Frozen Gnome
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Frozen Gnome 10k and 50k
The Frozen Gnome is a winter trail race held in Veteran Acres and Sterne’s Woods in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Runners follow a mainly single-track course with many hills and varied terrain. The 10k course is a loop that is repeated five times for the 50k distance. The route includes named features such as Butt Slide Hill.
Distances
- 10K single loop on single-track trails.
- 50K five laps of the 10K loop.
There is one main aid station called the Gnome Depot at the start-finish area. The Gnome Depot is staffed by volunteers and is stocked with hot soup, homemade food, coffee, and drinks. One unmanned aid station on the course provides a sports drink. Spectators can see runners at the start-finish area on every loop.
Race logistics include parking at the main lot of Veteran Acres (431 Walkup Road) and the start line near the park shelter north of the tennis courts and baseball field. Race-day packet pickup takes place at the Veteran Acres concession stand near the large parking lot by the sledding hill. The event enforces an overall cutoff time of 8.5 hours, and no pacers are allowed, including human pacers or dogs.
Awards and swag include finisher medals for all 10K and 50K finishers, a Frozen Gnome shirt and bib, overall prizes for first through third male and female, and first-place age-group awards in 10-year spans. A local nutrition sponsor provides homemade chili for participants. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
