Black Earth 10 Mile Run Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Beth E.
Menomonee Falls, WI

  (07-04-2011)

"As mentioned by other reviewers, it's totally a grass roots race-I think the entry fee rose to a whopping $8 this year! No T-shirts, no hoopla, just 5 miles out and 5 miles back. It would be nice if there was some sort of indication that the race had in fact started--borrow someone's old bugle? Yell real loud?--but other than that, a fine run for those who don't require bands every mile and all that. I have run it 2 years in a row now and plan to come back again."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2011

Susana T.
Sheboygan, WI

  (05-09-2010)

"The run was nice. Very predictable terrain as it was a 5 mile run and then back. There were nice markers on every mile and a water station.

Points to improve:
A porta potty at mile 5 would be nice.
Somehow indicate that the race has started.
Post results of the race in a timely manner.

"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Jason E.
Sun Prairie, WI

  (04-03-2010)

"I think it would have to be pretty hard to ruin a $5 (10-mile) race. I mean, how much can you really expect for 5 bucks? Personally, I expect a marked course, and a start/finish line. Nothing more. In fact, I find the water station to be a reach. I don't expect a timing-chip, food, shirt, medal, etc., just a good clean race. As a matter of fact, the race literature itself boasts that included in the registration fee is a "View of hills and manure along the entire course." Also included is apple cider at the finish.

The course is exactly as described above, filled with views of hills and manure. Pretty boring, but also pretty flat on this out-in-back in a very hilly part of Wisconsin (No, Wisconsin is not flat. Not even close.).

Crowd support is minimal, as this race is very rural.

Somewhat small, it's easy to shuffle runners in and out of registration. No goodies to hand out, just a bib and your on your way. It started 2 or 3 minutes late, and nobody except the front row seemed to know that we had started, until we did.

Overall, I can't see how they could have gone wrong. A few unexpected extras, in addition to the water station and cider include; mile markers, and an Elemenary School venue for check-in, to warm up in, or use the potty. The gymnasium was even open to runners to assure plenty of room for the roughly 150 participants.

I certainly recommend this one for a low key event. So low key in fact that I decided not to "race" it today, just kind of coast along with my wife and enjoy the time together."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010