WC3 LogoCross country... the best of all human endeavors!
Get your winter-teammates together, grab your racing shoes/spikes, and join us for cross country racing over the tree-lined fields of Caldwell Woods and Bunker Hill forest preserves. For your adventure we will provide:

  • Traditionalists... your event distance choice of 5 Kilometers or 15 Kilometers.
  • Ultra consideration... our Gratuitous 6-Hour option for ultra runners with an 8:00 am starting time.
  • Space for ~150 eager runners... permit restrictions limit race participation to the first 150 registrants, which is a total combined count of participants within all events.
  • Colorful one-of-a-kind race shirts for all registered runners and volunteers.
  • Chip timing & scoring with instant results published here on RunRace.net for all participants.
  • Overall awards... presented to top male & female, open and masters.
  • Age division awards... 10-year age groups for both sexes, with depth determined by number of participants.
  • Team awards... for top teams based upon 3 scoring in 5 member teams.
  • Ultra awards... for those who tally more than 26.2 miles in our Gratuitous 6-Hour run.
  • Ultra Team awards... for top teams based upon 2 scoring with most accumulated mileage.
  • An accurately measured, clearly-marked course, with a with well-stocked aid station at the start / finish area.
  • Afterward... post-race celebration with fun and awards.

Winter Challenge Cross Country, Start / Finish area:
Caldwell Woods, Grove #1
6350 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
GPS: 41.997615, -87.786481
(approximately 13 miles northwest of downtown Chicago)

Our Winter Challenge Cross Country runs takes place entirely within Region 4: North Cook County, nearby the North Branch Trail system of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, in Chicago.

Winter Challenge Cross Country is ideal for off-road/trail runners, and those experienced runners looking to compete with their teammates under cross country conditions. Our racecourse is a 5-Km loop on grassy fields -but- may be rerouted to the paved trails should wintertime conditions dictate. Either way, participants can expect a clearly marked course -and- should be prepared for challenging seasonal conditions. Gratuitous 6-Hour runners will repeat the course for as many laps as they can, then may switch to a quarter-mile loop as the clock winds down from six hours -to- zero.

Additional Distances

This event also has the following non ultra distances

5 KM 15 KM

Results

Date Finishers Top Result (M) Top Result (F)
01/14/24 8 30.15 34.85
01/09/22 3 29.462
01/12/20 11 35.352 31.319