Living History Farm Cross Country Race

Living History Farms Race--that is a running Banana in the picture

Does the idea of navigating a seven mile course that involves jumping in freezing rivers, slogging through mud, climbing up riverbanks, and tripping over tree roots sound like fun?  If it does, you probably are mildly insane, or ran cross-country in high school (which often go hand-in-hand).  Word-of-mouth hype has transforme

d Living History Farms into the largest cross-country race in North America.  The 2010 race featured over 7,500 registered runners. 


What to Expect 
If you choose to register for the race, I would like to first warn you that I question why I run the race every year.  There is always a point in the race where I am so tired that I just want to quit.  It is extremely demanding course--nothing like a typical 5k or 10k run on pavement.  Before registering, consider that:

1. The weather is cold...often below freezing. 
2. The race is crowded from beginning to end.  Expect to bump elbows with other runners .
3. The course winds through uneven cornfields and mud, all of which are tough on knees and ankles. 
4. There are several river-crossings where runners have to wade through waist deep frigid water. 
5. At several points, runners are forced to climb up embankments that are so challenging that most people require the assistance of hand ropes to climb the banks. 

So why should you run the race?  It is a blast!  Most of the diverse field of men, women, children, and not-so-young runners come for the camaraderie, not a first-place finish.  Many runners wear costumes (see Banana-Suit Man above) wedding dresses, business suits, war paint, ninja outfits, bandits in black...you name it, you'll see it.  One guy runs the course every year barefoot, wearing a loin cloth, and carrying a bow and arrow.  Some runners dive head-first into the river.  Others sing and scream all seven miles.  There was even a beer-stop this year---for those who could stomach it. 

Just the Basics

• Location: 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa 
• Cost: $32 (in 2010) 
• Video of Race:  http://www.fitnesssports.com/LHF%20MovieMPEG-1.mpg
• Websites: http://www.fitnesssports.com/November_races/LivHistFarms/lhf_index.html 

• Advice:
• Sign up early. The race fills quickly.
• On race-day, plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early because (pedestrian and vehicle) traffic can be chaotic.
• Wear an old pair of shoes that you don't mind getting wet and muddy.  The same goes for the rest of your outfit.