Thunder Mountain Challenge

Come conquer Thunder Mountain in its debut year!

Choose your challenge: the The Bridal 5Kave, the 3-hour challenge, or the 6-hour challenge.

Each climb up Thunder Mountain gains approximately 335 feet of elevation in about 1/2 mile.

The Bridal 5Kave will complete three loops. In the 3-hour and 6-hour challenges, the winner is the runner who reaches the top of Thunder Mountain the most times within the race window.

There will be one aid station located at the top of Thunder Mountain. Runners will pass the aid station after every loop. A check-in captain will track each runner’s climbs in real time throughout the event.

All finishers in The Bridal 5Kave, 3-hour challenge, and 6-hour challenge will receive a finisher award. Awards will also be given to the top overall male and female finishers in each race.

Come be part of the first year of Thunder Mountain!

Course Map

We are currently fine-tuning the final course map with Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park.

The course will either be a true out-and-back or a lollipop-style loop. If it is an out-and-back, runners will descend Thunder Mountain for approximately 1/2 mile, then climb back up Thunder Mountain for approximately 1/2 mile. If it is a lollipop-style loop, runners will descend Thunder Mountain, turn onto a gravel section on the way down, then loop back to the asphalt climb to the top of Thunder Mountain.

Thunder Mountain is asphalt, and most of the running will be on asphalt. Depending on the final course layout, there may also be a section of gravel.

As soon as the final course details are confirmed with Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park, we will share that information with runners.

Whether the course is a true out-and-back or a lollipop-style loop, the race format will remain essentially the same: approximately 1/2 mile down and approximately 1/2 mile back up, with about 335 feet of elevation gain on every climb.

Race Rules

The Bridal 5Kave:

The Bridal 5Kave is a traditional race for time. Runners will complete approximately three descents down Thunder Mountain and three climbs back up Thunder Mountain. After reaching the top of Thunder Mountain on the third climb, runners will be at approximately 5K distance.

All Bridal 5Kave finishers will receive a finisher medal. Awards will be given to the top overall male and female finishers.

3-Hour Challenge and 6-Hour Challenge:

The 3-Hour Challenge and 6-Hour Challenge are based on total completed climbs.

Each runner will check in at the top of Thunder Mountain after every climb. A check-in captain will track each runner’s total number of completed climbs throughout the event.

In both the 3-Hour Challenge and 6-Hour Challenge, winners are determined by the highest number of completed climbs within the race window.

If a runner is still climbing when time expires, that climb will not count. The runner’s total will revert to their last completed climb before time expired.

Finisher awards will be given to every runner who remains in the race for the full duration of their challenge. Overall awards will be given to the top male and female finishers based on total completed climbs.

Thunder Mountain Park Event Center | Aid Station

There will be one aid station for all three races: The Bridal 5Kave, the 3-Hour Challenge, and the 6-Hour Challenge.
The aid station will be located at the top of Thunder Mountain inside the Thunder Mountain Park Event Center.

It will be a fully stocked aid station with water, electrolytes, and other standard aid station items runners expect during a race. Restrooms will also be available.

For the 3-Hour Challenge and 6-Hour Challenge, this will also serve as the official check-in location. Each runner’s completed climbs will be tracked in real time. A live scoreboard will be displayed on a flat screen inside the Thunder Mountain Park Event Center, allowing runners to rehydrate, check their standings, and see how the race is unfolding.

Parking

There are several open-air parking lots located near the Thunder Mountain Park Event Center and the official start/finish line for the Thunder Mountain Challenge.

Please look for the yellow curb stops and follow the parking signage directing you to the various open-air lots located a short distance from the start/finish area.

Runners are encouraged to carpool whenever possible.

Event's current local time: 2:50 PM CT