A nighttime 50K on the canal, chasing the stars from Sheffield to the Mississippi.
A nighttime point-to-point 50K starting at Lock 22 near Sheffield at 5pm Saturday. Runners follow the Hennepin Canal Main Canal Trail westward through the dark to finish at the 100-mile finish line in Colona. With a generous cutoff of 1pm Sunday (~20 hours), the race attracts both competitive runners and those who use the late start to finish pacing 100-mile runners before toeing the 50K line.
Sterling, IL, United StatesOctober 03, 2026
The Mule 50K is a point-to-point trail race in Sterling, IL, United States, held on October 03, 2026. The course covers 31.1 miles, climbs 120 ft, and has a 20h cutoff.
| Location | Mile | Elevation | Cutoff | Drop bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Start Start | 0.0 | 591 ft | — | |
Finish Finish | 31.1 | 558 ft | 20h1:00 PM +1 |
Aid station details for this race are still being filled in. Cutoffs and access rules come from the race’s own published information and can change — check the official race details before planning around them.
Sign in for race-day weather at every station, points of interest, segment-by-segment analysis, pacing, and to save this race to your calendar.
Camping at Lock 17 near Wyanet (50 mile finish) for 50 milers; 100 mile runners can camp at Colona Scott Family Park (3 miles from the 100 mile finish, near bus pickup to start).
Early October evenings in northwest Illinois are cool, with temperatures dropping from ~60°F at the 5pm start to 35–45°F overnight. The exposed canal towpath can feel colder with wind chill. October has only a 6% chance of rain or thunderstorms.
No recommended gear specified
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