Kettle Moraine Trail Run

I went to Kettle Moraine today since there was some questionable weather to hit here later this evening or tomorrow morning. Today was a beautiful day with clear skies for the most part, temperatures in the upper 70's, and winds 10-20 mph.

I ran 15 miles starting from Hwy12 ("click on map and see red highlighted route") and ending at the Nordic trailhead. My total time on my feet was close to 4 hours, so that's good. By the way, GPS watches, at least my Garmin 201, don't work well out here -- too much tree coverage. Carol, who is mentioned below, ran about 13 miles. She was feeling pretty fatigued, was getting foot cramps, and didn't have much water left, so she took the purple ("short") trail back to the Nordic trail head where she had parked her car.

Let me preface that after my posting on the ChiADead message boards a few days ago of my intent to run at Kettle Moraine as a way to get some course training prior to the Kettle 100, fellow ChiADead runner Carol Schelling offered to run with and offer any suggestions, tips, advice, etc. she could since she has had some past crewing, pacing, and course experience. This was very thoughtful of her and I appreciated it very much. Thanks Carol!!!

I'll just get right into my random thoughts on the course (relative to the Kettle 100 race):

I guess there are 2 out and back segments to accommodate the 100k and 100m runners, which mean that if doing the 100M, one would see the Nordic trails a total of 4x (1 out, 1 back - 100K, 1 out, and 1 back - final 38 miles). This segment is pretty hilly. They're not short and quick hills, but longer sign-wave style and there are many (in comparison to Clinton Lake, they're not as up/down as CL, but they're longer and taller). You will see postings on the side of the trail that mark the level of difficulty, which helps with what to expect. I have taken a picture of a few signs; you will note a black sign with steep up/downs. This is through the Nordic segment.

The section between Hwy 12 and Bluff Rd is pretty similar in terrain with spurts of open prairie. There are some single track in this area, but it does open up. The footing is generally gravel, bigger rocks, and roots. The open prairie is dirt and grass. Don't forget to look to your right and left to see the view. How pretty all those trees look. There are benches to sit on that overlook the views.

There is an area called "confusion point" but should be manned during the Kettle 100 to let runners know which way to go. This area is located by Bluff Rd where you initially go north and back for the first 100K, then when you come out for the remaining 38 miles, you'll go south instead of north. Going southbound towards Nordic trailhead, there is a hill that must be walked up. Good time to get those energy bars out.

In general, the footing isn't all that difficult. There are some technical areas, but not too bad. The bed of pine needles are quite soft to run on and that area is flatter, so get your rest in there. There are some rolling plains primarily of dirt, gravel, roots, grass where the view is awesome (for the midwest at least - I have some photos of that). Pine needles get into socks, so it might be worthwhile to wear trail gaiters on this course. I also passed through some sandy areas.

It's beautiful in the pine tree area. The tall trees all lined up in a row and there are so many of them. While in this area, it's so quiet and feels so remote. Feels like you're in a different place. Give a shout because it echoes there too. Oh yeah, right on the north side of Bluff Rd there might be a bonfire that night where crew generally wait and a aid station as you cross the street, there will be a possibly themed (Hawaiin motif maybe) aid station.

Look at one of the last few pictures to see what the Nordic area really looks like from a map. The one on the website doesn't draw it out to the detail that's given in the picture. It's the blue trail (or it might look a bit white - lower rightmost side of board).

There's a picture of the general store in there. They have a good ham sandwich ("ham of honey wheat"); comes with a side of organic tortilla chips - tastes like the regular thing. I got it with a side of eggy potato salad; good stuff. I ate there today after my run. They also sell energy drinks/supplements, electrolytes there in case you need some. They have good ice cream there too (ate there a different time after I recalled being in the place once before on a hike many years ago). They also have a bike rental place part of the store; not sure the fees though. They sell bikes, helmets, bike parts etc. too.

I hope these pictures help give you a better idea as to what the course is like. From what i'm told this pretty much covers what most of the course looks like. There isn't too much difference in the trail up north apparently.

I powdered up my feet today instead of using vaseline and it worked pretty well. I didn't get blisters, but I also re-applied at mile 13. I'll probably be taping my feet when I pace Tom Riley at the Kettle 100 so I don't need to stop in my 19 miles that night.

There was a parking fee of $10 for non-WI-residents and a trail fee of $4 (oh great! I was just notified by Ian Stevens that this trail fee is not for hikers or runners, oh well) that could be inserted into the fee meter in the center of the parking lot. It's funny, on the meter, there are instructions and they mention that they will mail you your change should you not have exact. I didn't, so I put in a $5 dollar bill for the trail fee, so we'll see if I get $1 back in the mail (UPDATE!! Hey, look, I got my $1 back). There are free maps at the map station on the north side of the parking lot; grab one.

Also, as a side note, if you're going up by yourself and taking your bike along so you could do the 15 miles one way, you could lock it up at Nordic, and if running/hiking from Hwy12, could ride it back to your car here, but you would be riding it on Hwy H and Hwy 12. Hwy 12 is some faster traffic, but wouldn't be that long of a ride, maybe 2 or 3 miles it seemed. You can't take your bike on the Nordic trail which I ran.

Here are some photos below, but all of the photos, mostly of the course terrain and views, can be downloaded here (19.1 MB).