This Sunday, March 19,  will be the 28th running of the March Madness Half Marathon.  It starts at 8:35 AM from the Cary-Grove High School at 2208 Three Oaks Road in Cary, IL.

The challenging course begins heading East on Three Oaks Road in Cary (McHenry County) to Hickory Nut Grove Road where it heads North and then back West.  (Hickory Nut Grove Road is the eastern border between McHenry County and Lake County and passes the Harvest Glen custom homes built by Verseman Development on the Lake County side of Hickory Nut Grove Road.)

The event web site says that "The course has been dubbed the most challenging in Northern Illinois and an excellent training race for spring marathons."  (Having biked the hilly course, I don't envy the runners and am amazed how many return each year.)  15 special entries will be made available as charitable donations to promote the Hillstriders Scholarship Fund.

Trophies will be awarded to overall winners. Plaques will be given to the top ten males and females. Medals will be awarded to age group winners (3 deep). Approximate time schedule for Half Marathon awards is 11 AM. AGE DIVISIONS Male and Female; 19 & Under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 and over. Results will be provided by DRKomputing, Inc. Result cards will be available at the finish line on race day.  See http://www.hillstriders.com/ for details.