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Groundhog Grind Trail Race
JOIN US ON GROUNDHOG DAY IN 2025! 5k - 1 loop Distances will be measured by GPS but more than likely won't be exactly 5k/10k. No whining. The course is a 5k loop so 1 loop for 5kers and 2 for 10kers. Start finish area will be in the campground where we will also have our race HQ and timing setup from True Time Racing. This will be a chip timed event. The course will head out over the red bridge and through the scout camp area and up our first challenging hill. If you push this one hard you may pick up a Strava KOM with our favorite segment straight up DeVotie Hill . At the top of the hill you will pass by the Dewitt DeVotie grave stone marker and head into the main trail. Shortly after you will take a sharp left into a newly created trail area we like to call Groundhog Gulch. If it snows a lot this could be a factor here so be prepared! A loop around the Gulch and you head back out onto the trail through the woods. You'll come to a Y in the trail and head left following the trail around to the west side of the woods. There will be a quick left and you will head out into the northwest section of the park, Bone Chiller Prairie. This will be another area of the course where a Northwest wind and some snow will be a challenge. You will head down the west boarder of the park and back through the middle of the prairie where you will hit a small trail section that will take you along the Thomas Mitchell Pond. With a small pond section you will head down into the lower section of the trail and do a quick loop along Camp Creek. You will pop back out and head up the trail on another challenging hill back to the Y section and back along the ridge towards the grave marker, back down DeVottie Hill, over the red bridge and back to the start finish area. 10kers will get to have the true Groundhog Day experience and turn around and do it all over again! REGISTRATION DETAILS All registrations are $40 for either the 5k or 10k event. WHERE Park in the campground parking lot on the south side of the Thomas Mitchell Park. Follow the signs to the campground. If all parking is taken you will need to park along the road or back at the shelter parking lot. PLEASE READ - Weather Policy Thomas Mitchell Park is maintained by the Polk County Conservation department and they will have the final say as to whether or not the trails are available for running. Thus, trail closure decisions are 100% up to them. Due to this, there is the possibility that come race day, trails could be closed due to conditions. If this ends up being the case, we will move the race to another date if possible before fully canceling. PACKET PICKUP Location TBD - Friday January 31st 4-6pm
Storm The Park 5k
Run 5k for Adventureland's 50th! Come STORM THE PARK on opening day and complete a 5k fun run to kick off the season. You will be the first to fly by the Viking, get scared by the Monster, conquer the Tornado and get shot into space! Grab the family and enjoy a run or walk through the park before it opens! Join Altoona Running Club as we host a unique event at Adventureland Resort! Come Storm The Park before it is open for the 2024 season. Your registration will include a finisher medal, featuring the park on the front and the 50th Anniversary logo on the back. Also included with registration will be a short sleeve shirt celebrating the event, a free parking pass and a single park entry for opening day. This is well over a $100 value for a registration fee of only $50. Race entries will be capped at May 18th, 2024 at 8AM we will take off from the carousel and weave through the park, take a quick exit through the front gates and loop around the campground and finally end up at the Adventureland Inn and Spectators Sports Bar for the finish line. We will have awards and an after party at Spectators. Altoona Running Club will be making a donation of a portion of the proceeds from this run to Caring Hands Food Pantry in Altoona and will also be establishing an Altoona Running Club scholarship program for high school seniors. Brightside Beer Mile
Individual events are $25, relay is $40 for 4 people Sign up for Rails to Ales event too and get a $10 discount! Information New location this year! With Altoonapalooza on pause we still want to have our beer mile event this year. Brightside Aleworks will be hosting us on Friday night September 6th. We will have both relay beer, ndividual beer and chocolate milk miles as options again. We have optional shirts and hats available as an add-on. Location 480 Center Place Sign up for both the Brightside Beer Mile (Sept 6th) and the Rails to Ales 10k (Oct. 6th) and get $10 off! Optional Brightside Beer Mile 100% poly shirt - $20 and optional Brightside Beer Mile performance hat $15 There will be opportunities for those who do not wish to consume beer. We will have a Chocolate Milk Mile followed by open and relay divisions. We will have both an open (fun run) division and championship division (competitive running for faster times) for individuals. This is to help separate people out. If you want to move divisions day of no problem. Chocolate Milk and beer will be provided as part of your registration fee. Do not bring your own beer for the run as we must obtain from the race. Volunteers are also needed.
Beer Mile Official Rules
3.The race begins with competitors lined up on the mile starting line, drinking the first beer in the transition zone described in the step above. This ensures competitors cover a complete mile. Competitors can walk/move in the transition area while drinking, but all beer must be consumed in the transition area before setting off to run a lap. 4. Women also drink four beers and run four laps (some past rule lists only required ladies to drink three beers). 5. Competitors must drink canned or bottled beer that is no less than 355mL (12 Oz) in volume, which is the standard can/bottle size in the USA and some other countries. 6. No specialized cans or bottles may be used that give an advantage by allowing the beer to pour at a faster rate (e.g. wide mouth bottles/cans). 7. Beer must be a minimum of 5% alcohol by volume. Hard ciders, hard sodas, and other alcoholic sugary drinks will not suffice. The beer must be a fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malted cereal grains and flavored with hops. 8. Each beer can/bottle must not be opened until the competitor enters the transition zone on each lap. 9. Competitors who vomit before they finish the race must complete one penalty lap at the end of the race (immediately after the completion of their 4th lap). Vomiting more than once during the race still only requires one penalty lap at the end. Every beer mile competitor MUST be over 21 years of age. Designated drivers or use of public transportation is highly encouraged. Identification will be checked at packet pickup. Persons under 21 years old may participate in the Chocolate Milk Mile. Race Contact Info If you have any questions about this race, please contact the race director at altoonarunning@gmail.com Rails to Ales 10k
Information Join the Altoona Running Club as we host a unique event this fall. The fun run will start at the Bondurant Depot Trailhead in Bondurant, Iowa and finish up at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona. The run will be a 10k and will take place on city streets, sidewalks, bike trails and a short highway section. This will be a fun run to a brewery and not a formally timed event this year. Runners are responsible for arranging their own transportation back to the start as this is a point to point event. Have someone drop you off in Bondurant or bring a friend and park a car at each location. Location Start: Bondurant Depot Trailhead, 2 Main Street SE, Bondurant, IA 50035 Sign up for both the Brightside Beer Mile (Sept 6th) and the Rails to Ales 10k (Oct. 6th) and get $10 off! |
