Greetings from the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest!

It's hunting season here -- and it's not hard to spot the trail runners. They're the ones wearing the blaze orange t-shirts, florescent green jackets, aqua running tights, banana yellow hats, and matching shoes.  Sort of like Burning Man, without all the sand.

In a few short weeks on Sunday, December 18, we'll be opening registration for the 41st annual Ice Age Trail 50. Fifty-mile runners are invited to register at noon CST; 50k runners at 3:00 and the Half Marathoners at 6:00 pm.  You can register via the Ice Age Trail 50 website or directly at RunRace.net.

Race day is Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Here are a few tips to help guide you through the registration process:

1.  50-mile runners:  Don't register exactly at noon.  It took three hours for the 50-mile race to sell out last year, so there's plenty of time to secure an entry.

2.  The 50k and Half Marathon races often sell out in minutes.  If you are unable to register during the open time for your race, don't panic.  Email the RD at iceage50rd@gmail.com and we'll add your name to the wait list in the order it was received.  

3.  The women's t-shirts run slightly large, so please keep that in mind when completing your entry.

4.  When prompted, please be sure to include the number of IAT races you have finished.  We use this information to recognize your milestone races.

5. BIB TRANSFERS/REFUNDS = NO.

6.  And finally, we're pleased to offer early registration to the following groups on Saturday, December 10 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.:

* Runners with nine (9) or more IAT finishes in any single event or combination of events.

* 2022 volunteers.

* Top 10 overall finishers and top three age division winners in 2022 (men and women). Results are posted here.

* Deferred runners from 2022 (instructions were shared in an earlier email).

* Participants in the 2023 50k Mash-Up series.

If you do not meet one of these prerequisites, please wait until general registration opens on December 18. We will be checking entries and refunding entry fees to those who think we won't be checking entries and refunding entry fees. 

When registering, please also consider a tax-deductible gift to the Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA).  The Ice Age Trail 50 will match every dollar you give. Among other things, IATA volunteers are on the trails before the race, clearing down trees and removing debris to improve your experience and minimize the chance that your race photo isn't a face plant.  

The Ice Age Trail 50 is also honored to be one of Ultrarunning magazine's 2023 sponsored races.  What does this mean to you?  Registered runners are eligible for free subscriptions, other prizes and cool stuff.

And there's much more to come.  Please watch our Facebook page for event updates, hotel deals and other breaking news.

If you would like to communicate directly with the Race Director, please do not respond to this email.  Instead, email me separately at iceage50rd@gmail.com. Thank you.

Hope to see you on May 13th!

Jeff Mallach, Race Director