Thank you! Results. And what is it?

Thank you thank you thank you for braving the elements and making ILTR 5 the best yet. And, of course, thanks to our extraordinary volunteers. 

Our timers are working on the results. We will have them posted as soon as we get them. 

Finally, what is the new design in the hat and sticker?  It's the elevation profile of the highest hill on the course, which we affectionately refer to as Ankle Sprain hill. You'll also find reference to this on you new CD:  a track named the Merry Ankle Sprain. 

Full race! Can't wait.

Thanks for another tremendous response  to the ILTR. Can't wait to see you on the course tomorrow.  I thought by posting this photo of the old stone house in sunshine I might chase away some of the predicted clouds!  Either way, time to hit the trails!!!!

Indian Lake Trail Run 5

Wow. One week away!  Registration closes on Sunday at 11:59 pm (unless we reach 400 runners first). We are starting race-day preparations and getting more excited by the minute. Can't wait to see you out on the trails!

Granary building on new park property. 

Translation:  trail runners will love this. 

Never a dull moment in Denny's prairies. 

Lookout lookup

ILTR 4 start

Thank you!

Thanks to all runners and volunteers for another beautiful day at the park!!  We will post results and photos as soon as possible.  For now, we hope you are waking up to a hot cup of coffee or tea in your new favorite mug!  

Tents are up, course is marked...

Are you ready!!!

400 is the magic number

Thanks to all who registered!  We reached our 400 runner maximum. If you didn't get in this year, be sure to join us next year for ILTR 5!  Now the fun part:  the race. Can't wait to see you out there!

Here is a bit of Indian Lake trivia:  is this photo from Indian Lake?  If so, from where?  First correct answer in the comment section gets a bag of Appleberry apples. 

One spot left! For all the apples!!

Runners, There is only one spot left. Who's going to get it?!!  Last entry gets a bag of apples!!!

Final preparations for the race

We called in the experts to make sure the trail is just right for the 4th Annual ILTR. Hope you are as excited as we are. 

The race is near.

Wow!  The 4th annual ILTR is less than two weeks away. We are almost at our 400 runner race capacity and can't wait for another fantastic event. We ran the course this morning, and it is becoming more beautiful with each passing fall day. Here are some photos from this morning's early morning run.  The last three photos explain and depict the Friend's group's most recent work at the park!

Happenings at the lake

FOIL recently completed a bat survey at Indian Lake to help the DNR monitor the area for white nose syndrome. There is also lots happening up by the chapel, including a new bench and fence. Finally, the lake water quality surveys continue. Did you know the lake is only 7.5 feet deep at its deepest point?  Get out to the lake for a hike or run!  The prairies and savanna are in full glory. 

Bat man checking the monitor. 

Last five minutes of light. 

New fence; same great view. 

New bench. 

Lots to love...

at Indian Lake.

Restoring Indian Lake

FOIL recently joined with Dane County water resources and Dave Marshall to restore and reinvigorate the fishery at Indian Lake. This summer we are conducting an extensive lake analysis and planning strategies for bringing the native game fish populations back to prominence. Here are a few photos from one if first workdays surveying fish species. Check back for more details!!

A new trail

The Friends of Indian Lake gather to build a new trail at the park in preparation for ILTR II.  Can't wait!!

Clearing underbrush

blazing the trail -- this adds a second access trail for hikers to get to the South trail and will help runners avoid a bottleneck at the beginning of this year's race.  It's a very pleasant single-track trail -- up the hill.

the trail takes shape -- yes, it adds more incline.

Found this down by the lake - winter's coming, but before we skate, we run Indian Lake

Dusk closing in on the lake

Did you know there are pirates at Indian Lake?

Fall colors are on their way.

Hello Again - winter running on Mt. Bilgin

Greetings runners.  We hope all of you are doing well and enjoying winter, especially the recent snow!  Friends of Indian Lake has been   We've been working with Dane County Park to line up projects for this spring.  Our focus this year will be on trail maintenance, signage improvement, and prairie restoration.  And, we are already working on next year's race.  However, mostly, we've been enjoying winter at Indian Lake and other great parks around the county.  Remember, you can still run trails in winter (as long as you stay out of the ski tracks)!!  This morning we went snow running at Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton.  Bilgin Macar ran his first trail run ever at Indian Lake this past October.  Last weekend, he went on his first snow trail run.  This weekend he went on his first snow trail run after a blizzard.  For those of you who run at Pheasant Branch, you know that there is an oak savannah on top of the big hill in the western section of the park.  The loop up through savannah is a great hill workout, especially in the snow, and especially when there are 4-5 foot drifts.  We named the big hill Mt. Bilgin after he ran up it through the snow last weekend.  The roughy 5 mile circuit from Middleton Hills through Pheasant Branch up Mt. Bilgin and back took a little over 70 minutes. Not bad given the 4-5 drifts in the savannah.  Good stuff.  We'll see you at Indian Lake soon and can't wait for the Indian Lake Trail Run on October 15, 2011.

Bilgin breaking trail at the foot of Mt. Bilgin

Northwest view from the Savannah

Bilgin's first step into a snow drift

Still in the snow drift

Lake Mendota and downtown from the "peak" of Mt. Bilgin

Bilgin doing his best Rocky imitation on top of Mt. Bilgin

Descending Mt. Bilgin