You have 24 hours to complete as many laps as you can. 

Solo...or 3 Person Team

EVENT DESCRIPTION

WINONA'S CHASE THE DAY is a 24 Hour celebration of Winona Forest and its trails. The trail ultra invites runners of all abilities to run, hike, eat, sit by the fire, hang out with friends, need I go on? An ULTRA Trail event for us all, regardless of age,  fitness, or speed.  

Competitive? Great, you have 24 hours to complete as many laps as you can. The person (or 3 person team) with the most laps wins a great prize. This will be a true test of mental and physical strength and endurance. 

For the rest of us, let's all come together and celebrate life, the outdoors, and Winona's trails. Run some. Walk some. Sleep some. Throw in some late night fireside chats, add great food and drink, and we have the ultimate 24-hour Winona trail festival.

Our permit will allow for camping at CCC during the event. 

The fun begins at 8am Saturday morning. Runners will line up at the start line, and head out to complete the 2.6ish mile loop. 

Go at your own pace. Decide how fast and how often. Take off at 8am, and you’re in it for 24 hours. Pace and speed do not matter. This race is meant to test your limits, or simply have fun, and everything in between. 

Packet pick up will be on Friday, May 16 from 4-7pm at the start/finish area OR race morning starting at 6:30am. 

THE COURSE

The 2.64 mile loop will start and finish in a grassy area near parking and your personal tents. You will immediately head into a single track trail, called Norway, named after the Norway Spruce forest you will run through. This trail is a favorite amongst Winona recreational users. You will run along massive and historic stone walls, fast flowing streams, and varying terrain. (See course map and elevation profile below) Approximately 170 feet of elevation gain. 

Milestones:

Chasing a milestone?  Below is a guide to how many laps to complete in the 24 hour period. 

Half Marathon: 5 Laps

Marathon: 10 Laps

50K: 12 Laps

50 Miles: 19 Laps

100K: 24 Laps

100 Miles: 38 Laps 

3 Person Team Category:

Find a couple friends and register as a team. True camaraderie here. Again, most laps wins, but your team decides how to accumulate the laps. You could all take turns, earning one lap at a time, or double up/triple up and get 2 or 3 laps at a time. Totally up to the team.

How do you win?

The winner is determined by the person (or team) who completes the most laps. If there is more than one person who has the same number of laps, the person who completes that number of laps the fastest is the winner. The “last” lap must be completed before 8am Sunday. 

Prizes: 

The person and 3 person team with the most laps gets a 36 oz insulated Yeti Rambler with chug cap. Fully "Chase the Day" customized. 

Weather:

Certainly can't predict, but average temperatures for this location on May 17 are lows in the 40’s, and highs in the upper 60’s. 

Other Logistical Items:

• There will be space around the Start/Finish for personal aid stations, typically a 10 x 10 pop-up/easy up tent. Consider a screen tent, lounge chairs, and a table for your food and beverages. 

• There will be plenty of water coolers on site until Sunday morning when we pick up the race site.  

• We will have 3 port-a-johns on site for the weekend. Race is capped at 100 people. 

• This will be a 100% cup free race so please be prepared with your own bottle or cup for drinks.

• There will be 1 main aid station, located near Start/Finish. The manned aid station will offer a variety of hot foods throughout the 24 hours. If you have special dietary interests please consider bringing what you need.   

• Parking is free and the parking area is located very close to the route, start/finish, and your personal tent.

• Periodically we will be grilling a variety of foods. All are welcome to eat, but the food is geared more towards crew and volunteers. Could include burgers, hot dogs, easy BBQ grilling items. 

Camping

Participant “Base camp” may be set up beginning Friday at 5PM. Start/Finish staging area will not be set up until that time.  If you want to set up an additional tent site outside the start/finish gate, camping will be permitted around the CCC Camp area during the event.  Space is limited, however. Tents may be set up in grassy areas beginning Friday May 16. Personal camp fires are not allowed. Campers? Reasonably sized will work, but there is only so much space. However, campervans and reasonably sized RV's may be parked in the parking areas. There are no facilities at CCC camp, porta-potties will be in place beginning Friday. Per our temporary permit with the NYSDEC, camping will no longer be permitted after Sunday morning. There are multiple primitive campsites in close proximity to the race venue (within 1 mile)  that can handle large campers. 

Chase the Day RULES

• Each participant must tell the timer when you come in, and when you go out. 

• If you are participating as a 3 person team, you and your teammates have the flexibility to go out as often as you like during the 24hrs. All 3 could go together and stay together and accumulate 3 laps at a time. OR, any other arrangement. 

• Personal tent location on a first come-first served format. 

• Trekking poles are allowed.

• SOLO runners may have a pacer (1 Person at a time) beginning 12 hours into the race - so 8PM. 

• WINONA volunteers will provide aid at the start/finish line. 

• ​No personal campfires. There will be one central campfire. (Per DEC rules) 

2025 SCHEDULE

Friday May 16, 2025 5PM-7PM

Personal Aid/Tent set-up at CCC Camp

Early check In/bib pick up. 

Saturday May 17, 2025

6AM Personal Aid/Tent Set-up

7AM Check IN, bib pick-up

7:45AM Race Briefing

8AM Official START. 

Sunday May 18, 2025

8AM Your time is UP! How many laps did you get in? 

8:15AM Pancake Breakfast

AID STATION/SUPPORT

We will have one fully stocked aid station at the Start/Finish line.

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There will be a timing tent, and aid station tent, and a medical treatment area.

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Runners should set up their own support area (typically with a pop up/easy up tent) around the start/finish for extended rest periods, personal gear, and preferences for food and hydration.

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Aid Station Items for runners (subject to change/while quantities last):

• Fluids: Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel - Watermelon Flavor

• Soda: Coke, Ginger Ale, Orange.

• Sweets: Cookies, Fig Newtons

• Salty: Pringles, Trail Mix, Chips 

• Food: Sandwiches (PB&J, Nutella, PB, etc), fruit (bananas and oranges), broth, soup

• Medical: Ice, Bandages, Vasoline, Band Aids (limited), etc. ( NO NSAIDS e.g. ibuprofen) 

For Everyone...

• A variety of grilled foods such as burgers, hot dogs, ziti throughout the day and night

Aid stations are for registered runners only, during the event (not before). Crew members are welcome to the periodic cooking foods, but please - runners only for aid station items. Runners and crew are encouraged to have their own supply, especially for particular items or certain diet requirements.

FAQ's

Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Sorry, not everyone likes dogs.

Q: Can I sign my kids up for the race?
A: Yes! We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events!

Q: What's the weather like in upstate NY in mid May?
A: Varies.  Typically the day starts a coolish 40's degrees, then reaches mid to upper 60's.

Q: What food will you have at the aid station?
A: Typical Ultra sustenance. Food for the crew throughout the 24 hours. 

Q: I could get lost in a brown paper bag. Will the course be marked?
A: We will have bright colored ribbons along the course and plenty at all of the turns. We will also have large directional arrows at each turn.

Q: Will I encounter any wildlife on the course?
A: Squirrels. Maybe a deer.  Nothing that will eat you.

Q: I don't want to run, are there any volunteer opportunities?
A: Of course! We always need Volunteers! Email me if you would like to volunteer: snowshoerace@gmail.com

Q: I can’t make it to the race anymore, can I get a refund?
A: Unfortunately we do not offer refunds for our non-refundable registration fee. Thank you for understanding!.

Q: Me and my friend aren't registered for the race, but we're still planning on coming to run. We won't eat from the aid station or take a medal or swag. This is okay, right?
A: NO THIS IS NOT OKAY. This is called being a "race bandit" and it is stealing. Not paying for a race and running the race is stealing from the race organization (even if you're not taking food or swag). Do not do this please. It's not okay. And if you hear about someone else doing this, call them out. We work (volunteer) tirelessly.....for you.....to bring you incredible outdoor recreation opportunities....to make your life better! This is a fundraiser, to enable us to continue doing that.