Paleozoic Trail Runs
Permian Spring II

13th Annual Spring-Season Paleozoic 50-Km and 25-Km
Trail Runs!

This thirteenth annual spring celebration of "going long" made its rollicking return to our `south racecourse` within the Sag Valley System - Region 7. The south racecourse is a wonderful mix of wide crushed gravel paths and sometimes narrower more rugged dirt trails. We prefer to chart these trails for spring Paleozoic racing... so nice to be back. Each out-n-back lap totals a running distance of 15.534 miles. 50-Km = two laps; 25-Km = one lap. Set up with its start/finish aid station at Palos Park Woods-North Grove #1, and satellite aid station at the intersection of Will-Cook Road and the Green Trail. Permian Spring II marked the tenth time on our `south racecourse`, and twenty-first running of our semiannual race, which has always featured the event distances of 50 kilometers and 25 kilometers.

Official statistics for our 2025 Paleozoic Trail Runs - Permian Spring II...
The day unfolded...
Pleasant racing conditions persisted throughout the day with daylight temperatures ranging from 37° - 44°F, moderate winds and cloudy skies. Runners endured a mix of long-wet-muddy-with-puddles and frequently-dry stretches of trail. Paleozoic runners are an opportunist breed and despite a few slips, falls, and bruises this version, Permian Spring II posted an impressive finish rate of 96.4%!

The 25 Kilometer event...
In her Paleozoic debut Jamie Hershfang led all runners to the halfway aid station, getting there seven minutes ahead of Alvin Frank, Todd Javorski, and Dariusz Kasperek. Running as second female Dina Yavich, also in her Paleozoic debut made the turnaround station in a solid eighth position. Jamie held first position to the finish, and for the second-time-ever Paleozoic had a female overall champion! Alvin and Dariusz ran negative splits to finish as first & second male, with a hard-charging Noe Albor finishing as third male. Dina ran negative splits moving up to sixth overall and second place female, with Alexandra Marin (Paleozoic debut) finishing as third place female.

The 50 Kilometer ultramarathon...
In their Paleozoic debuts Jacobus Wijpkema, Cristian Rojas, Owen Graham-O'Regan, and Erik Mantor made the first turnaround aid station as tight pack, running ~8:15 pace. They remained in top-4 positions with Jacobus going on as Overall Winner, with Cristian in second, and Owen (first ultra) in third place. Paleo-vet David Curtin finished as Masters Top Male. In her second Paleozoic race Suzie Brashler finished as top female and tenth overall in 5:02:00. Taylor Barnhill and Molly Golden (Paleozoic debut for both) made their finish as second and third female respectively.

Paleozoic Milestones...
Sam Severson, Mark Bowman, and Andy McDonough finished their 15th lifetime Paleozoic races earning "Fifteen-Time Finisher" ball cap awards. Mike Anglin, Latoya McGuire, and Naomi Morimoto finished their 5th lifetime Paleozoic races earning "Five-Time Finisher" zipper-draw-string shoe bags. Nine brand new ultra-marathoners earned "My First Ultra" pint glass awards.
Leading all veteran-paleo-dinosaur-multitime finishers is Les Hockenberry with 21 finishes, 435.092 accumulated miles!  With their finish at today's race, the following veterans have moved up in all-time Paleozoic-finishing-stats position... 2nd) Margie Hockenberry, 16, 295.215;  3rd) Sam Severson, 15, 466.164;  4th) Mark Bowman, 15, 373.022;  5th) Andy McDonough, 15, 231.709;  6th) Edna Jackeline Vazquez, 13, 404.158;  7th) David Curtin, 13, 404.157;  8th) Paul Garcia, 13, 342.069;  9th) Jeni Goodwin, 12, 295.285;  13th) Andrae Marak, 11, 342.020;  13th) Michael Glennon, 11, 341.889;  14th) Jodi Haefner, 11, 341.890;  16th) Heather Debelak, 10, 170.941. Search past participant finishers under the "History" tab.

Nearing the finish line...
Circling the black-walnut-obstacled `parade loop`, through the Paleozoic feather flags, under the race banner, across the finish line timing mats, awaiting all runners... customized finisher-medals, special awards, optional beer, and the drawing-them-in-siren-sound of cowbells and cheering race enthusiasts.