Ultra Running Hub Libertyville, IL, United States · Saturday, October 10, 2026
Des Plaines River 50 Miles Trail Race
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2025 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, October
Regional 2001-2020 average for October — NASA POWER, grid elevation 238 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50mi | 62 | Brian Martin · 05:59:57 | Sarah Hrehor · 07:59:00 |
| 2024 | 50mi | 51 | Chantz Visse · 06:03:56 | Neesha Schnepf · 08:03:49 |
| 2023 | 50mi | 66 | J.J. Shield · 05:59:57 | Rachel Burke · 07:26:56 |
| 2022 | 50mi | 62 | Mark Williamson · 06:34:38 | Hoa Schober · 08:13:40 |
| 2021 | 50mi | 53 | Dimitri Kilian · 06:28:34 | Jamie Hershfang · 06:07:11 |
| 2019 | 50mi | 43 | Christopher Weber · 07:29:11 | Amber Despot · 08:25:28 |
| 2018 | 50mi | 49 | Christopher Weber · 07:30:56 | Melissa Moreno · 08:18:49 |
| 2017 | 50mi | 53 | Jean-Bernard Flanagan · 06:05:31 | Jessica Bird · 07:19:14 |
| 2016 | 50mi | 87 | Rob Raguet-Schofield · 06:19:15 | Alexis Doyle · 07:44:34 |
| 2015 | 50mi | 84 | Karl Mayer · 06:47:01 | Jennifer Lockrem · 07:23:45 |
The field grew 22% between 2024 (51) and 2025 (62). 23% of the 2025 field were women.
DUV results for the 2025 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
The Aid Station
Course-specific beta from the community
This is a fast & flat course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 80 km of trail with 165 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 80 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
- Race Nutrition 80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 80 km, without the bounce.
- Headlamps A 12 h limit puts you out there after dark.
- GPS Watches Battery life first — a 80 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Overview
The Des Plaines River 50 Miles Trail Race, held in Libertyville, IL, has been run 10 times since 2015. Runners face a time limit of 12 hours, which is tighter than 85% of 50-mile races. This means a pace slower than 9 minutes per kilometer will put runners at risk of not finishing within the cutoff.
The course features 165 meters of elevation gain over 80 kilometers, averaging 2.1 meters of climb per kilometer, making it a flatter 50-mile trail race. Aid stations are spaced every 3 to 6 miles along the crushed limestone trail, which is an out-and-back route through wooded landscapes.
With a field size larger than 59% of its 660 peer 50-mile races, this event offers a moderately sized competitive environment.
Similar races
Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.