Kennekuk Road Runners - Wild Wild Wilderness

  • Date Sat 13th September 2025
  • Time 9:00AM EST
  • Location Oakwood, Illinois
  • Price $38.10 - $54.00
  • Races 3 races
  • Distances 5km

Event summary

Get ready for an exhilarating day at the 45th Annual Wild Wild Wilderness event, happening on Saturday, September 13, 2025, in the picturesque Oakwood, Vermilion at the Kickapoo State Recreation Area! This beloved race invites both seasoned athletes and first-time participants to embrace the spirit of community while enjoying a scenic and challenging 7.45-mile trail course. Runners will navigate through beautiful woodlands, tackle steep hills, cross creeks and bridges, and possibly catch a glimpse of local wildlife along the way.

Participants can choose between a 5K and a 12K (7.45 miles) race, with the 5K starting at 9:00 AM and the 12K at 9:50 AM. A lively post-race celebration will follow, featuring delicious pulled pork, chicken, and refreshing beverages, all free for runners and volunteers. Join this vibrant community event and complete the final Grand Slam event of the yearโ€”your hard work will be rewarded with an awesome award for finishing all four Kennekuk races! Don't miss out on registering online before the price increase on August 8, 2024. Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable day of fun, fitness,

Organiser's Description

45TH ANNUAL WILD WILD WILDERNESS EST. 1981

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 @ 9:00 A.M.



RACE DIRECTOR: ADRIANNE THOMPSON

CO DIRECTOR: JENNIFER WHITE



FROM THE RD: THIS RACE IS MORE THAN JUST A COMPETITION; IT IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR COMMUNITYS SPIRIT AND RESILIENCE. WHETHER YOU ARE A SEASONED RUNNER OR A FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANT, YOUR PRESENCE ADDS TO THE RICH TAPESTRY OF OUR RACES HISTORY.



FINAL GRAND SLAM EVENT #4: THIS IS THE LAST EVENT NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE GRAND SLAM. AN AWESOME AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO EVERYONE WHO FINISHES THESE GREAT KENNEKUK EVENTS IN 2024. SIBERIAN EXPRESS, MOUNTAIN GOAT, LAKE MINGO TRAIL RUN, AND WILD WILD WILDERNESS. AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE WILD WILD WILDERNESS RACE.



LOCATION: KICKAPOO STATE RECREATION AREA TAKE I-74 TO EXIT 210 AND FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE PARK. ADDRESS IS: 10906 KICKAPOO PARK RD, OAKWOOD IL 61858.



COURSE: THE 7.45 MILE COURSE IS 95% TRAIL, AND HEADS EAST OUT OF THE PARK BEFORE TURNING INTO THE WOODS, WHERE THE ADVENTURE REALLY BEGINS. YOU WILL CLIMB AND DESCEND STEEP HILLS, CROSS CREEKS AND BRIDGES, AND IF YOU ARE LUCKY, SEE SOME DEE AND OTHER WILDLIFE. THIS IS A SCENIC AND CHALLENGING RUN.



COURSE MARKING: THE COURSE IS MARKED WELL WITH THE PARKS SIGN AS WELL AS PINK CONFIDENCE RIBBONS AND YELLOW KENNEKUK ROAD RUNNER FLAGS ALONG THE WAY.



AID STATIONS: THERE WILL BE ONE AID STATION APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES INTO THE COURSE AND ANOTHER RIGHT AFTER 4 MILES. THE AID STATIONS WILL BE SUPPLIED WITH LIQUID HYDRATION.



ONLINE REGISTRATION DATES: OPEN TILL SEPTEMBER 12



ONLINE REGISTRATION FEE: SIGN UP BEFORE THE PRICE INCREASES ON AUGUST 8, 2024

RACE DAY REGISTRATION: AVAILABLE FROM 8:00 AM TO 8:45 CASH OR CHECK. THE COST IS $40 FOR THE 5K, $45 FOR THE 12K AND $55 FOR BOTH. RACE DAY REGISTRATION DOES NOT INCLUDE THE RACE T-SHIRT/TANK.

T-SHIRT CUTOFF DATE: TBD YOU MUST REGISTER ONLINE BY THIS DATE TO ORDER A SHIRT/SWEATSHIRT. THERE MAY BE A SMALL SELECTION OF SHIRTS/TANKS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT A COST OF $20 AT THE AFTER PARTY BUT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES.



PACKET PICKUP: PACKET WILL INCLUDE YOUR BIB, SHIRT AND PINS AND CAN BE PICKED UP ON RACE DAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 8:45 AM AT THE MEADOWLAWN SHELTER.

TIME LIMIT: NONE

RACE TIME: 9:00 AM FOR THE 5K AND 9:50 FOR THE 12K (7.45 MILE)

REGULATIONS: NO BANDITS, RADIOS, STROLLERS, OR DOGS ALLOWED. NO SHIRTS OR AWARDS WILL BE MAILED. NO REFUNDS OR BIB TRANSFERS. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN ANY DRAWINGS AT THE POST RACE PARTY.
SPECIAL THANKS: PLEASE JOIN US IN THANKING THE KICKAPOO STATE RECREATION AREA STAFF, ALL OF OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, AND LOYAL SPONSORS.

POST RACE PARTY: IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE RACE, THE PARTY WILL BE ON THE LAWN AT THE MEADOW SHELTER. KRR WILL PROVIDE PULLED PORK AND CHICKEN, CHIPS, COOKIES, SODAS AND WATER AND RIGGS KEG BEER. THIS MEAL IS FREE OF CHARGE FOR RUNNERS AND VOLUNTEERS.



CAMPING: KICKAPOO HAS TWO MAJOR CAMPGROUNDS FOR TENT AND TRAILER CAMPING WITH 184 SITES. ABOUT HALF OF THE SITES HAVE ELECTRICAL HOOKUPS. TWO SHOWER BUILDINGS AND A SANITARY DUMP STATION ARE AVAILABLE. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WALK IN SITES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PRIMITIVE CAMPERS, BUT SEVERAL CAMPSITES CAN BE RESERVED BY WRITING THE SITE OR BY APPLYING IN PERSON. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: HTTPS://DNR.ILLINOIS.GOV/PARKS/PARK.KICKAPOO.HTML OR CALL 217-442-4915

Races

  • Wild Wilderness 5K

    Incl. $3.10 Fee & Unisex T-Shirt / Ladies Tank

    Sat 13th September 2025 (9:00AM EDT)

    $38.10

    The 5K run is a rustic trail that wraps around clear pond and takes you down spooky hollow and up the steps to 7. Follow the signs for the Clear (Pond) Trail.
  • Wild Wild Wilderness 7.45

    Incl. $3.40 Fee & Unisex T-Shirt / Ladies Tank

    Sat 13th September 2025 (9:50AM EDT)

    $43.40

    The 7.45 mile course, which is 95% trail, heads east out of the park before turning into the woods, where the adventure really begins. You will climb and descend steep hills, cross creeks and bridges, and if you are lucky, see deer and other wildlife. This is a scenic and challenging run.
  • WWW Challenge

    Incl. $4.00 Fee & Unisex T-Shirt / Ladies Tank

    Sat 13th September 2025 (9:00AM EDT)

    $54.00

    The 7.45 mile course, which is 95% trail, heads east out of the park before turning into the woods, where the adventure really begins. You will climb and descend steep hills, cross creeks and bridges, and if you are lucky, see deer and other wildlife. This is a scenic and challenging run. The 5K run is a rustic trail that wraps around clear pond and takes you down spooky hollow and up the steps to 7. Follow the signs for the Clear (Pond) Trail. Challenge yourself and do both trails.

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Location

10906 Kickapoo Park Rd, Oakwood, 61858, IL, United States

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