08/23/2023
The Iowa Mile
The 93-acre Guye Woods in Madison County Iowa more specifically 3 Buck Ridge is the highest point in the entire county. It’s the location of the toughest 1-mile trail race in Iowa. This 1-mile loop is warmly nicknamed the "Death Loop." With over 200 feet of elevation gain and loss, with one climb being a 55° grade we call DAMN! it certainly lives up to its name.
Sections of the privately owned course are single track trails through dense picturesque hardwood timber with small creek crossings. You spend the first quarter of the loop winding down a single track trail the “A Section” with natural “obstacles” like “The Duck” & “Ankle Breaker Curve” until you hit the lowest elevation of the loop. From that point on you are heading mostly uphill the “B Section,” with the notorious 55° “DAMN” climb. From there you are climbing your way out of the timber and head up “Flower Hill” when you do make it out of the woods you will see the Village within reach but this is the “False Ending” as your loop continues on what we call the “Smooth Finish” a ¼ mile on a wider more level trail surrounded by prairie grass and corn fields with the last 1/8th mile on a private gravel road leading you to the finish. (One loop of many)
We have been hiking, running, and cutting this trail for many years and cannot wait to share the beauty and beast which is The Death Loop.
[RACE RULES]
This is a Last Person Standing EVENT
All runners start at the same time each loop.
TIME LIMIT- Runners have 20 minutes to complete each loop. A new loop will start every 20 minutes. 12:00, 12:20, 12:40, and so forth.
Running ahead and banking miles is not permitted. You are all tied at the end of every loop unless you decide to drop out. Those without both feet in the Starting Corral at the start of every loop are eliminated.
There is no grace period. We will have an interval clock so you will know exactly how long you have. One second late and your day is done. This will go on until there is just one runner left.
DECLARING A WINNER –
1. If two runners start a loop and one does not complete it within the time limit, then the runner who completed it is declared the winner ONLY AFTER he/she starts and completes the next loop, a solo loop “VICTORY LAP” within the 20-minute time frame.
2. If two runners complete the loop, but only one chooses to continue, then the last runner must go out and complete a VICTORY LAP within the time limit to be declared the winner.
3. If the last runner cannot complete the VICTORY LAP in the time limit, then there will be no winner.
