Moraine Hills Virtual Run For The Hills

Join us for the 11th Annual Moraine Hills Run For The Hills....virtually!

This year's race registration gives you one year Friends of Moraine Hills State Park Membership!!!

Register for the Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K race ...or all three!

Run virtually during an extended period - September 11 - September 27 either at Moraine Hills State Park on our beautifully marked courses (course maps are below and on our website. Directional arrows will also be set out) or run any location of your choice!

If you choose to run on the well groomed limestone and asphalt trails Moraine Hills State Park, you will experience views of Lake Defiance, native prairies, marshlands and, of course, experience the challenging hills of Moraine Hills State Park

All the Run For The Hills distances and the event is organized and sponsored by the volunteers of Friends of Moraine Hills State Park. All proceeds are given to environmental studies scholarships, educational programs, and visitor services at Moraine Hills State Park.

Register by August 30 to receive your official race shirt. Pick up will be Saturday/Sunday beginning September 11 at the Moraine Hills State Park Nature Center, 1510 South River Road, McHenry.

If you register after August 30 your shirt will be available October 10-18 at the Moraine Hills State Park Nature Center, 1510 South River Road, McHenry.

There will be no age group awards for the event this year.

New This Year! Run For The Hills Trifecta! Register to run/walk all three distances.....and complete them in the time period of September 11 - September 27. What a great way to support the Friends of Moraine Hills State Park and get special bragging rights! ....and one race shirt!

Course info:

• 5K / 3.1 mile course is entirely in the state park on the combined asphalt and crushed limestone trails of the Leatherleaf Bog Trail. Gorgeous!
  
• 10K/6.2 mile course is on the Lake Defiance and Leatherleaf Bog Trails featuring lovely views of the lake and marshes. Stunning views!
  
• Half Marathon/13.1 mile course starts on same course as the 10K for the first 6 miles. The half-marathoners will then run out to complete a loop of the McHenry Dam trail, and then an out and back on the River Road bike trail. At Junction C they head back to the finish in Northern Woods. The ultimate tour of Moraine Hills State Park!

Notes:

• all 3 courses are entirely within Moraine Hills State Park and the trails are closed to motorized vehicles
• all 3 courses are primarily crushed limestone trail with intermittent asphalt surfaces
• there will be arrows to direct runners at all key intersections and turns.

The purpose of the Friends of Moraine Hills State Park is to preserve the local natural heritage and promote citizen awareness of Moraine Hills State Park. This is done through special events, educational and training programs, and acquisitions of properties. Because portions of the Park are dedicated state nature preserves, the Friends also assist in taking steps necessary to insure the continued care and preservation of the Park as a natural site.

We are people dedicated to the preservation of Moraine Hills State Park by promoting citizen awareness of the local park programs and special events. Sponsoring special events and programs is the fun part for us. Annual events such as International Migratory Bird Day, Family Fishing Day, the Moraine Hills Photo Contest, and Introduction to Archery are for all to enjoy. Our biggest event and fundraiser is the annual "Run For The Hills" race, a 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon that courses through the Park's beautiful scenery. In addition, the Friends host an annual summer picnic for our members.

We started the organization in 2007 and have been enhancing aspects of the Park one goal at a time ever since.

Our newsletter is published four times a year and outlines the activities and accomplishments that occur throughout the year. Please note, that to be a "Friend" does not mean that you have to volunteer, but our volunteering opportunities are both fun and rewarding! A park always needs more Friends. Each year, Moraine Hills State Park and McHenry Dam hosts over 700,000 visitors. If only 1% became members, we'd have 7,000 members! Please consider joining us. A Friend of the park can simply give a monetary donation, or have fun with helping (and enjoying!) one of our events. A bonus for members is a 10% discount on gifts in the Tamarack Shop located in Volo Bog State Natural Area about 7 miles away.

Packet Pick Up

Register by August 30: Pick up your race shirt on any Saturday/Sunday beginning September 12.

Register after August 30: Your race shirt will be ready for pick up Saturday/Sunday: October 10 & 11/October 17 & 18

Pick up location:

Moraine Hills State Park Nature Center

1510 South River Road

McHenry, IL 60051

Pick up times:

Between the hours of 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM on the above dates/weekends

Below are details on running our virtual race!

• Run anytime between September 11 - September 27, 2020.
• Run at Beautiful Moraine Hills State Park or choose your own course
• Most importantly….have fun and enjoy the time outside!

All participants will receive an official Run For The Hills Race Shirt!

Follow these easy steps to prepare for your tracking:

TRACKING STEPS 1. Download the ASICS Runkeeper™ app to your phone and create an account or scroll down to log into an existing account 2. Follow this link and click "Start Virtual Run" button to add the Moraine Hills Run For The Hills to your in-app virtual events 3. To record your run between September 11 - September 27, 2020, simply click the flag icon in your app, select the Moraine Hills Run For The Hills and follow prompts to start recording Once you have completed your distance in the app, save your workout and it will automatically post to Race Roster results. (This step must be followed from your mobile device)

VIEWING AND POSTING MANUAL RESULTS If you plan to record using another software or tracking device or post manually from what is recorded on your watch, simply head here and "Submit Virtual Result" between September 11 - September 27, 2020.

FAQS:
- To record with tracking on the ASICS Runkeeper™ app, you will need to run or walk with your phone or with a connected wearable (see instructions below)
- You do not have to track with these technologies, it is optional!
- More detailed end-to-end instructions (with images) for using the ASICS Runkeeper™ app to track your virtual event are linked here
- Instructions to link a recent activity recorded on a FitBit, Garmin, or Apple Watch linked here
- Steps to connect your FitBit, Garmin, or Apple Watch to the Runkeeper™ app are linked here
- Steps to manually post your results on Race Roster (not using the app) are linked here

If you have any technical questions, please reply to this email and the Race Roster team will support you. Take pictures out there! get creative with your finish line - share your images and stories with us in the Facebook group and tag us on social!

We look forward to seeing your name on the results board. Remember that you can run, walk, roll, or skip your distance!