There is a special kind of magic that only exists on a Michigan trail in the middle of winter. It is found in the crunch of the snow under your feet, the tactical dance of slipping and sliding on icy paths, and the peace of a landscape buried in white. This year, I celebrated those moments by participating in the Winter Trail Fest – East Side Half Marathon at Inland Lake Recreation Area.
The mission was simple. Complete the half-marathon through an unpredictable landscape while having fun. In central Michigan, February can be a wild card. One week, you’re battling sub-zero temps and trails covered ankle deep in snow. The next, you’re navigating 40F sunshine and slushy/muddy trails. That unpredictability is why I love trail running. I keep returning to Winter Trail Fest year-after-year because no two years are the same.
Winter Trail Fest Course
The Winter Trail Fest – Eastside starts and ends at the scenic Kent Lake Beach. The start is staggered, designed to manage the flow of runners across three different races.
- Half Marathon & Ruck (Early Start)
- Half Marathon (Main Start) – Roughly an hour after the early start
- 5-mile – 30 minutes after the half-marathon
The staggered starts helped somewhat with the congestion but they didn’t resolve all of it. With the first few miles being single-track, there were some major bottlenecks.
I made the mistake of starting near the back because I was treating this as a training run. I regretted that decision for almost the entire first 5K. Slower runners created congestion points and weren’t willing to step aside for passing.
Roughly 3.6 miles in, we split from the 5-mile course onto a connector trail to begin our second loop. Shortly after the split, the trail transitioned into a wider, paved section. This allowed for passing others safely and finally settling into a consistent pace.
The second loop of the half-marathon was my favorite part of the race. The terrain was constantly engaging with steep, short hills, flat runnable stretches, and decent downhills. Not to mention it was almost entirely forested.
Tips for Participating
Open to Biking. Inland Lake Recreation Area is a well-known area for mountain biking. The trail is not closed for the race. It is important to keep that in mind and pay attention to any hills or corners that you can’t see around.
Not Very Technical. In my opinion, this course is not very technical and while there are hills, it isn’t one that would require an extreme amount of hill training. It is an excellent course for someone who is just starting in trail running.
Lots of Parking. Parking is limited to 350 cars and while the lot did fill up (always arrive early if you can), there were still a few spots open when the half-marathon took off.
Manage the Conga Line. As with most trail races, be prepared for the conga line. If you want to get ahead of it, start toward the front of the pack, but also please be aware that if a runner comes up behind you, offer to step aside and allow them to pass.
The Goodies
I come back every year for Winter Trail Fest pretty much for the WTF hooded sweatshirt. They have the BEST hooded sweatshirts. Comfortable, warm, and beautiful. This year was no different.
The finisher medals are always pretty neat, too. If you participate in both Winter Trail Fest, and Summer Trail Fest Ultra, the finisher medals connect and create a really unique design. This is the first year I’ll be participating in both races.
If you don’t want a hooded sweatshirt or a medal and are there just for the miles, there is also an economic option offered. It saves you a bit of money on the registration.
Top 3 finishers of their age group also win a winter hat. I have quite the collection going of W.T.F. hats. This year I placed 2nd for my age group but they had ran out of the hats and had to mail it to me.
Overall
Despite the trail etiquette snags, W.T.F. East remains a must-run event for me, and I recommend it for anyone looking to build a solid winter base.
This year, it has been a critical piece of the puzzle for my 100-mile journey. A chance to test my fuel and gear in an environment that is expertly organized and incredibly welcoming. If you want a race that challenges your legs without crushing your spirit, the Winter Trail Fest series is the answer.
The Winter Trail Fest race series is a great way to get out and embrace the beauty of winter. For more information, visit Winter Trail Fest – East Side.
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