Moraine Hills Run for the Hills
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Moraine Hills Run for the Hills - Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry IL
Moraine Hills Run for the Hills is a multi-distance run/walk event held in Moraine Hills State Park on September 26, 2026, with a virtual participation window from September 1 to September 27, 2026. All in-person courses are entirely within the state park and use trails closed to motorized vehicles.
Distances:
- 5K
- 10K
- Half Marathon
Course details: the routes use primarily crushed limestone trails with intermittent asphalt. The 5K follows the Leatherleaf Bog Trail. The 10K uses the Lake Defiance and Leatherleaf Bog Trails and passes lake and marsh areas. The half marathon follows the 10K route for the first six miles, then includes a loop of the McHenry Dam trail and an out-and-back on the River Road bike trail before returning to the Northern Woods finish. Course marshals and directional arrows will mark key intersections.
Event services and logistics: packet and shirt pick-up are available at The Running Depot in Crystal Lake on September 24 and 25, with race-day pick-up at the park. Place medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each category; participation medals are available for an additional fee until August 28. Water and Gatorade are provided at stations approximately every two miles; stations do not provide snacks. Bananas and water are available at the finish. Restroom locations differ by distance: 5K - none; 10K - two; half marathon - three.
Organization and purpose: the event is organized by the volunteers of Friends of Moraine Hills State Park. Proceeds support scholarships, educational programs, park improvements and visitor services. Virtual entrants do not receive age group awards. A virtual trifecta option is offered for completing all three distances within the virtual window. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
