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in Palatine, Illinois. The course winds beneath a mature tree canopy, weaving through peaceful woodlands, open prairie sections, and well-maintained natural trails that provide a beautiful and approachable trail-running experience just northwest of Chicago.The trail surface is primarily packed dirt with sections of crushed gravel and natural trail. Gentle rolling terrain, smooth singletrack, and flowing turns create a course that is welcoming to first-time trail runners while remaining engaging enough for experienced athletes looking to settle into a consistent rhythm over multiple laps.After every loop, runners return to the central start/finish area and fully stocked aid station, making it easy to refuel, reconnect with family or crew, and decide whether they're ready for another hour on the trail.Instead of committing to a fixed race distance before the event begins, runners build their mileage one lap at a time:1 loop: 5K2
loops: 10K3 loops: 15K4 loops: Half Marathon (13.1 miles)9 loops: Marathon (26.2 miles)10 loops: 50KWhether your goal is one lap or all ten, every completed loop contributes to your official race result. Race Format & Timing The Next Loop's format is designed to reward consistency, smart pacing, and personal decision-making.Every loop begins at the top of the hour, giving runners a scheduled recovery period between efforts. Use the break to hydrate, eat, stretch, change shoes, or simply relax before deciding whether to continue.Your official results are based on the number of completed loops and your combined cumulative loop time.Unlike traditional endurance races, there are no DNFs, missed cutoffs, or eliminations. When you decide your day is complete, your achievement is recognized exactly as you've earned it. Aid Station & Support A fully stocked central aid station is available before the start of every hourly loop, providing hydration and basic nutrition throughout the day.Because
every runner returns to the same base area after each lap, support crews, family members, and spectators can easily cheer participants on, assist with fueling, or help with gear changes without needing to move around the course. The loop format also makes pacing and nutrition adjustments simple throughout the event. Runner Experience Deer Grove East Forest Preserve offers one of the Chicago area's most welcoming trail-running venues, combining peaceful woodlands, open prairie landscapes, and well-maintained natural trails into a course that feels surprisingly removed from the surrounding suburbs. The smooth, flowing terrain keeps every lap enjoyable while the familiar loop allows runners to settle into a comfortable rhythm as the day unfolds.The Next Loop creates an atmosphere that celebrates progress rather than perfection. Beginners can safely explore trail running without worrying about committing to more mileage than they're ready for, while experienced runners can use the format to
practice pacing, nutrition, and race strategy over multiple hours. Every participant shares the same course, creating a welcoming community where first-time trail runners and seasoned ultrarunners encourage one another throughout the day. Why Run The Next Loop? Most endurance races ask you to commit to a finish line before you've even taken your first step. The Next Loop is different. Built around flexibility, progression, and community, every event is designed to help runners define success on their own terms—whether that's finishing one loop, setting a personal best, or conquering an ultra-distance goal.Choose Your Challenge: Select the Endurance Series, 40 Mile Challenge, or 50 Mile Challenge to match your goals and experience.Every Mile Matters: In the Endurance Series, every completed loop counts toward your official result—no DNFs, no missed cutoffs, and no pressure to continue beyond your goals.Constant Support: The centralized start/finish area provides easy access to aid, crew,
nutrition, and personal gear throughout the day.Built for Smart Racing: Whether you're training for your next big event or racing for a personal best, the loop format makes pacing, fueling, and strategy easier than ever.Scenic Trail Experience: Enjoy beautiful singletrack, rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and forested terrain at one of the region's premier trail destinations.A Community That Cheers Every Finish: From first-time trail runners to seasoned ultrarunners, every achievement is celebrated and every runner belongs. EverFurther Events The Next Loop: Endurance Series is produced by EverFurther Events, co-founded by veteran endurance athletes Joe Johnson and Terry Madl. EverFurther was created to reimagine what endurance events could be — inclusive, progression-focused, and built for real-world athletes at every stage of their journey. Unlike traditional races that require a fixed distance commitment, EverFurther’s loop-based model emphasizes personal growth over elimination, and
celebrates every mile earned. With decades of racing, directing, and life experience between them, Joe and Terry are on a mission to build events that are accessible, repeatable, and centered on community — giving athletes the freedom to define success on their own terms. Event's current local time: 4:00 AM CT
12th Annual
Race to Stop Hunger 5K
100% of Race proceeds for 2026 will feed children globally and locally.
This inspirational Race has funded 403,703 life-saving meals & helps nourish over 38,000 children annually.
Join us in the Fight Against Hunger!
Saturday August 8 | 7:40am
Join as an Individual, Team and/or Virtually
Event Details
Date: Saturday, August 8
Time: 7:40AM Kids Dash and 8:00AM 5K Run/Walk
Location: Mallard Lake Forest Preserve - Bloomingdale, IL
Exciting Features!
Great Course: Enjoy scenic wide paths of the Mallard Lake Forest Preserve, limestone, some asphalt, certified course and flush toilet bathrooms.
Kids 1/3 Mile Dash: Registered participants receive an awesome goody bag and ribbon to celebrate.
Cash Prizes: Awarded to the top two 5k male & female finishers. $100 1st & $75 2nd. If high school athlete, will give scholarship.
Medals:1st, 2nd & 3rd places in all 5K age categories 9 & under to 80 & over
100% of Race Proceeds Feed Children
5K Team Event :
A Group of three or more participants (any age) to form a team. Team Medals awarded for teams with:
Best Time (averaged)
Largest Group
Highest Fundraising
How to Sign up Team & Team Members: Pick a name. Sign up individually. First member of group to register will create team name & becomes captain. Additional members search for team name when they sign up.
Team Prizes: On race day team participant times are averaged. Lowest team average wins "best time" award. All team members can still qualify for age group awards. Members can join the team, and be virtual , however, their time will not be averaged in for team placement.
A collaboration between:
Community Consolidated School District 21
The Wheeling Police Unity Foundation
The Greater Wheeling Chamber of Commerce
Before the all-state accolades, before the injuries, before middle school, high school, college, and all the difficulties that followed, Benjamin Lee Silver was a brother—to Aaron, three years older—and a son, to loving parents Paul and Jamie. Born in San Francisco, California on November 23, 1992, Ben was the kind of kid whose smile, nearly constant, was contagious. Energetic and creative, Ben jumped into any new endeavor with cheerful abandon, unafraid of embarrassing himself. If something was exciting, if there was the potential to improve himself, why not try it?
After moving to Downers Grove, Illinois in 1998, Ben dabbled in youth soccer before following in brother Aaron’s footsteps and joining the cross country and track teams at Herrick Middle School. A star from the outset, Ben was a class above his junior high competition. Despite being limited by injuries and minimal formal training, Ben shattered the school 1600 meter record with a 4:40.6, a time rarely approached by runners that age. In his freshman cross country season, he slotted in as Downers Grove North’s top runner, a mantle he’d hold for his four years in the program. In fact, he ran 15:19 the first time he ever raced three miles, outkicking a handful of returning all-state upperclassmen at the Leavey Invitational. A couple of weekends later, at the famed Peoria Notre Dame Invite, Ben became the first freshman to break 15:00 at Detweiler Park since Kevin Havel’s fifth place finish at the state meet in 2004. Unfortunately, his season was derailed by injury only days later.
Behind all of Ben’s accolades—3x All-State in cross country, 1x All-State in track and field, twice top 20 in the Footlocker Midwest Regional—was the untold story of how little he actually ran during his high school career. Never physically healthy for more than a couple of consecutive months, many of Ben’s finest performances came on unimaginably limited training. Both his junior and senior cross country state meet performances came on approximately three weeks of training. As captain, aware that his fast time was necessary for DGN’s qualification—he was determined to run no matter what, reclaim his top spot, and lead the team downstate. No one who saw him a month before the 2009 state meet, hobbled and unable to run even a block, could have imagined he’d lead the 3A race through two miles. Few would have believed a 10th place finish possible with only two hours a day on an elliptical trainer and less than 100 miles on his feet, still fewer would’ve guessed he’d make it through two miles
of the demanding UW-Parkside course in tenth place, the last qualifying position for Footlocker nationals, before fading. By any metric, these performances were incredible—with some insight into what got him there, they were almost unbelievable.
The final, and perhaps finest, high school performance in Ben’s career came during his senior season of track. A cocktail of injuries and poor conditions meant Ben—already 3x all-state in cross country—had never qualified to go downstate for track. Injured and unable to run since indoor conference, it seemed impossible he’d ever make it to Charleston. He returned to running the week of conference, determined to make one final effort. On one week’s running, he managed third in the stacked West Suburban Silver conference, outkicked by future NCAA All-American Malachy Schrobilgen and his teammate, Jack Stapleton, both of Oak Park-River Forest. The next weekend, facing the 9:32 qualifying time for the state meet (only a few seconds slower than his personal best), Ben finished second behind Hinsdale Central’s Billy Fayette, running a brave and almost inconceivable 9:27.62. Relegated to the first (and slower) heat of the 3200 meters at state, Ben ran possessed, with a mission: ticking off lap
after lap of even splits. He led wire-to-wire and finished in 9:18.91, a personal best and eleven seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. Incredibly, only seven athletes in the faster heat could better this solo performance on three weeks of training—yet again Ben stood on an IHSA podium, this time in eighth.
Eager to continue his running career while pursuing a top-notch education, Ben accepted a scholarship to compete and study at Miami University of Ohio, a mid-major Division I school with esteemed academics and a storied athletic history. Beleaguered once again by injuries, perhaps not helped by his incredible state track meet performance on a bad ankle, he would only compete in a few races for the program during his years in Ohio. Instead, he turned his laser-like focus and ambition toward academics. Successful as a freshman but unsure what path to follow—what major, what career field best suited him—Ben began to feel the stress of intense study paired with fear of losing his scholarship should he not be able to train and race. He moved between majors, from general engineering to paper science to biology, never managing to find the right fit.
Eager to redefine himself academically, Ben took even more advanced coursework as a sophomore, faltering for the first time in his education. Though he ran a couple races and trained with the team, he could not stay healthy—constantly in pain, he decided to end his competitive running career to focus on school. Dealing for the first time with feelings of intense loneliness, unable to perform in the athletic field that had so long defined him, he considered moving home halfway through the year but decided—much as he’d decided as an athlete—to push through, sure he could succeed with smarts and incredible willpower. Unfortunately, he ended the semester one credit hour short of the requirements to maintain his scholarship and around this time began to express lonely, dark, and depressed feelings that worried his brother and parents. He drifted away from his college and high school friends. Though many college students struggle to adapt, Ben’s difficulties proved more complex—at the end of the
summer before his junior year, he had his first psychotic break, unable to think clearly and consumed by paranoid thoughts and delusions. Eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed illness with over 20 million annual cases globally-most commonly in adolescents and young adults, Ben began taking medication. Though this helped, he still spent the next year and a half in and out of mental-health facilities.
Unable to recognize himself among all the dark feelings, Ben first attempted suicide in early summer of 2013. Though he physically recovered, the following months were a parade of hospitals and facilities, with Ben and his family navigating the circuitous and often counterintuitive mental health system in our country and state-despite a more open mental health dialogue in 2015 than in the past, it’s still in credibly difficult getting productive help and support for individuals suffering from mental illnesses compared to services offered to those with physical maladies. Ben spent two and a half months at Hopewell, a therapeutic farm community in Ohio, but eventually had another suicide attempt and returned to Illinois. Through this dark period, his entire family fought for him—though often unrecognizable as the brother, son, cousin, nephew, and friend we all loved, on good days Ben was present and yet at other times he was unreachable, angry and convinced that everyone and all doctors and
medicines were against him. In a medical system that has trouble understanding schizophrenia his condition never stabilized or improved. Despite meeting criteria for hospital discharge, no intermediate care facility would take him. Ben’s history defined him as a “risk.” Finding no escape from the voices in his head, in the summer of 2015 Ben ended his life.
At a Celebration of Ben Silver’s life, over three-hundred family members, friends, teammates and well-wishers from around the country gathered to share their memories of Ben. For all of his twenty-two years, he was the kind of person who reached out and made a difference, in ways both large and small, to people around him. Ben was very passionate about community—whether genetic, geographic, athletic, educational or social—and we all realized the best way to keep Ben’s memory alive was to keep the celebration going year-after-year, to bring people together regardless of their different interests and varied walks of life and share in Ben’s passion for running. Together we’re working to celebrate in a way which he would approve: sweating it out on the track in the name of effort, community, and love-regardless of speed. A race, a walk, a party, a way to raise awareness of schizophrenia and help others beset by similar difficulties: Ben’s Memorial Mile.
Thank you to all who have attended our event throughout the years. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
Mission Statement
Ben’s Memorial Mile is a nonprofit organization that raises money and awareness for mental health research and suicide prevention. We accomplish these goals by hosting positive community events and partnering with other mental health advocates. We hope to bring people together, break stigmas, and empower everyone in the battle against mental illness.
Mission Statement
Ben’s Memorial Mile is a nonprofit organization that raises money and awareness for mental health research and suicide prevention. We accomplish these goals by hosting positive community events and partnering with other mental health advocates. We hope to bring people together, break stigmas, and empower everyone in the battle against mental illness.
Registration:
TBD
There will be same-day registration at the event, but we encourage participants to sign up online prior to the event.
Packet pickup:
Race bibs can be picked up in Fishel Park at packet pickup. All participants that signed up will need to pick up a race bib (and four safety pins) prior to the races. Your race bib will contain the chip that will capture your official time.
Your event T-shirt and complimentary raffle ticket will also be available at Fishel Park; you can retrieve these items before or after you run! If you registered after the T-shirt deadline, you will not be guaranteed a shirt.
Results:
Results will be posted online the day of the event at the following link: IL Prep Top Timing.
Awards:
TBD
There will be awards for the follow age groups: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+ years old. Don’t forget to hang around for our awards ceremony to see if you won a ribbon!
Parking:
You are not allowed to park on the course, and please do not parking on Grove Street at Fishel Park, as this will obstruct the race. There are many options (all free!) to park in downtown Downers Grove (see below). Aside from the highlighted regions, there is plenty of free street parking available off the course.
Race information
(both races will be chip-timed):Your event T-shirt (if you ordered one) and complimentary raffle ticket will be available at Fishel Park. You can retrieve these items before or after you run!
Race bibs can be picked up only at the start/finish line.
4:15 PM: Open/walking mile (for those slower than 6:30 pace for 1 mile)
4:45 PM: Elite mile (for those running 6:30 or faster for 1 mile)
5:30 PM: Awards ceremony & announcement of raffle winners (at Fishel Park – click the button below for age-group leaders that will be recognized)
Fishel Park community festival (3:00 PM – 8:30 PM):
We have a whole lineup of artists that will be performing LIVE MUSIC starting at 3:00 PM! Come with a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy the music!
There will also be FREE concessions, booths, cornhole, raffles, and a kids tent. All participants will receive 1 complimentary raffle ticket and can purchase more.
Bathrooms:
Bathrooms are at the north end of the Fishel Park bandshell.
Weather/Emergency information:
The event will be cancelled in the case of inclement weather. Emergency information will be conveyed via email. You can also monitor our Facebook and Instagram pages for emergency information.
Prohibited Items:
Pets (aside from service animals), bicycles, in-line skates, and other wheeled vehicles (aside from wheelchairs) are prohibited on the course. If you will be participating with a stroller or baby jogger, you must begin at the back of the start corral for the safety of all participants. No alcohol is allowed on the course or at Fishel Park. Of note, pets on leashes are allowed at Fishel Park.
2026 Midwest Regional Series Part of the 2026 Midwest Regional SeriesYour race is more than a single event—it's part of the EverFurther Midwest Regional Series, a collection of trail endurance events held across the Midwest using The Next Loop's signature 5K loop format. Each venue offers its own unique terrain and scenery while delivering the same welcoming atmosphere, consistent support, and opportunity to challenge yourself one loop at a time.Whether you're running a single event or planning to experience every venue, the Midwest Regional Series gives you the chance to explore new trails, connect with the EverFurther community, and measure your progress throughout the season.Unique trail venues across the MidwestConsistent race format that's easy to learn and rewarding to masterPerfect for first-time trail runners, marathoners, and ultrarunners alikeBuild endurance, compare performances, and celebrate every mile earnedRun one event—or make it your goal to experience them all. Every
course is different. Every loop counts. Every mile matters. The Next Loop: Busse Woods Forest Preserve Three Ways to Race. One Incredible Trail.On Saturday, August 15, 2026, Busse Woods Forest Preserve in Elk Grove Village, Illinois becomes home to three unique endurance experiences. Whether you prefer the flexibility of hourly loops or the focused challenge of a continuous ultra, every event takes place on the same scenic 3.1-mile trail loop winding through mature woodlands, peaceful forest preserve scenery, and smooth, runnable trails designed for runners of every experience level.Choose the event that matches your goals:The Next Loop Endurance Series – Flexible 5K to 50K hourly loop formatThe Next Loop 40 Mile Challenge – Continuous 40-mile trail ultraThe Next Loop 50 Mile Challenge – Continuous 50-mile trail ultra The Next Loop Endurance Series Race Date: August 15, 2026Race Distances: 5K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon (13.1 miles), Marathon (26.2 miles), 50KRace Location: Elk Grove Village,
Illinois (Busse Woods Forest Preserve)Cut-off Times: None specifiedStart Time: 7:00 AM CDTWho this race is for: Whether you're tackling your very first trail 5K or looking for a creative way to train for your next marathon or ultra, The Next Loop is designed to meet you where you are. New runners will appreciate the low-pressure format, while experienced athletes can experiment with pacing, nutrition, and endurance strategies in a supportive, community-focused environment.What if you never had to decide your race distance before the starting horn? The Next Loop Endurance Series flips the traditional race format on its head, allowing runners to earn every mile one loop at a time. Set among the scenic woodlands and winding forest preserve trails of Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, this unique endurance event gives you complete control over your day—continue when you're feeling strong or finish with pride knowing every completed loop counts.Rather than locking participants into a
single distance, The Next Loop encourages progression instead of pressure. Every lap is an accomplishment, every finish is official, and success is defined by your own goals—not by arbitrary cutoffs or predetermined distances. The Next Loop 40 Mile Challenge Race Date: August 15, 2026Distance: 40 MilesRace Location: Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove Village, IllinoisTime Limit: 12 HoursStart Time: 7:00 AM CDTWho this race is for: The 40 Mile Challenge is ideal for runners stepping beyond the marathon or looking for a substantial ultra-distance effort without committing to 50 miles. It rewards smart pacing, efficient fueling, and the ability to stay consistent throughout the day.The Next Loop 40 Mile Challenge brings a traditional continuous ultra format to the scenic trails of Busse Woods Forest Preserve. Unlike the Endurance Series, there are no hourly starts or decisions between laps. Once the race begins, you'll continue until you've completed approximately 40 miles or reached the
event cutoff.Using the same beautiful 5K loop through mature woodlands and smooth, runnable forest preserve trails, runners enjoy frequent access to aid, crew support, and personal gear while taking on the physical and mental challenge of a true trail ultra.Complete approximately 13 loops (course mileage may vary slightly) to finish the challenge.Race FormatDistance: 40 MilesRace Style: Continuous trail raceTime Limit: 12-hour hard cutoffStart: Mass start with other 40-mile competitorsField Limit: 75 runnersCourse: Approximately 13 loops of the scenic 5K trail courseAthlete Support & LogisticsFully stocked aid station every 5K loopPersonal gear staging area with access every lapDedicated athlete staging areaMedical and safety support throughout the eventChip timing with individual lap splitsWho Should Race It?Perfect for first-time ultra runners, marathoners ready to step up in distance, experienced trail runners seeking a fast and supported ultra, and athletes who appreciate loop racing
with constant crew access and strategic pacing opportunities. The Next Loop 50 Mile Challenge Race Date: August 15, 2026Distance: 50 MilesRace Location: Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove Village, IllinoisTime Limit: 12 HoursStart Time: 7:00 AM CDTWho this race is for: Built for ultrarunners seeking a supported, continuous 50-mile trail race. Whether you're chasing a personal best or earning your first 50-mile finish, this event rewards smart pacing, steady effort, and determination.The Next Loop 50 Mile Challenge takes place on a scenic 5K loop through the beautiful trails of Busse Woods Forest Preserve. Unlike the hourly Endurance Series, this is a traditional continuous race where every lap returns you to the same fully stocked aid station for efficient fueling, crew access, and personal gear.Complete approximately 16 loops (course mileage may vary slightly) within the 12-hour cutoff. The repeatable loop format simplifies race-day logistics while demanding physical endurance, mental
resilience, and disciplined pacing from start to finish.Pacers are permitted beginning at 4:00 PM to help athletes through the closing miles.Race FormatDistance: 50 MilesRace Style: Continuous trail raceTime Limit: 12-hour hard cutoffStart: Mass startField Limit: 75 runnersCourse: Approximately 16 loops of the scenic 5K trail courseAthlete SupportEvery lap includes access to a fully stocked aid station, personal gear, crew support, medical coverage, chip timing, and live lap split results, allowing runners to adjust pacing and fueling throughout the day.Age GroupsOpenMasters (50–69)Grand Masters (70+)PacersPacers may join beginning at 4:00 PM after checking in and wearing official credentials. One pacer is permitted per athlete at a time and must enter and exit the course through the designated start/finish area. Course Description The race takes place on a clearly marked 3.1-mile (5K) loop through the scenic trails of Busse Woods Forest Preserve in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Surrounded
by mature hardwood forests, peaceful lakes, and one of Chicagoland's most popular outdoor recreation areas, the course delivers a beautiful trail-running experience that feels surprisingly secluded despite being just minutes from O'Hare International Airport.The trail surface is primarily packed dirt with sections of crushed gravel and smooth natural trail. Gentle rolling terrain, flowing turns, and well-maintained paths create a fast, approachable course that welcomes first-time trail runners while still providing an enjoyable endurance challenge for experienced athletes over multiple laps.After every loop, runners return to the central start/finish area and fully stocked aid station, making it easy to refuel, reconnect with family or crew, and decide whether they're ready for another hour on the trail.Instead of committing to a fixed race distance before the event begins, runners build their mileage one lap at a time:1 loop: 5K2 loops: 10K3 loops: 15K4 loops: Half Marathon (13.1 miles)9
loops: Marathon (26.2 miles)10 loops: 50KWhether your goal is one lap or all ten, every completed loop contributes to your official race result. Race Format & Timing The Next Loop's format is designed to reward consistency, smart pacing, and personal decision-making.Every loop begins at the top of the hour, giving runners a scheduled recovery period between efforts. Use the break to hydrate, eat, stretch, change shoes, or simply relax before deciding whether to continue.Your official results are based on the number of completed loops and your combined cumulative loop time.Unlike traditional endurance races, there are no DNFs, missed cutoffs, or eliminations. When you decide your day is complete, your achievement is recognized exactly as you've earned it. Aid Stations & Support A fully stocked central aid station is available before the start of every hourly loop, providing hydration and basic nutrition throughout the day.Because every runner returns to the same base area after each lap,
support crews, family members, and spectators can easily cheer participants on, assist with fueling, or help with gear changes without needing to move around the course. The loop format also makes pacing and nutrition adjustments simple throughout the event. Runner Experience Busse Woods Forest Preserve is one of the Chicago area's premier running destinations, offering a peaceful escape with mature woodlands, scenic lakes, and smooth, runnable trails just minutes from the city. The flowing terrain keeps every lap enjoyable, while the familiar loop format allows runners to settle into a comfortable rhythm and focus on pacing, fueling, and forward progress throughout the day.The Next Loop creates an atmosphere that celebrates progress rather than perfection. Beginners can safely explore trail running without worrying about committing to more mileage than they're ready for, while experienced runners can use the format to practice pacing, nutrition, and race strategy over multiple hours. Every
participant shares the same course, creating a welcoming community where first-time trail runners and seasoned ultrarunners encourage one another throughout the day. Why Run The Next Loop? Most endurance races ask you to commit to a finish line before you've even taken your first step. The Next Loop is different. Built around flexibility, progression, and community, every event is designed to help runners define success on their own terms—whether that's finishing one loop, setting a personal best, or conquering an ultra-distance goal.Choose Your Challenge: Select the Endurance Series, 40 Mile Challenge, or 50 Mile Challenge to match your goals and experience.Every Mile Matters: In the Endurance Series, every completed loop counts toward your official result—no DNFs, no missed cutoffs, and no pressure to continue beyond your goals.Constant Support: The centralized start/finish area provides easy access to aid, crew, nutrition, and personal gear throughout the day.Built for Smart Racing:
Whether you're training for your next big event or racing for a personal best, the loop format makes pacing, fueling, and strategy easier than ever.Scenic Trail Experience: Enjoy beautiful singletrack, rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and forested terrain at one of the region's premier trail destinations.A Community That Cheers Every Finish: From first-time trail runners to seasoned ultrarunners, every achievement is celebrated and every runner belongs. EverFurther Events The Next Loop: Endurance Series is produced by EverFurther Events, co-founded by veteran endurance athletes Joe Johnson and Terry Madl. EverFurther was created to reimagine what endurance events could be — inclusive, progression-focused, and built for real-world athletes at every stage of their journey. Unlike traditional races that require a fixed distance commitment, EverFurther’s loop-based model emphasizes personal growth over elimination, and celebrates every mile earned. With decades of racing, directing, and life
experience between them, Joe and Terry are on a mission to build events that are accessible, repeatable, and centered on community — giving athletes the freedom to define success on their own terms. Event's current local time: 2:57 AM CT
Join us for our St. Monica Summerfest 5K Run/Walk on August 22, 2026! This chip-timed race begins at St. Monica Academy on Carmen Avenue between Mont Clare Avenue and Nottingham Avenue (7100 W. Carmen Avenue) and travels through the neighborhood. The Mini Mustang Dash begins at 9:30 AM and the 5K race/walk begins at 10 AM and finishes back at the school just as our annual Summerfest is beginning. Then be sure to stick around for a day of fun at our annual Summerfest!
Your registration includes a race bag with a commemorative race shirt and many goodies. You will also receive a voucher for one complimentary beverage at our Summerfest.
Race Packet pickup will be on August 20th and August 21st at Dick Pond Athletics, 575 Busse Hwy, Park Ridge Illinois in the Village Green Shopping Center. Pickup times will be from 10 AM to 8 PM.
1st place finisher in the male and female categories will receive a gift card for Dick Pond Athletics.
All proceeds from the event will benefit St. Monica Academy. St. Monica Academy is a growing Catholic elementary school community that rewards not only academic excellence, but also the human element of the spirit, the mind, and the heart.
Dick Pond Athletics
2026 Summer Trail Classic
Approx 4M * 9.5M * 13M
August 23, 2026
7:30 Start
The Summer Trail Classic is the third of four events of the 2026 Dick Pond Athletics Darn Tough Trail Race Series.
After galloping over the wide crushed limestone lanes at Chauncey’s in April and overcoming the hills on the wide grass/dirt pathways of Hickory Knolls in June, we are now venturing onto the twisting and turning single-track trails of Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates.
Choose from three different distances – approximate 4 miles / 9.5 miles / 13 miles – for a true trail running experience!
Date: August 23, 2026
Start Time: 7:30am (all distances)
Distances:
Approximate 4 miles / 9.5 miles / 13 miles
Walking-only participants are only allowed in the 4 mile distance, and support on all three courses will be removed at 12:00 Noon.
Location: Paul Douglas Forest Preserve, Central Avenue (just west of Roselle Rd, and just east of Barrington Rd), Hoffman Estates
Sponsors: Dick Pond Athletics, Mount to Coast and Darn Tough
Beneficiary: Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (CAMBr)
CAMBr is the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers, a volunteer organization of hundreds of riders who work to ensure that mountain bikers have diverse and challenging local opportunities to enjoy their sport. Our members have donated thousands of work hours to build and improve area trails.
The mission of the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers is to educate bicyclists, promote responsible trail use, prevent trail closings, maintain and build multi-use natural surface singletrack and freeride cycling opportunities in the Chicago area. CAMBr seeks to promote trail and freeride bicycling through stewardship, environmental and social responsibility, education, and a spirit of cooperation among all trail users, the conservation community, and governing bodies.
Please visit cambr.org if you are interested in finding out how you can get involved with CAMBr’s trail maintenance activities and/or cycling events.
Sponsored by
IMPORTANT: The Forest Preserve has very strict regulations in place regarding the trail use at Paul Douglas – if the trails are WET, the trails are CLOSED. If there is significant rain in the days immediately before race day and the Forest Preserve office deems the trails are not usable, we will shift the race to the asphalt bike path at the preserve. You will receive an email from us no later than Friday evening, August 21, notifying you of the change to the bike path with details about the course and race distances.
We are no longer taking registrations for the Kids 1/2 Mile Color Run, the race is full. Thank you.
On Saturday, August 24. 2024, Skokie's Backlot Dash 5K and Kid's Run will be held in Downtown Skokie (in and around the grounds of Skokie's Backlot Bash) and will include a half-mile kids run.
Packet Pick-up:
Thursday 8/21/24 9a-8:30p Weber Leisure Center 9300 Weber Park Place Skokie
Friday 8/22/24 9a-3p Weber Leisure Center 9300 Weber Park Place Skokie
Friday 8/22/24 5p-7p at Backlot Bash (by the intersection of Floral St and Oakton St.)
Race Day 8/23/24 6:30a-7:45a 5215 Oakton St. Skokie (pick-up is inside the Backlot Bash grounds, at the beer tent on Oakton St)
Race day registration:
6:30 am – 7:45 a.m.
Kids ½ mile Fun Run
8 a.m.
5K race begins
8:30 a.m.
The awards ceremony will follow 5K.
5K course will close promptly at 9:30 am and participants will be asked to move to the sidewalk to complete the race.
the following:
5K Run
• Chip timing
• T-shirt
• USATF certified course
Kid's Run
• T-shirt
• Participation medal
Age groups for races are as follows: Male and female – 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85 and over.
Presented by: Skokie Chamber of Commerce / Skokie Public Library / Village of Skokie / Skokie Park District
Niles Township High School District 219
Happy Feet Healthy Heart 5K Walk
Annual Forest Bathing
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Presented By:
Happy Feet Walkers Club
What exactly is Forest Bathing? The term emerged in Japan as a physiological and psychological exercise called shinrin-yoku which means "forest bathing" or "taking in the forest atmosphere". The purpose is twofold: to offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire the community to reconnect with and protect local forest preserves. We are fortunate to have so many forest preserves in the Chicagoland area. Let's take part in the first Forest Bathing event organized by HFWC along with our annual 5K.
The 5K Fun Run and Family Walk is the Coalition's main fundraiser for the year and we can't wait to see you there!
Join our Board, Partner Practices, sponsors, grantees - and their babies! - and wonderful supporters like you as we enjoy a wonderful community day, get active and raise vital funds. Participants have the opportunity to host their own fundraising pages and organize their own teams to run, walk or bike the 5K.
We'll start the day with our chip-timed 5K, followed by our Kids Dash and Family Walk. Immediately after the race, enjoy a food truck, face painting, arts and crafts and more!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2025
BLUE STAR MEMORIAL WOODS - 701 E Lake Ave. Glenview, IL 60025
Race day bib and tshirt pick-up: Starts at 7:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremony: 8:15 a.m.
** If you register after Sept 10, we cannot guarantee a race shirt or your exact size. You will have a race bib, receive swag and enjoy our wonderful day! **
Our Why: At the Chicago Coalition for Family Building, we believe that everyone who wants to start a family deserves the chance. Our mission is to remove financial barriers that prevent the creation of a family. As we work toward this goal, we take action to financially and emotionally support those struggling with infertility. Join us in giving hope and building families!
Naperville Trails Half Marathon & 10K - 9/06/2025
Wheaton, IL
#NapervilleTrailsHalf // #NapervilleTrails10K
Event times, dates, location and all other details are subject to change prior to event. All official information is on the event's website AllCommunityEvents.com.