Hennepin Hundred, live.

Point to point along the Hennepin Canal

The Hennepin Hundred starts at 7 am on Saturday 2 October 2027 in Sinnissippi Park, Sterling, and follows the Hennepin Canal State Trail across northwest Illinois.

The organiser calls the Hennepin Hundred Illinois' only point to point, all trail ultramarathon. It runs from Sterling on the Rock River to Colona near the Mississippi along the Hennepin Canal State Trail, past historic locks and lift bridges, farms and small towns. It is held on the first full weekend of October.

The 100 mile race, the 100 mile relay for five person teams and the 50 mile race all start at 7:00 am along the Rock River in Sinnissippi Park, Sterling. The course makes a giant upside down T: everyone runs east for a while, the 50 milers finish at Lock 17 near Wyanet, and the 100 milers turn back on a short out and back and continue west to Colona. The night 50K, known as the Mule, starts at 5:00 pm from Lock 22 near Sheffield and finishes with the 100 milers in Colona.

The surface is mainly rustic: dirt, chip and seal, crushed limestone and a few paved stretches. The course is flat and fast, and the race has been a Western States qualifier every year since 2019 for a 100 mile finish inside 30 hours. The 50 mile race has 15 hours.

The 100 mile and 50K finish is in front of the Colona Fire Department, which welcomes runners in for a shower or a cot. About 150 volunteers staff the aid stations, and crews may only meet runners where crew access is marked.

On Livebib you can follow a participant who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry. This is not the organiser's timing, and official results come from the Hennepin Hundred.