One Ear Deer Dash Trail Races

Description:

The One Ear Deer Dash trail races are named for the deer with only one ear (Debbie) which has been a resident of Oak Grove Park for several years and is often seen roaming about the park in the early morning and evening hours foraging and looking after her fawns. Park staff estimate she around 9 years old and is the unofficial mascot of the park! Unfortunately Debbie the One Ear Deer is no longer with us but her positive vibes can still be felt by runners! Oak Grove Park is a beautiful 433-acre county park located along the Big Sioux River in Western Sioux County Iowa and is about an hour’s drive from Sioux Falls, SD or Sioux City, IA. Entrance to the park is free as is parking. The park offers overnight camping, cabins, and modern restroom facilities with Showers.

Course Description
Both the 3.5, 7.5, & 12 mile racecourses follow predominately single-track mountain bike and hiking trails. The courses offer a lot of twists, turns, and elevation changes to challenge runners as they wind through and around the densely wooded hills and prairie along the Big Sioux River. Runners for both races will start near Oak Grove Lodge and quickly dive into wooded single track. The 3.5-mile course and the 7.5-mile course split at about 1 mile into the race with the 7.5-mile course rejoining the 3.5-mile course at 5 miles. The new longer distance race course has not been completely mapped yet as some of the course is on newly acquired park land. The long distance option will be as close to 12 miles as we can make it and will add some fun challenging terrain along with plenty of elevation changes. If you are looking for a rigorous longer distance trail race, this one will be the cat’s pajamas! All race distances will finish back at the Lodge where post-race refreshments will be available.