The Birth and Evolution of the Dick Pond Athletics Trail Race Series
The Dick Pond Athletics Trail Race Series is a four-part series hosted throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall. These off-road races offer gorgeous scenery and a different racing experience than your typical road race.
This race series has grown over the years from a single race in Geneva to four races each year. Join us on the journey through the very first race and see how it has expanded to what it has become today!
The Birth of the Trail Race Series
The roots of the Dick Pond Athletics Trail Race Series originate with the Windmill Trail Challenge held at Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva on November 11, 2018. This event was conceived by the off-hand comment “you should sponsor a race there” from Brent Runzel to Glen Kamps, manager of the St. Charles Dick Pond Athletics store. Followed by Glen’s half-hearted response of “let’s do it!”. Which was enough for Brent to bring his vision to reality. Response to this first event far exceeded expectations with more than 150 participants in the 5K and 10K distances.
As a matter of fact, participation in that initial event was so successful that the Forest Preserve denied a permit for the race at the same location the following year, and the event moved to Camp Big Timber in Elgin in 2019. Paying homage to the widely popular Cross Country Challenge more than a decade earlier, the 1st Annual Big Timber XC Challenge was held on November 17, 2019, and instantly became known for the legendary creek crossing and post-race pancake breakfast.
The Growth of the Trail Race Series
The 2nd Annual Big Timber XC Challenge was held on November 1, 2020 and was run in waves during the COVID pandemic. Despite the health concerns, the popularity of this event was very strong, spurring the question from Wayne Haworth, Dick Pond Athletics Accessory & Apparel Buyer, “is there support to do a similar trail running event next year in the spring?”
From there, the first Hickory Knolls 5K/10K Trail Run was held on May 16, 2021, in St. Charles and was followed by the 3rd annual Big Timber XC Challenge on November 7 at Camp Big Timber in Elgin once again. The popularity of trail running in the Fox Valley area was growing, and there were now two events in the Dick Pond Athletics Trail Series. Staff wondered, “was there room for a third, or even a fourth, event?”.
The answer was yes! The inaugural multi-distance Summer Trail Classic was held at Carl Hansen Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates on August 14, 2022, sandwiched between the 2nd Annual Hickory Knolls Trail Run (now with a 2-person 10K Relay option) on May 15, 2022, and the 4th annual Big Timber XC Challenge. This was the first year that those who finished all three races received a bonus Dick Pond Athletics Trail Series running apparel item at no extra charge.
In 2023 the Dick Pond Athletics Trail Series expanded to four seasonal events, creating a year-round test – four different events, four different seasons, four different sites, four different challenges. The uncertain weather at the Chauncey’s 4 at The Farm in March, the hills of the 3rd annual Hickory Knolls Trail Run & Relay in May, the winding single-track trails of the 2nd annual Summer Classic (now at Paul Douglas Forest Preserve) in August, and the 5th annual Big Timber XC Challenge, with cold creek and warm pancakes, in November. Those who stepped up and finished all four events walked away with an awesome Trail Series jacket!
Partnering with Darn Tough
This year we have partnered with Darn Tough to create the 2024 Dick Pond Athletics Darn Tough Trail Series. Chauncey’s 4 at The Farm opened the series in April 2024 with more than 160 participants, nearly double the number of 2023! The 4th annual Hickory Knolls Trail Run & Relay will take place on June 9th, the 3rd annual Summer Trail Classic will be August 18, and the 6th annual Big Timber XC Challenge returns on November 3. Are you Darn Tough enough to complete each of the four races?
Participate in the Dick Pond Athletics Trail Race Series
Under the development of Brent Runzel and Wayne Haworth since 2019, the Dick Pond Athletics Trail Series has grown into one of the most diverse trail running series in the state of Illinois, collectively as a series and as four individual events. Whether you are an experienced or novice trail runner, you will want to be a part of these events, either collectively as a multi-race series or individually at one or more of these unique events.
We look forward to seeing you on the trails!
