Broken Boulder

Event Overview

Join us for the seventh annual Broken Boulder Trail Race on Saturday November 29th at 8am. Just like last year this is a free race. A chance for us to show our thanks to our running community and the volunteers that make our events possible.

Registration Details

• Cap: Registration is open, with a cap set at 50 for now.
• Reserved Spots: About 20 spots are reserved for volunteers or first-time runners.
• Community Focus: We want to ensure those who donate their time to the community will have a chance to run.
• Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed for several races, including the Turkey Run in Herrin, Tunnel Hill 10 Miler, Tunnel Hill 50/100, and Broken Boulder.

Race Background

Sometime in 2014, I was introduced to trail running by Jason Claunch. For the next several years Jason showed me a lot of different trails but I always liked the trails at Ferne the most. On a lot of those runs, Jason and I would discuss our ideas on how to introduce more runners to trail running and the wonderful trails at Ferne Clyffe. One night as I was lying in bed trying to sleep, the idea hit me. I jumped out of bed and text Jason, "Let’s have a trail race at Ferne and make it free." He was on board right away so that’s what we did. We spent some more time out there to come up with the best route, and in 2018, we hosted our first Broken Boulder!

Course Details

The Broken Boulder Trail Race is an amazing tour of the beautiful Ferne Clyffe State Park! This tough but runnable course will highlight all of the great sights within the park, including:

• High Lookout Points: Enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
• Creek Crossings: Experience natural water features along the course.
• Natural Land Bridge: A unique trail feature to navigate.
• Diverse Terrain: The trail consists of technical single track and wide fire roads with 1400’ of climbing.

Race Logistics

The first and last 1/2 mile of the race will be on the road. The rest of the race will be trail, with great caution advised due to potentially dangerous areas within the park. This race is a cupless race, meaning you are required to bring your own hydration device, such as:

• Hydration Vest: Recommended for carrying water.
• Handheld Bottle: A convenient option for many runners.
• Plastic Bag: A light option for carrying hydration.
• Last Minute Water Bottle: Duct taped to your hand if necessary!

Aid Stations

There will be 3 aid stations on the course:

• Aid Station One: Located at mile 2.75, will be passed again at 3.5 miles.
• Aid Station Two: At 4.75 miles, at the top of The Boyscout Trail.
• Aid Station Three: Approximately at mile 6 before heading to a more remote section.
• Trail Safety: Again, be careful and stay on the trail.

More Information

For additional details and to register, please visit the event page: Broken Boulder Trail Race.