World’s Largest Corn Maze Run Race Report
The Corn Maze Run was SUCH A BLAST. I will definitely be running it again next year if they host it. And if you live in Illinois or Wisconsin, I recommend that you run it too! There’s no other race experience like it!
I must say though – it is quite dangerous. The ground is uneven, and there are pieces of corn and corn stalks all over that present potential tripping hazards. So, watch out!
On to the fun and games!
Me and Erin pre-race
Me, Steven, Erin and Andrew
This was the inaugural year of the run, but I get the impression that Richardson Adventure Farm, in Spring Grove, IL, has had a corn maze for quite some time. Besides the maze, the farm also has zip-lining, ORBiting, pig races (sorry we didn’t get to stay for those, Erin), paintball, what looked like a petting zoo… you get the idea. We didn’t stay for any of that stuff, because it was an additional cost. I think zip-lining sounds fun though. Maybe someday…
Since the course is narrow, they let one runner off every 5 seconds instead of letting everyone go off at once. They requested estimated finish times when you registered, to try to put people in order by speed, but it got a bit messed up for our group. Depending on when you registered online, different finish times were offered to choose from (if you registered later, they offered longer distances). Long story short, I was bib number 132 and Steven was 292! So he started over 13 minutes after me (add 5 seconds for every number between ours). They wouldn’t let me cut in with him because of how they were tracking our overall time. So I ran on to the course, then stopped and hid in the corn stalks to wait for him! Ha ha.
The start line
Waiting for Steven in the corn stalks
And since Erin registered on site, she was number 414 and didn’t get to run for more than 30 minutes after the start time! It wasn’t really a big deal though. It was mostly easy to pass people. And while this is a fun race, I wouldn’t recommend trying to run it with a bunch of friends at once! The course is too tight!
Enough talk about that! What was it like to run in a corn maze? Besides the tripping hazards (I rolled my ankles a few times) it was SO MUCH FUN. It was just such a unique, new experience, that I loved every bit of it. I had no idea where I was or where I was going, I was just focused on running and having fun. And sometimes, you should just run a race for fun! I rarely looked at my Garmin, and didn’t even notice that the course was marked until I got to mile “3.” And they even had a water station on the course!
And I thought it was so fun that I got to do this with Steven, Andrew and Erin*. I am already talking to Steven and Andrew about our next family run (and am always talking to Erin about our “next” run, ha ha).
*I ran with Steven, but Andrew and Erin ran on their own.
I made some videos to show you guys what the course was like. The course had 250 turns in it, and two sets of stairs!
And check out the Garmin map! Ha ha:
Here are the Garmin stats if you are interested – 2.61 miles in 29:15.
The course ended up only being about 2.6 miles long (it was supposed to be a 5K)! I was disappointed to be done so soon! It was a beautiful, sunny day (in the 40s) and I was really enjoying myself.
I thought this was pulled off great for being the inaugural race. My only complaints are that:
- There was not more of a warning about the course being dangerous (this sign was not very visible):
- You could not change your estimated finish time on race day.
- General Admission to the Farm was not included for after the event (we did not have to pay to get in, but if we wanted to do anything, we had to pay general admission then pay for the thing we wanted to do). I thought that would have been a nice perk! Ha ha.
I have many many positive things to say:
- I LOVED the course. What a unique experience!
- The course was very well marked.
- I LOVE the race shirt. Love it!
- They had a water station.
- They had water, gatorade, cookies (Steven’s favorite kind – Matt’s cookies), bananas and bagels after the race.
- The volunteers were nice (whether or not they were knowledgeable about the race is another question).
So, who is running the Corn Maze Run with me next year?
I love doing goofy races like this. There is such a great spirit at the event; it seems like everyone is just out there to have fun.
What is the goofiest race you have ever run?
Steven and I once ran a race where everyone dresses up as Santa! I plan to do that race again this year!
After the race, we went up in to the Observation Tour to take pictures of the maze. And of course, we took other goofy pictures too.
(We’re pointing at our One More Mile hats!)
Themocracy
Sounds like such a fun race! I love when there are unique races on different courses! I don’t think there are many goofy races near me – We have a Halloween race where a lot of people dress up and run, but that is about it.
Are you going to do the Halloween race? There are a few out here that I would LOVE to do but they are over my budget 🙂
Dangers aside, that sounds like a pretty freaking awesome race. I think my brother and his friends go to this corn maze (not to run) every year – they go to some massively huge corn maze in an outer suburb. I wanted to go with them last year, but it wasn’t open yet when I was home. I’ll have to try for the run one of these years!
That race looks so fun! Very cool! I love races that are different – totally energizing!
That sounds like so much fun! I was just talking about that corn maze with my son’s teacher on the field trip. She goes there every year and was telling me how much fun the maze is so I can only imagine that a race in it would be just even so much more fun.
I bet my kids would love that race. I will keep it in mind for next year for sure!
Matt’s cookies are my favorites too…besides homemade of course.
Have you taken the kids to this place? It is very kid friendly. I think they would really like the maze!
I’m in to run it with you next year– what a great, unique race find! It sounds like they need some work on the timing, but that could totally be chalked up to inaugural race jitters 🙂
Yay! 🙂
That race looks like a lot of fun! I loved the videos. 🙂 That stinks that it wasn’t a full 5k though.
The most unique race I’ve ever done (though not very goofy) was the Bay Bridge 10k race here in Maryland. They bus runners across the bridge and then you run back (the bridge is 4.3 miles long) and finish in a state park along the water of the Chesapeake Bay. It was my first ever 10k and it was so cool to run across the bridge!
That’s cool! I think it would be fun to run along a super long bride, as long as the it was not too windy!
the goofiest race i have ever run is the Bacon Strip. it’s a 4 miler right by my house and at the finish line, they are cooking a pan of bacon. it is really quite the grossest thign i’ve ever seen. it’s a small race, but it’s what got me to run!
Ew! Ha ha. That IS a unique race!
And why aren’t you wearing your Chicago marathon medal? Hahah, just kidding.
The run looked really fun! I would do it if I could run further than down the block.
Ha! I should have, right? Erin could have worn hers too.
Gina, I bet there is an inner runner in you. You just need to find her! 🙂 We should do a 5K run or walk together some day! We can splash water in our faces!
This sounds like so much fun! Maybe I can join you guys next year! I’m totally into the idea of goofy races, though I haven’t really run one.
The weather looks so nice, like a perfect fall day for such a fun outing. That’s great that you and Erin ran the event together (well, sort of). Running friends are the best! And I cracked up at your banana phone photo.
I also love in the first video when you say, “We’re having run. Right, Steven?” And he mumbles, “Yeah.” Ha!
You know we would LOVE if you came and ran the race with us! 🙂 We could make a whole weekend of it. We love house guests.
It was perfect running weather! When Erin got to our house, I said “where was this weather LAST Sunday?!” 😉
What a cool race! It looks like so much fun! I love the handstand picture. You and my husband would get along well- I have no less than 25 pictures of him doing handstands on our honeymoon. 😀
It was a lot of fun and very unique. I hope they get the distance sorted out, though, for next year!
Did you see that official results are up? I had a time of 45 something. Ha!
I hope they send a survey. Actually, I am a FB fan. I think I will leave a message there!
Oh gosh that race looks so fun! They should have had cider and fallish things like that for post race fuel. 😀 What a great way to spend the day though!
Okay, did you wear your new shoes during this race? Because the first pic, your foot does look like it’s landing on the outside.
That is a great idea! Cider! Ahhhhhh…. yum!
I didn’t wear my new shoes. I am going to do a treadmill run on them first to make sure they feel good. If they don’t I will take them back (I can’t if I wear them outside).
I wanted to run this race. I wrote it down on my race calendar and promptly forgot about it 🙂 It looks like it was a lot of fun – love that shirt!
You have to run it next year! 🙂
Tom and I are in for next year! (He doesn’t know it yet, but I have a year to sell him on it. 🙂 )
I haven’t done any fun, goofy races yet, but I have somehow managed to get myself signed up for 3 events in 3 weeks starting October 30…uh oh…lol
Yay! You should totally do it! Which three events are coming up?
On 10/30, I’m doing the Ghosts & Goblins 5K in Carmel, IN (north side of Indy, where I actually live despite spending most of my time in Chicago lately…lol)
On 11/6, I’m doing the 5K at the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K in Chicago. I’m really in it for the chocolate; let’s be serious, I might run the whole 15K for chocolate!
And 11/14 is SkyRise Chicago. One of my friends accused me of using 5Ks to distract myself so I’d stop counting the days. I’m beyond excited. I’ve yet to go to the top of the Willis Tower (so still the Sears Tower in my head), and the first time I do, I’m taking the stairs…YAY!
Cool! Those all sound like so much fun! I can’t wait to hear about them. Are you dressing up for the 10/30 race?
Those stairs are going to be intense! 🙂
Hmm…it never occurred to me that people would dress up for that race. I think my brain only works every third second lately. I don’t know if I’ll dress up…maybe I’ll go shopping for ideas before I decide. 🙂
That looks like SO MUCH FUN! I am so down with next year…
Do you have any other races on your schedule? I’m considering the Schaumburg Half 11/27….
http://www.allcommunityevents.com/half_marathon_trot/shmtt_home.html
I am out of town that weekend. I wanted to do it.
BUT…
I think I will sign up for this (http://www.clearwateroutdoor.com/news-detail-6th_annual_turkey_trot_5k,_10k,_junior_gobbler_1_mile-37.html) 10K in Lake Geneva on 11/20 – only $10 (+$5 for parking, shirt is extra)! I am going by myself – want to join?
You should join us for the Corn Maze Run next year. It could be a fun blogger meet-up!
YES! You can’t beat $15…sounds perfect!
Cool! I signed up! I paid the extra $12 for the long-sleeved tech tee too (I only have two – one is the one from our 20-miler!). Shall we car pool? I can pick you up.
I TOTALLY want to do that next year!
Yay! I think you would like it!
I told my friend you are joining us for the Santa Race! I noticed it caps out at 1000 this year so I will let you know when I sign up. Probably in the next week or so 🙂
Haha that is wacky! When I saw the ad it looked like it had broken ankle written all over it! We actually took the kids there a year or two ago–fun!
LOL! Yeah. I wonder if they will do it again next year or if it is too much of a liability. I didn’t even read the form I signed when I got there.
How was Grand Rapids?
Nice race report. Adding this to my have to do in ’11.
Thanks Ian! You should do it on 2011! What’s next for you this year?
If they hold it again I am so there, it looks a-MAZE-Ing. I am done for races this year. I finished my two goal even if I was slow (and tapered off). That was to do my first marathon (May) and 50k (Sep) after a 10+ year gap and I got those done. Now to plan 2011, 50 miler maybe.
The Richardson Farm is so much fun! We went to the corn maze last year — thank goodness for those stairs or we might have been lost for a LONG time. 🙂
The maze and the petting zoo were my favorite parts. Oh, and the slide! Kind of lame they wouldn’t let you guys do some things at no extra charge. Maybe they will rethink some things about the race and their policies prior to hosting another race.
Glad you guys had fun!
SO FUN! i’ve been dying to go to a corn maze (although not to race through it, ha!) for ages…
Corn mazes are fun as it is, the fact that they turned one into a race is a stroke of genius! I would SO go if they held a corn maze run near me.
SOOoooooo cool! 🙂
You make it sound like so much fun, but I think I would be so freaked out- corn mazes make me all claustrophobic and I would probably not like it too much.
I think it is quite ridiculous when races are not explicit about the dangers of their race. Too often people just think because it is set as something fun, it will be easy…
It sounds like so much fun! Aside from all the tripping and ankle turning that can occur, it definitely is a race that’s a little off the wall & can be something you run just for fun. 🙂
And the Santa race? Sounds even more fun!
I will totally run that race with you next year! LOL! Loooked like a TON of fun. I have never heard of a race quite like this! 🙂 And way to be sneaky hiding and waiting for the hubs! I love it!
That looks so fun!! (if I could run, that is….but any corn maze is cool!)
NICE! That looks like such a riot. Although, it being that short would frustrate me a little bit. Oh well though, better short than long, that is for sure!!
Shouldn’t the worlds largest corn maze be in Iowa? I think we got ripped off
It totally should be. I bet these people are LYING! 😛
Ha ha.