Hickory Knolls

Trail Run and Relay

5K, 10K & 10K Relay

Sunday, May 16, 2021

7:30 AM Start

EVENT DETAILS

Name: Hickory Hills 5K/10K Trail Run and 10K Relay

Date: Sunday, May 16, 2021 (National Love A Tree Day – yes, that is a real thing!)

Location: Hickory Knolls Nature Area (HKNA), James O. Breem Community Park (JBCP), Peck Rd and Campton Hills Rd, St. Charles

Parking will be in the JBCP parking lot with entrance off of Campton Hills Rd, just west of the stoplight at Peck Rd. You will want to park on the west end of the lot (closer to the Discovery Center building and wooded area rather than near the water park). There could be youth soccer games taking place on race day, so plan to arrive a little earlier to find a spot.

Primary Sponsor: Dick Pond Athletics

Secondary Sponsor(s): Brooks

Beneficiary: St Charles Park District (hopefully for creation of new trails and maintenance of existing trails at HKNA)

Distances:

Approx. 5K (3.1 miles) for Individual runners, running one 3-mile loop
Approx. 10K (6.3 miles) for Individual runners, running two 3-mile loops
Approx. 10K (6.3 miles) for 2-person teams, with each person running one 3-mile loop

Sponsored by

All proceeds from the race will benefit

Registration fees

5K Run/Walk 7:30 AM Start: Heat 1 Closed

Online registration closed

3.10 Mile Individual Run/Walk starting at 7:30 AM
1. $40.00
  
  Feb 16 – Mar 15
2. $45.00
  
  Mar 16 – May 8
3. $48.00
  
  May 9 – May 13
4. $50.00
  
  May 14 – May 14

5K Run/Walk 8:30 AM Start: Heat 2 Closed

Online registration closed

3.1 Mile Individual Run starting at 8:30 AM
1. $40.00
  
  Feb 16 – Mar 15
2. $45.00
  
  Mar 16 – May 8
3. $48.00
  
  May 9 – May 13
4. $50.00
  
  May 14 – May 14

10K Run 9:30 AM Start: Heat 3 Closed

Online registration closed

6.2 Mile Individual Run starting at 9:30 AM
1. $40.00
  
  Feb 16 – Mar 15
2. $45.00
  
  Mar 16 – May 8
3. $48.00
  
  May 9 – May 13
4. $50.00
  
  May 14 – May 14

10K Run 11:00 AM Start: Heat 4 Closed

Online registration closed

6.20 Mile Individual Run starting at 11:00 AM
1. $40.00
  
  Feb 16 – Mar 15
2. $45.00
  
  Mar 16 – May 8
3. $48.00
  
  May 9 – May 13
4. $50.00
  
  May 14 – May 14

2 Person 10K Relay 1:00 PM Start: Heat 5 Closed

Online registration closed

6.2 Mile Relay (2 team members). One individual registers both team members in one transaction. After the first person registers, click "add another registrant" at the bottom of the page. This will create a new registration form to be filled out accordingly. After the second form is complete, proceed to check out.
1. $80.00
  
  $40.00 Per Participant
  
  Feb 16 – Apr 3
2. $90.00
  
  $45.00 Per Participant
  
  Apr 4 – May 8
3. $96.00
  
  $48.00 Per Participant
  
  May 9 – May 13
4. $100.00
  
  $50.00 Per Participant
  
  May 14 – May 14

Event Info

THE HICKORY KNOLLS TRAIL RUN & RELAY

Spring is in the air, and this is the best time of the year to run trails! Join us in celebrating National Love A Tree Day by scampering through the woods at The HICKORY KNOLLS TRAIL RUN & RELAY at the Hickory Knolls Nature Area in St Charles on May 16th.

If you ran one or both of the Big Timber XC Challenge races the last couple of years, you know we love to give you a course that will test your legs. And while there’s no cold-water creek crossing this time, don’t fool yourself into thinking this one will be an easy jaunt through the park. The hills at Hickory Knolls can be taxing. Go out too fast in the first mile, and you’ll pay a price later. The elevation profile between the 1.25 mile and 2.5 mile marks looks like the fangs and teeth of a coyote, and this terrain certainly has the potential to eat you up.

You can be a part of the adventure by participating on your own either in the Individual Runner 5K or 10K or as part of the 2-person 10K Relay. Or why not “do the double”, by running the 5K/10K as an individual and then, just for fun, coming back to partner with a spouse/child/sibling/friend for the relay??

The course is approximately 3 miles, primarily on wide mowed-grass pathways. The Individual Runner 5K is one loop and the Individual Runner 10K is two loops (twice the fun!!). For the Relay, each person will run one loop.

Also, because spring is the time of school graduations, we invite everyone to come to the event or actually run wearing your school’s shirt. Whether it be your own high school or college alma mater, your kid’s middle/high school/college, or simply a school you want to represent … we’d just like to see how many different schools show up.

Whether as an individual or with a partner, you’ll find Hickory Knolls is a pretty awesome site for trail running. We hope you’ll come out to join the fun and run the Trail Adventure with us on May 16th.

*** Please understand we want to put on a true organized race just as much as all of you want to actually run in one. Yet the reality is we have no idea of knowing what COVID limitations may or may not exist on race day. As a result, we must open registration using a “heat” format for each individual run and for the relay, with each heat having a limit of (50) individuals/teams. If government sanctions allow us to increase entries within each heat at a later date, we’ll look to do that, but for now we have to start with current restrictions.

Also, if government or health officials mandate we must cancel the event, this will NOT be a virtual race (although you’re welcome to go run the course anytime on your own – it’s a really nice place to run!).

If we are forced to cancel, you will be notified by email of when and where you can pick your VOORAY Stride Cinch Bag and have the OPTION of either (a) receiving a refund for the difference between bag value and entry fee paid, OR (b) allowing the remaining difference between bag value and entry paid going to our beneficiary.

If the races are held, there will be NO REFUNDS for any other reason once you have registered.

Water Station: There will be NO water station on the course for either Individual or Relay runners; all participants are advised to carry their own hydration, if needed. Bottled water will be available at the Finish.

Washrooms: There are washrooms in the Discovery Center and a toilet adjacent to the picnic shelter. There may also be some porta-potties near the soccer fields.

Race Day Schedule:

Sunday, May 16

Chip timing will be used to determine comprehensive result of the two heats for each distance and determine the overall winners

Registration will be limited to (50) individuals/teams for each event*

7:30am Individual Runner 5K Run, Heat 1

8:30am Individual Runner 5K Run, Heat 2

9:30am Individual Runner 10K Run, Heat 3

11:00am Individual Runner 10k Run, Heat 4

1:00pm 2-person 10K Relay, Heat 5

For Relay, please be prepared to enter information for BOTH runners at one time.

Participants wanting to “do the double” by running the Individual 5K/10K and the 10K Relay must sign up separately for each race.

* Registration for each heat will be CLOSED once COVID race limit is met.

Age Groups / Team Categories:

Individual Run: Male/Female in age groups 13 & Under, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 & Over
2-person Relay: Male/Female/Co-ed teams in combined-age groups 40 & Under, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-119 and 120 & Over

Premium for Registration: A VOORAY Stride Cinch Backpack, with printed race logo. The polyester Stride is a lightweight, drawstring backpack with a 19L capacity (a full-size soccer ball fits inside!). With one interior zip pocket, one exterior zip pocket and comfortable mesh shoulder straps, the Stride is ideal for trail running, hiking, biking, and more, One size.

5k entrants will receive the Olive backpack, 10k entrants will receive the Blue backpack, and Relay entrants will each receive the Black backpack. Please understand we cannot facilitate any changes of color, but feel free to ask about trading with other participants.

Awards:

Overall Male and Female winners of 5K and 10K
Overall Male, Female and Co-ed teams for Relay
Finisher award (but you have to finish to get it!!)

Race Day Raffle: We will have some raffle items to give away while each race is in progress. When you cross the Finish line, be sure to check the dry erase board posted nearby to see if you have won something.

Packet Pick-up:

Saturday, May 15, 10:00am – 12:00noon at Dick Pond Athletics, 303 N 2^nd Street, St Charles

(New entries will be accepted at this time ONLY if space is still open)

Sunday, May 16, at race site, 7:00am – race time

(NO new registrations will be accepted at this time)

Wear Your School Colors!: Spring is the time of school graduations, so we will invite everyone to run wearing their school’s shirt. Whether it be their own high school or college, their kid’s middle/high school or college, or simply a school you want to represent … we’d just like to see how many different schools show up.

Health Safety Guidelines: Participants and spectators are asked to observe all government and health safety guidelines that may be in effect on race day (see attached RaceTime document). This includes social distancing, wearing of masks, and limiting physical contact.

Everyone MUST wear a mask when entering the Discovery Center to pick up race bib or use the washroom. No mask, no entry.
Please do NOT congregate in the Discovery Center; wait outside or in your car until the start time of your race.
Race participants are encouraged to wear a mask to the Start line and then loop it around their forearm while running, allowing them to have it at the Finish.
Runners should NOT spit or blow their nose while running; carry a handkerchief, bandana or washcloth to wipe sweat, collect spit or blow nose.
Runners should “go wide” when passing another runner. There is one short section of 2-way traffic on the course where passing will NOT be permitted.
Upon finishing, runners should collect their Finisher award, get a bottled water, and then leave the Finish area as soon as possible. Please do not wait at the Finish for someone else to cross the line.
Spectators are encouraged to wear mask at all times and are asked to refrain from yelling encouragement to their runner as they pass by (use a homemade sign, thunderous hand clapping or a cow bell to let your runner know you’re cheering for them).

Medical on Site: We do intend to have a medical individual on site for any minor issues requiring First Aid.

Note: If you are a qualified medic or nurse who would like to volunteer your time and services on race day, please contact Wayne Haworth at wayne@dickpondathletics.com. We may be able to offer a small stipend to you for stepping up and helping out.

Course Information

Distances:

Approx. 5K (3.1 miles) for Individual runners, running one 3-mile loop
Approx. 10K (6.2 miles) for Individual runners, running two 3-mile loops
Approx. 10K (6.2 miles) for 2-person teams, with each person running one 3-mile loop

Course:

Course to be run on the existing trails and pathways fully within the Hickory Knolls Nature Area (see course map below)
Course is primarily wide pathways over dirt, grass and gravel. Expect to encounter uneven ground, exposed roots, partially embedded rocks, low branches and other conditions characteristic of a wooded area. You are running at your own risk of possibly stumbling, falling, or landing awkwardly, any of which could result in an injury.
Course will be marked using directional arrow signs and strings of plastic triangular pennants.

Volunteers

VOLUNTEERS

YES!! Volunteers are Needed: Volunteers are needed on race day to help with bib pick-up, at the Start/Finish and along the running route as course marshals. Besides receiving the deep and eternal gratitude of the race committee and participants, you will also receive a Brooks (or DPA) t-shirt, as well as be eligible for a few raffle items we have reserved for our volunteers. If you can help out, please notify Wayne Haworth at wayne@dickpondathletics.com.

Relay Competition

Team Competition:

ALL teams MUST must register as a team during on line registration.

Teams cannot be formed on race day.

Team categories are:

2-person Relay: Male/Female/Co-ed teams in combined-age groups 40 & Under, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-119 and 120 & Over

There is no additional fee to enter the Team Competition.

Registration Safety Guidelines

Event schedule

Sat, May 15, 2021 10:00 AM - Pre Race Day Packet Pick Up at Dick Pond Athletics St. Charles (10AM-12PM)
Sun, May 16, 2021 6:30 AM - On Site Check In
Sun, May 16, 2021 7:30 AM - 5K Race Start: Heat 1
Sun, May 16, 2021 8:30 AM - 5K Race Start: Heat 2
Sun, May 16, 2021 9:30 AM - 10K Race Start: Heat 3
Sun, May 16, 2021 11:00 AM - 10K Race Start: Heat 4
Sun, May 16, 2021 1:00 PM - 2 Pearson 10K Relay Race Start: Heat 5

Contact information

Event contact: Wayne Haworth
Email: wayne@dickpondathletics.com
Phone: +1 630-665-3316
Website: Visit website