IRONBULL highlights Athens trails
The Athens Choose Your Own Adventure has fun signs to spot along the course.
ATHENS – After three popular semi-virtual trail events, IRONBULL is continuing to highlight Central Wisconsin parks and trails with more events. The next stop is Erbach Park in Athens May 29 through June 14. Erbach Park boasts a four-season multi-use trail system along Black Creek. Bikers, walkers, runners, and furry friends use the trails along with snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and fat tire bikers in the winter months.
“The trail options makes this a great venue for such an event. I raced cross country many times at Erbach Park growing up. It was fun coming back and exploring all the trails I’ve never run on,” said Andrea Larson, IRONBULL executive director.
Athens Area Trails Association has been promoting the park as it has several amenities such as a shelter with restrooms, plenty of open space, ample parking, 5+ miles of summer trails, 7+ miles of winter trails, beach, playground, shooting range, and even an archery area.
“We are passionate to share the trails in the Athens community and beyond,” said Steven Brewster, President of the Athens Area Trails Association.
IRONBULL has created these marked courses to get individuals and households of all ages outside and active. The Island Hop Adventure had exactly half of registrants on downtown Wausau’s trails for the first time. And 70% of the Edgar Choose Your Own Adventure participants explored Scotch Creek Woodland Preserve for the first time. Participants are welcome to enjoy a leisurely stroll, fast run, or anything in-between.
Wildflowers blanket the forest along the trails at Erbach Park.
IRONBULL had two semi-virtual events conclude recently. The Island Hop Adventure, concluded on May 17, taking place in downtown Wausau with 5k (3.1 mile), 2mile, and 1 mile course options. Sean Wright and Candice Wayne went two for two in winning the IRONBULL pop-up 5k races. They both also won the inaugural Choose Your Own Adventure 5k event held at Nine Mile County Forest and Recreation Area earlier this month. Rachel Sheldon and her son didn’t let rain slow them down as they covered the course on the last day of the event, topping the household division.
One Island Hop Adventure participant said, “IRONBULL has made exploring new trails around our community very easy. They challenge you and encourage you. I love what this is providing for our community.”
The Choose Your Own Adventure held at Scotch Creek Woodlands Preserve in Edgar concluded on May 25. Participants had numerous route options, spanning 1.8 to 2.5 miles. A new set of winners emerged with Kris Borchardt taking a few warm-up loops to figure out the fastest route on the course. Andrea Larson designed the course and used that intel to come away with the next fastest time. The Prunnuske family won the household division.
Participants are asked to register for the free event to track community impact, abide by current COVID-19 guidelines, and are encouraged to donate to the organizations that maintain the trail systems.
For more race information on the IRONBULL Choose Your Own Adventure course in Athens go to the IRONBULL Facebook page or https://www.ironbull.org/cyoa-athens-2020