The Hennepin Hundred

10/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who has made the Hennepin Hundred possible.

Since the race was established in 2015, the Hennepin Hundred has become so much more than a race. It’s a trail family that comes together year after year.

Thank you to the Hennepin Canal State Park, the communities along the trail, and the incredible volunteers who travel from all over Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and beyond to care for our runners and welcome them to this beautiful place.

So many of our runners and volunteers return every single year, and that means the world to us.

This year, Ornery Mule Racing is proud to give $6,000 back to the Hennepin Canal State Park for trail maintenance. It’s one small way we can help care for the trail that has given all of us so many miles, memories, friendships and finish lines.

To our amazing Hennepin trail family: thank you for showing up, year after year. We couldn’t do this without you. 💛

10/02/2026

ONE MORE SLEEP!

Tomorrow, we run Hennepin.
LET’S GO! 🔥

09/29/2026

Before a single runner crosses the start line, we need to say THANK YOU. 🧡

The Hennepin Hundred simply would not happen without our incredible volunteers.

You’ll be filling bottles, making food, hauling gear, cheering at aid stations, helping at the finish line, and doing about a thousand little things most people will never see.

But we see you. And our runners feel it. 🧡

You give your time, energy, sleep, smiles, and probably a few sore feet to help hundreds of runners chase something that matters to them.

To every single Hennepin volunteer: THANK YOU for being part of this race and this community.

Runners, when you see a volunteer this weekend, give them a big THANK YOU! They are the heartbeat of Hennepin. 🧡

09/26/2026

One of our favorite Hennepin traditions 🧡

A huge thank you to the Colona Fire Auxiliary for once again hosting our Hennepin Hundred finish line food!

They’ve been doing this for years, and what makes it extra special is how much they genuinely care about our runners. They told us they love how appreciative and complimentary everyone is. They listen to what runners love, take notes, and come back each year with new ideas.

And this isn’t just grab-a-snack finish line food. This is delicious, homemade food made by people who are excited to welcome you in after a very long day on the trail.

We are so grateful to the Colona Fire Department Auxiliary for the time, work and heart they put into taking care of our runners year after year.

When you cross that finish line, make sure you give them a big THANK YOU... and then go eat. You earned it. 🧡

09/24/2026

The City of Colona will have a hospitatlity table at Friday packet pickup. They will have coupons for local businesses. Including Grease Monkeys Sports Bar & Grill

Be sure to stop by and say hi!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557666423719

We are a family owned and operated sports-themed bar and grill dedicated to creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for our guests. Our story began in 2017 with a shared love for sports, delicious food, and bringing people together.

09/22/2026

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON. ⏳🔥

Hennepin Hundred race day is getting closer!

100 Mile.
50 Mile.
50K.
100 Mile Relay.

One trail. A whole lot of miles, stories, grit and finish-line moments waiting to happen. 🧡

Who’s lining up with us this year? Drop your distance below! 👇

💯 100 Mile
🔥 50 Mile
🧡 50K

08/23/2026

🚒 2026 HENNEPIN 50K MEDAL REVEAL! 🇺🇸

There’s a story behind our medal.

The Hennepin 50K finishes in Colona, Illinois, where the Colona Fire Department Auxiliary welcomes our runners and volunteers with homemade food at the finish line.

They once told us they love being part of Hennepin because our runners are so grateful. ❤️ And we love having them there.

The Colona Fire Department is a volunteer fire department, and each year Hennepin is proud to donate $2,500 to support them and the work they do for their community.

So for 2026, we decided to put a little piece of Colona right on the medal. 🚒

The Hennepin 50K finish wouldn’t be the same without them.

08/22/2026

🌙 HENNEPIN MEDAL REVEAL! 💜

Here’s your first look at the 2026 Hennepin Hundred 50 Mile & 100 Mile Relay medals!

Inspired by the Hennepin Canal, the iconic bridge, and those miles that carry you from daylight well into the stars. ✨

50 Mile runners + 100 Mile Relay teams, this one is waiting for you at the finish line.

Who’s earning one this October? 🙋‍♀️

08/07/2026

🌎🏆 A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD WAS SET AT THE HENNEPIN HUNDRED! 🏆🌎

We knew we witnessed something pretty incredible at the 2025 Hennepin Hundred. Now it’s official.

Chad Schumacher is a Guinness World Records title holder!

Chad completed the Hennepin Hundred 50K in Colona, Illinois, on October 5, 2025, earning the Guinness World Records title for Heaviest Person to Complete an Ultramarathon. Chad weighed 138.6 kg / 305.56 lbs for the record-breaking achievement.

Guinness shared that Chad set the goal of finishing an ultramarathon as part of his journey to improve his fitness. And he chose Hennepin to do it. ❤️

There is something especially meaningful about seeing a world record attached to this finish line. Hennepin has always been a place for big goals: first ultras, first 50Ks, first 50-milers, first 100-milers, PRs, comebacks, and sometimes goals that end up in the Guinness World Records.

Congratulations, Chad Schumacher! You are officially a WORLD RECORD HOLDER, and Hennepin Hundred is incredibly proud to have been part of your story.

👉 Read Chad’s official Guinness World Records entry here:
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/93297-heaviest-person-to-complete-an-ultra-marathon

01/12/2026

♥

The secret to running 100 miles…

is actually walking.

I’m not a running expert.

But I’ve been running almost every day for over 35 years.

And the one thing that’s kept me in the game?

Run-Walk-Run.

I learned it from a man named Jeff Galloway nearly 20 years ago.

Now I use it for everything… from daily runs to 100-mile races.

At Hennepin 100, we ran 6 minutes, walked 4.

Finished in under 24 hours.

51st place out of 200.

No injuries. No burnout. Just forward motion.

Today I use a 7:3 rhythm.

Run 7 minutes.

Walk 3.

Repeat.

But you can start at 1:1 if you’re new.

Walk a minute. Jog a minute.

Just get out the door.

The benefits?

- Delays fatigue
- Speeds up recovery
- Lowers injury risk
- Breaks the run into digestible bites
- Makes running sustainable

It’s not about ego.

It’s about finishing strong.

And showing up again tomorrow.

Don’t overthink your pace.

Just move.

And trust that motion creates momentum.