The story of Ornery Mule Racing, and the people who make it all possible.

Kindness, community, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

When I first started putting on trail races, I had a pretty simple reason. I wanted to invite people to come run the trails that I loved to run. That was it. No grand business plan, just a love for the trails and a desire to share them with others.

Our first finish-line banner was a community project! We invited friends over for a painting party, and many of those early volunteers are still part of our races today.

My first race was the Earth Day 50K. I started with an ultra distance because that was the kind of running I loved. I also included a relay option because I thought it would be a fun way to introduce more people to trail running. Not everyone was ready to run 31 miles, but that didn't mean they couldn't be part of the adventure.

As the years went on, I kept finding reasons to create more races. Not because I was trying to build a big race company, but because I genuinely felt the world needed these experiences.

We needed a winter trail race. Something ridiculous and fun to look forward to in the dead of a Midwest winter. That's how Frozen Gnome came to life.

I also wanted to create a flat and fast 100-mile race along Illinois' beautiful, historic Hennepin Canal. I loved the idea of giving runners a place to chase big dreams, whether that meant completing their very first 100 miler, setting a personal best, or simply discovering how far they could push themselves. That's how the Hennepin Hundred came to life.

One of the things I love most about Hennepin is how the communities along the canal have embraced our runners. From the volunteers who create incredible aid stations to the people who welcome us into their towns, the race has become about so much more than running 100 miles.

One of the most special examples of this is the Colona Fire Station Cadettes, who have volunteered at our Hennepin Hundred for years. We have literally watched these young people grow up through their time volunteering at our race. Year after year, they return to help welcome and care for our runners. There is something incredibly meaningful about watching the next generation become part of our trail running community. These are the relationships and memories that make our races about so much more than running.

A open section on the Galena Sky trail race course.

Galena, Illinois, has always held a special place in my heart. My family visited when I was a child, and I remember the beauty of the town and seeing the grand Mississippi River. Years later, I found myself searching for a route that would bring runners to this area I loved. I also really enjoy timed races, where runners can challenge themselves in their own way. Galena Sky brought those two things together.

Midwest States came from my love of Wisconsin's iconic Ice Age Trail. I wanted to share a beautiful section of this National Scenic Trail where runners could experience miles and miles of continuous trail through the Northwoods. While other portions of the Ice Age Trail include road routes connecting trail segments, this section allows runners to stay immersed in the woods. There is something incredibly special about that, and I love being able to share it with our runners.

A photo of me running Kettle 100k. This was before races had photographers at them. Not a lot of photos during this time of trail running.

Kettle Moraine 100 holds a very special place in my heart. The race was started in 1994 by Kris and Kevin Setness, who created something truly special on the beautiful trails of the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. Jason and Timo later took over, dedicating 18 years to carrying on that tradition and building a race that so many runners have come to love. They knew how much this race and these trails meant to me, and when they were ready to pass the torch, they trusted me to carry it forward. Taking over a race with such a rich history and a community that loves it so deeply is both an honor and a responsibility I don't take lightly. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of its story and to help preserve the spirit of Kettle Moraine for future generations of trail runners.

Then there is Soul Crusher.

The infamous Jeffs and Freundly Bones Doug are leaders in our local running club at our beloved Veteran Acres Park. They know those trails better than just about anyone. I first met Jeff Lenard at a small local race in Crystal Lake called the Northwest Trail Run. When that race eventually went away, our running community missed having a fun, shorter-distance fall race, and Soul Crusher was born. The Jeffs have an absolute blast designing the course, and I think they take a little too much pleasure in finding every hill possible for runners to climb! Soul Crusher has become such a wonderful community event, filled with laughter, challenging trails, and a whole lot of personality.

And then there is Freundly Bones Doug, who takes decorating the course to an entirely different level. Every October, Doug transforms his own yard into an elaborate Halloween display filled with skeletons and creative scenes that change daily. His displays have become so popular that people travel from all over to see them. You can follow his creations on Instagram at @FreundlyBones. Lucky for us, Doug brings that same imagination and enthusiasm to Soul Crusher, filling the trails with giant skeletons and spooky surprises around every turn. He pours an incredible amount of time, creativity, and heart into making the course unforgettable for our runners. I might be a little biased, but I truly believe Soul Crusher is the best-decorated race course in the world! What makes it even more special is how much Doug enjoys sharing his creativity with others. It's another wonderful example of the amazing things that happen when people bring their talents and passions to our trail community.

2024 Des Plaines River Trail 50k, 6:30:32- 3rd place Age group
It rained the entire race, and I got to experience the underpasses as a water crossing.

Des Plaines River Trail Races came into my life a little differently. I ran the 50K the year before becoming race director. I remember thinking, "This race is amazing. I'm going to run it every single year." Then the race directors announced they were retiring. I couldn't imagine letting such a wonderful event disappear. Some races are just too special not to keep alive.

Our newest adventure, Porkies, takes us into Michigan's Upper Peninsula, exploring stunning trails with the magnificent Lake Superior nearby. It is rugged, beautiful, and full of the kind of adventure that makes my heart happy.

Every race on the Ornery Mule Racing calendar exists because it fills a genuine passion for adventure within me. Each has its own personality, its own community, and its own reason for being.

We build races for everyday runners. We celebrate the fastest runners and their incredible accomplishments, but we also celebrate the person attempting their first trail race, the runner fighting to make a cutoff, and the person who discovers they are capable of far more than they imagined. You don't have to be an elite athlete to do something extraordinary. I want people to feel welcome at our races, no matter their pace, experience, or goals.

But here is something I know for certain. I could never do any of this alone.

Growing Into My Role as Race Director

I've grown into my role as Race Director over the years, learning that creating a wonderful race experience also means taking responsibility for everything that can go wrong behind the scenes. Staff calling in sick on race morning, flat tires, flooded courses, stolen trail signs, last-minute requests from permitting agencies, and countless other surprises are all part of the job. When the toughest problems arise, I know they are ultimately mine to solve.

Welcoming runners back to Nordic- Kettle Moraine 100

One of the challenges of running a small race company is that we don't have races every weekend, making it difficult to offer enough consistent work to support a large full-time staff. We rely on a small team that takes on enormous responsibilities, especially during our busiest months. Because Ornery Mule Racing started so small, I've personally done just about every job, from marking and sweeping courses to working aid stations, coordinating volunteers, and handling setup and cleanup. I'm grateful for those experiences because they taught me what it takes to make a race successful and gave me a genuine appreciation for every person who helps make it happen.

I've learned that being a good Race Director isn't about everything going perfectly. It's about being prepared, adapting when things don't go as planned, and never losing sight of why we're doing this in the first place. I want every runner who comes to one of our races to feel that they belong, that someone believes in them, and that their goals matter. That's what our motto, "Kindness, community, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things," means to me.

Our Tiny but Mighty Team

People often see the races, the finish lines, the medals, and the smiling runners. What they don't always see is the tiny team of people working behind the scenes, pouring their hearts into every detail. I have been incredibly fortunate to surround myself with people who care just as much about the runner and volunteer experience as I do.

We believe the best races are built by listening to the people who make them happen. We welcome feedback from every runner and volunteer because their experiences matter. We want our volunteers to have the support they need to make their "party stations" easier to manage and more fun, and our runners to have the best race day possible. Some of our greatest improvements have come from this community. We are always listening, learning, and working together to make every race better.

Sid and Miles are our full-timers at Ornery Mule Racing.

Sid cares deeply about every aspect of our races. He thinks about the smallest details, the things runners may never consciously notice but that make an enormous difference in their experience. He is always thinking about how to make things better.

And then there is Miles, our very own therapy dog. Miles has a special gift. Somehow, he seems to know when a runner is having a tough moment. When someone is sitting at an aid station, tired and struggling, Miles will quietly walk over and sit beside them. He doesn't need to do anything else. Sometimes a little companionship is exactly what someone needs.

Kyle loves adventure and learning. He has been instrumental in helping us build our Upper Michigan race, exploring beautiful trails and helping create an experience that celebrates the wild beauty of the Upper Peninsula.

Megan Sloan - Ornery Mule Racing Volunteer & Community Coordinator.

Megan, our Volunteer and Community Coordinator, brings incredible energy to everything she does. She is organized, welcoming, and genuinely excited about the people who make these races happen. She cheers for runners and volunteers from the beginning of race weekend until the very last person crosses the finish line.

The infamous Jeff’s with Doug Freund and Joe Gow (another local legend)

The infamous Jeffs, whose names runners love to swear as they discover yet another hill, are two of the kindest people you will ever meet. Their creativity, humor, and love for our local trails bring so much personality to our events.

GetUFit Irene has cooked a truly ridiculous amount of food for our finish lines. From "The World's Best Chili" to burgers and stew, she has done it all. There is something special about finishing a difficult race and being welcomed with a warm meal prepared by someone who genuinely cares about you.

Royal (Senior) working the aid station at Galena Sky

Jeremy is our drop bag guy. He has developed an amazing system to organize runners' bags and make sure they get delivered to the correct aid stations. It is one of those enormous behind-the-scenes jobs that is easy to overlook until you realize just how many bags need to get where they belong.

And then there are the Royals. They pack our aid station tubs, deliver truckloads of gear to aid stations, and tackle the dirty cleanup after the races. They are passionate about taking care of our planet. If something recyclable ends up in the garbage at an aid station, you can bet they will be digging it out and putting it where it belongs.

When all that equipment finally returns home, the work doesn't stop. They spend weeks cleaning and sanitizing everything, making sure our gear looks practically brand new before the next race.

Jenny Thorsen leads our photography team, and I love how much she cares about capturing meaningful photographs of our runners. She understands that a race photo is more than a picture. It can represent months of training, a personal victory, or a moment someone will treasure for years.

Every person on this team brings something different. Every person matters. We may be a tiny team, but there is an incredible amount of heart behind what we do.

The People Who Make the Parties on the Trail

I don't think there are enough words to express how much we all appreciate our volunteers. Many have been with us since the very first year of a race, returning year after year to share their time, energy, and kindness with runners chasing big goals. They do so much more than hand out water and snacks. They create little parties in the middle of the woods, decorating aid stations, preparing food, cheering for strangers, solving problems, and helping tired runners find the courage to keep going. They show up in the cold, rain, darkness, and heat, celebrating the front runners and staying to welcome the very last person across the finish line.

One of the most wonderful things I've watched over the years is the friendships that grow through volunteering. People who might never have met become trail family, looking forward to seeing each other at races, sharing stories, remembering runners' names, and celebrating each other's accomplishments. There is something incredibly special about being surrounded by people who genuinely enjoy helping others succeed. Our volunteers bring so much personality, creativity, and heart to every race, and I hope they know how much they are loved and appreciated by all of us.

Lil’ Royal welcoming Jim Briscoe to the finish line at Kettle.

The Season That Asks Everything of Us

September and October are especially busy months for Ornery Mule Racing. Midwest weather is beautiful this time of year, the trails are calling, and there are simply so many places we want to run. Our little team moves from one race to the next, packing, loading, transporting, unloading, cleaning, and packing equipment all over again. Courses need to be prepared, volunteers coordinated, and thousands of little details taken care of before runners arrive.

During these busy weeks, I watch our team show up again and again, giving everything they have to make each race the best experience possible. I see the long days, the exhaustion, and the countless times someone notices something that needs attention and quietly takes care of it without being asked. What means so much to me is that our runners notice, too. We receive heartfelt messages thanking our volunteers, aid station crews, and team members for helping them reach their goals. Sometimes it's a runner celebrating their first ultra finish, someone who found encouragement when they needed it most, or simply someone who felt genuinely welcomed and cared for. I love sharing these messages with our team because when you give so much of yourself to others, knowing you made a difference means everything.

Why We Keep Showing Up

When I first started organizing races, I simply wanted to share the trails I loved with other runners. All these years later, that passion is still at the heart of everything I do. But what I never could have imagined was how much the people would become part of the experience.

It's the volunteers who return year after year, the runners who take on challenges they once thought impossible, the friendships formed at aid stations, and the families waiting at finish lines. It's the crew members who give up their weekends to help someone else achieve a dream. And it's our tiny, hardworking team that continues to show up with so much heart, determined to make every race a wonderful experience for everyone involved.

We aren't a huge organization with endless staff or resources. We are a small group of people who genuinely love what we do and care deeply about the people we do it for. I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside people who share that passion, and to be surrounded by a trail community that is so generous with its time, kindness, and encouragement.

To our team, our volunteers, our runners, and the communities that welcome us, thank you. Thank you for believing in these races, sharing your talents, and helping create an environment where people feel loved, valued, and encouraged to do hard things. I hope you know how much your contributions matter, not just to me, but to every person whose experience you've helped make special.

I started these races because I loved the trails. Along the way, I discovered that the people who fill them are what make this adventure so meaningful. I'm grateful that I get to keep sharing both with all of you.

Just a Few of the Kind Words Sent From Runners for Our Volunteers

Amazing Volunteers

Packet Pickup volunteers at Veteran Acres

I participated in the 50K Des Plaines River Trail race on 10/10 and I wanted to pass along some positive feedback.

All of the volunteers and people at the aid stations were so incredibly nice and helpful. The vibes of the race are amazing. Also, the assortment of snacks, drinks, gels, salts, etc. at each station was amazing. I did this race a few years back for my first marathon and thought the same thing then too. Just a really great experience and vibe.

Wanted to pass along my thanks and appreciation for a well run event. Please tell your volunteers THANK YOU for being so great at the aid stations. They really boost spirits with their pep and snacks!

Thanks again,

Abby

Excellent Pivot & Keeping Runners Safe

Volunteers welcoming Kyle Braund into their aid station

Hello!

I just wanted to thank you for putting on an amazing race. Despite the need to pivot last minute and change the course, the race was well run (no pun intended), volunteers were amazing, and the vibe was so encouraging.

I'm sure this is a ton of work to make happen, but you did a great job. Thank you for making it happen and for ensuring us runners were well taken care of.

Karyn

PS- I tried to thank as many volunteers as I could, but please extend a thank you to them from me :)

Easy to Follow Course & Super Kind Volunteers

Dear Michele,

I completed my first ever 100 miler with you guys last weekend after 2 previous DNF's and I wanted to give you some feedback.

Firstly one of the most enjoyable courses out there, I was very surprised by how little signage there was but of course it's obvious why and it also happens to be the only trail race I've never gone off course on. All the aid stations were great- I do think having them outside is much better because you don't sit in a warm comfortable building contemplating pulling out! The volunteers were amazing- a special shout out to the college/Uni lads who brought the energy that was needed in the early hours of the morning. One of the guys sat and chatted to me which was such a great distraction from the pain I was in. The finish line was unlike any other ultra-thank you for making me feel like you all were genuinely over the moon for me. I apologize for the bad language when you asked how I was feeling! But the hug and cheers were absolutely unforgettable. My fiancé will be running it next year.

You guys are awesome and congrats on an amazing race!

Hannah

I started these races because I loved the trails. Along the way, I discovered that the people who fill them are what make this adventure so meaningful.

Happy trails,

Michele

It takes a Community to Make a Trail Race