The PIASA, Presented by the Wildcat River Runners

The PIASA, Presented by the Wildcat River Runners

Saturday, May 16, 2026

13112 Visitors Center Ln, Grafton, IL 62037

The Piasa race borrows the spirit of a mythical winged beast, testing runners against rugged bluffs and technical trails in Pere Marquette State Park.

The Challenge

• 12.5K: A sharp introduction to the Piasa Trails.
• 25K: Sustained climbing and technical terrain.
• 50K: A full reckoning with over 4,000' of climbing.

Divisions

• Solo Division: You versus the hills, the clock, and the legend.
• Buddy Division: Two runners, one journey, built on shared suffering and shared victory.

Course Details (Pending)

Links to AllTrails maps are provided for each distance.

Start Times / Cutoffs

• Start Times: 50K - 6:00am, 25K - 7:30am, 12.5K - 7:30am
• Cutoffs: Racing concludes at 2pm on Saturday (8 hour 50K).

Packet Pick Up / Pre-Race Meeting

Pere Marquette Visitors Center

• Friday, May 1st from 2pm to 6pm
• Saturday, Race morning pickup from 5am until 20 minutes before race start time.

Awards + Swag

Custom hand-crafted Piasa artwork for Top 3 overall winners for each distance. Top age group / buddy group will also receive custom awards.

Registration Policies

No refunds are offered. Deferrals are available for medical reasons to the 2027 event with a note from a medical professional, valid for 50% of the entry fee.