Monroe County YMCA Illinois Ozarks 10K Bluff Trail Run

Where?
Begins at Borsch Park, Valmeyer, Illinois—20 minutes south of the J.B. Bridge along Bluff Road.

When?
Saturday, October 27, 2012. 9:30 a.m. start. The race is a go rain or shine.
Disclaimer Note: Should there be lightning, the race will be postponed until such time as the lightning ceases. Continuation of the race will be at the sole discretion of the race director.

Registration?
Register online at http://www.ymcaswil.org/ and click on YMCA Race Series, by mail (see address on registration form) or in person at the Monroe County YMCA.
Be prepared to supply one of the following pieces of information:

• Latest 10K time
• Estimate for a 10K

Entry fee?
• $30 through October 8
• $35 beginning October 9
• No refunds
• Limited entry
• Race day sign up until 8:45 a.m., ONLY if space is available. T-shirt is not guaranteed with registration after October 8.

What is it?
An off-road 10K trail run along trails through the scenic Salt Lick Point Land and Water Reserve.

Who?
Ages 14+.

Course?
10K, beginning and ending on 1.45K of pavement, the remainder over very hilly terrain. Racers start in heats of 25 (every 30 seconds) according to one of the following:

• Previous 10K time
• Estimated 10K time

Packet pick-up?
Friday, October 26 at the Monroe County YMCA or race day morning at the large pavilion in Borsch Park – 7:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.

Awards?
• Top Female/Male finisher over all – 1 award each
• Age group awards:
Male: 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+
Female: 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+
• Three awards in each age group

Rules?
• To be eligible for an award, the runner must complete the entire race course.
• Bandits will be disqualified and prohibited from future races.
• No early starters.

Shirts?
Long sleeved t-shirt guaranteed with registration on or before October 8th.

Directions?
From Interstate 255, exit at Route 3 South Columbia. Immediately take the Quarry Road/Palmer Road exit and turn right on Palmer Road. At the stop sign, go straight onto Bluff Road. Follow Bluff Road and signs for 14 miles to (old) Valmeyer. Borsch Park is on the left after you pass Rock City sign.

Description?
Course is a 10K starting at the foot of the Illinois Ozark Bluffs at Borsch Park in Valmeyer, IL. The first 1.45 kilometers are on pavement with a gradual increase in grade as you pass mine openings quarried decades ago. The ascent up the bluffs begins near Rock City, an industrial park set in the caverns where limestone was once mined. The wide Salt Lick Trail rises rapidly and then settles into a more gradual climb until you come to the plateau where you will begin your descent down Newman Trail. When you reach the bottom of the bluffs, you will follow the flat 2.09 kilometer Johnson Trail, passing numerous mine openings and dozens of boulders the size of semi trucks. The next leg of the run takes you up the Salt Lick Trail once again, this time from the much more steep western side, where the grade is nearly 40%. You will complete the entire Salt Lick Trail, descending at the point where you began the original climb and ending on the pavement leading back to Borsch Park. The course will have taken you from a little over 300 feet to over 850 feet above sea level.

Monroe County YMCA Illinois Ozarks 10K Bluff Trail Run Valmeyer IL