Geode Challenge Races

Trail Race Details:

Fall will be here before we know it, which means the Geode Challenge Races are ready for you!! This event is put on annually to raise funds for the Friends of Geode who are working on many projects at the Park, including our first finished project of renovations to the Beach Concession House. We're happy to announce the concession building is finished and we're having the Open House June 20, 2026! Be sure to keep watching for future events at the State Park as we're striving to bring families in for fun and adventures! The Friends of Geode would like to thank the Danville Lions Club for continuing to sponsor our annual event! We couldn't do this without them! This is our 8th year having these trail races for you all to enjoy whether you're running or walking! This year is also Geode State Park's 75th year! The 5k (3.1 miles) takes you from the beach area to Shelter 1 and back to the beach. The 12k (7.75 miles) takes you on the perimeter loop trail, starting at the beach area going in the opposite direction as the 5k and looping around back to the beach. And back again is the double loop option for a 25k (15.5 miles) to give you an extra challenge. Dogs are allowed to run with you! Keep their leash safe from tripping other runners and be respectful! We will still utilize the awning at Shelter 4, even though access to that area has been closed by the state of Iowa, so make sure you're following all the flags, ribbons and course signs to keep you from getting lost. We mark the course very well with those items, just be sure to watch for them! There will be water at the Start/Finish area for everyone who finishes the race and for those running the 25k so they can refill their bottles or hydration vests. Shelters 1 and 4 will have both water and a few light snacks to help keep you hydrated and energized while running. Online registration here on UltrasignUp will close at 11:59pm on Tue Oct 13th, 2026. You may still register in person on the morning of the race, by CASH or CHECK only. Cost goes up by $5 for each distance on race day. Packet pick-up will be Friday Oct 16th from 5-7pm at the State Park at the beach shelter, same location as the start/finish line. Race day registration and packet pick-up will be from 7:30-8:45am, Saturday, Oct 17th. Races will begin after the announcements at 9am. **T-SHIRTS** These are offered during registration. Our t-shirt vendor will likely give us cut-off date for ordering. So, if you want a t-shirt in a specific size, you need to be registered by that date, (which will be announced later). All registrations AFTER that date will be first-come-first-serve basis. We will order extras in sizes S-XL only. Sizes are only guaranteed by registering before the date (TBD). If you register after that date or on race day, you can choose your size based on remaining availability. The Geode State Park trails have everything trail enthusiasts crave! Dirt trails, single track, wide track, sections with large rock, small gravel, road mix, sand, mowed grass, road sections, plenty of hills, a creek crossing and around 800 ft of vertical elevation on the perimeter loop! Double that for the 25k!

More Details

In 2023 the perimeter loop course record for males was beat by Jasper Halekas on the single loop with a finish time of 51:14, and for females it was beat by Amanda LaVeine with a finish time of 1:08:44. Those records have yet to be broken! On the 25k distance, the course record for males was beat in 2024 by Blake Wilkerson on the double loop with a finish time of 1:54:29, and for females it was beat by Emily Roe with a finish time of 2:16:10. No course records for either the 12k or 25k were beat in 2025! The Friends of Geode will award the single winners who beats those course records - $100, for both the male and female! If 2023's 12k course records are not beat this year, no prize money will be awarded, same with the 2024 25k. All finishers will receive a geode to take home with them as a thank you for running our race! This year we will still have the special, handmade award plaques to be awarded to the first place male and female from each of the 3 running distances. We will also have a special plaque for the first place overall winner from each race distance that runs with their dog. **HOWEVER, they will NOT qualify for the first place male/female plaque if running with a dog. But they WILL qualify for the TOP DOG plaque if coming in first place in the 5k, 12k and 25k.** The geodes are found locally by one of our Friends of Geode's members. The first place award plaques are very special and unique! They're wood plaques with a geode mounted on the front. They are hand cut from a location very close to Geode State Park, wood burned by a family member of a Friends of Geode board member and the mounted geodes and finishing touches are done by the same board member. We feel these plaques are a treasure to hold onto and we think you're all going to LOVE them! Come on out and compete for one of these plaques! Plaques will go to: 5K 1st place male 1st place female 12K 1st place male 1st place female 25K 1st place male 1st place female TOP DOG 1st place overall 5K 1st place overall 12K 1st place overall 25K **PLEASE NOTE** There are NO cash prizes for those running with their dogs! Be sure to watch our Facebook group page for all updates and if you have any questions! https://www.facebook.com/share/1F8zxKrA2o8pcAoW/