The Big Deal at Great Seal
About the race
This park has a special place in RD Chris Stangle's heart. This was the location of the first Ultra he ever ran, and coincidentally, the first park he hosted an ultra in several years later.
Ironically, there were no ultras hosted in the park between those 2 events! Chris trained in this park daily before moving to Florida, and even had his first date with his now wife Ivi Stangle.
From the moment he considered hosting this event, the 100 mile option was always in the back of his mind.
Aid stations
There will be 5 total stops in the 20 mile loop:
- Start/Finish mile 0/20
- Rocky Road at mile 3.6
- Lick Run at mile 8.5
- Lick Run at mile 14.3
- Rocky Road at mile 17.3
Aid stations will be well stocked with water, soda, electrolytes, hot food, traditional snacks and more.
Runners are welcome to set up a tent or table near the start/finish (10x10 canopy max).
Drop bags
Limits
- One drop bag per aid station, for a total of 3 drop bags (2 of which you can access twice per loop).
- Up to a 15L dry bag. Gallon Ziplocks are great.
- No coolers.
Labeling
Label drop bags with: NAME, BIB#, AID STATION.
Aid station names
- Ireland (start/finish) mile 0/20
- Rocky Road: mile 3.8/17.5
- Lick Run: mile 8.7/14.3
On race morning there will be 3 piles for drop bags. Please pay attention and put your bags in the appropriate area.
Drop bag return
Each aid station has a return pile. When you are FINISHED with your drop bag (the last time through each aid station), hand your bag to a volunteer and say return. Otherwise, it will not be returned until the end of the event.
Finisher awards and Golden Goat
Finisher awards
- 100 mile finishers receive The Big Deal 100 mile metal buckle.
- 100k finishers receive a wooden 100k belt buckle.
- 20 mile and 5k finishers receive our traditional finisher's woodal.
Podium awards go to the top 3 male and female of each distance.
Golden Goat
This is a special award for the few who find that simply completing the 100 mile course isn't enough.
- Anyone breaking the 26 hour mark receives the Golden Goat. If one person does it, or 20, each will get a Golden Goat.
- If no one finishes under 26 hours, the top 10 percent of finishers receive the Golden Goat.
Crew access and pacers
Crew access
- Crew access is allowed at the Start/Finish (Ireland Shelter) and Lick Run aid stations.
- Do NOT access your runner at Rocky Road or anywhere else on course, unless it is an emergency.
These rules are for safety and to keep everyone law-abiding.
Pacers
- 100k and 100 mile runners may have pacers any time after the first lap, one pacer at a time.
- Each pacer must be registered as a pacer on UltraSignup (under volunteers).
- Pacers must wear a pacer bib (one pacer bib per runner, which can be shared from pacer to pacer).
- Pacers must access the runner from either the Ireland Shelter or Lick Run.
- Do not start or stop pacing anywhere else on course.
Mandatory gear (100 mile and 100k)
All items must be on your person at all times:
- GPX file on your watch or smartphone
- 2 headlamps (or one headlamp with extra batteries)
- Whistle
- Emergency foil blanket
- Carrying capacity: minimum 1L of water
- Collapsible cup (provided at packet pickup)
The course
100 Miles
100K
20 Miles
Adult 5k
5K
The course is a 20 mile loop with roughly 3200 feet of elevation gain per loop. The first loop of the 20 mile course includes the Sugarloaf Mt climb, and subsequent loops bypass it. The course is 95% single track and 5% dual track, with sections mid loop across Shawnee Ridge that have two-way traffic, marked to clearly differentiate.
Cutoffs
100 mile
- Total time limit: 36 hours (21:36/mile)
- Final lap must begin within 28 hours (21 minutes/mile)
No additional cutoff for shorter distances.
All decisions to allow a runner to continue on course are subject to change at RD's discretion.
Final course change
After running the course today we have decided to make one final change. For runners' safety, we are eliminating the Shrake Road section of the course.
These are the worst condition trails, and really sketchy downhills. I just don't feel safe putting people down there. This will create about 1 mile more of two-way traffic, but it is much more enjoyable.
Total elevation gain per loop will be 3100-3200 feet.
Location
City insight: Chillicothe
Chillicothe, Illinois, is a community in the state of Illinois, United States. Summers there are hot and humid and winters are cold, so spring and autumn are the best seasons to race.
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