Overview
The Half Marathon course begins and ends in the finish area near the Nordic Trail parking lot. The two-loop counter-clockwise course was designed to take runners through a variety of vegetation, hardwoods, pine plantations, open meadows and kettle moraine terrain. The Half Marathon course is marked with BLUE ground flags.
Enjoy your run on the Nordic Trail. The trails are very wide, scenic and runnable. There are hills, but also sections in the pines and meadows where you will want to develop some speed. Many areas that were rocky have been wood chipped over to help skiers save their equipment.
The loop you are running is very representative of the glacial topography and natural diversity of the Kettle Moraine. As a cross country ski trail, it provides every type of terrain imaginable for skiing.
Sections
Section 1
Section 1 is the Nordic trailhead to the Tamarack Aid Station (AS 1; 2.2 miles). Your race will start with a short section of the Blue Nordic trail. Once out of the finish area, you’ll turn left on the Brown trail. The Brown trail leads into the Green trail, where you’ll proceed roughly .90 miles to a point where you will merge with the Nordic Blue Trail. Referring to the race map, you are running in a counterclockwise direction from AS 2 to AS 1. At AS 1, you’ll be greeted by our team of volunteers.
Section 2
Section 2 is the Tamarack Aid Station (AS 1) back to the Starting area (AS 2). When you reach AS 1 (only fluids will be provided at this station), you will continue on the Blue Trail for another 4.3 miles back to the Starting area. Michele Loehner and her crew will welcome you to the AS 2 aid station.
When you return to the Starting area, you’re halfway there! AS 2 will have plenty of aid and supplies and there’s a restroom only a few yards away. Loop two is a repeat of the first, so when you reach this area, please be sure to bear left to reconnect with the Brown Trail – and watch for the BLUE ground flags.
When you reach the Tamarack Aid Station on your second loop, you are less than 4.5 miles from the finish. Depending on your pace, you may encounter some 50K runners along this stretch.