AUGUST 9TH 2025
The anticipated race date for the 2025 edition of the Mines of Spain Trail Races is August 9th.
Registration will open at noon on Friday March 7th, 2025.
Basics
Who? You and like-minded runners who love sharing beautiful trails.
What? 4mi, 7mi and half marathon distance races.
We will also again be hosting a free Mini-Mines Trail Race for kiddos ages 12 and under Friday evening during packet pickup. The Mini-Mines race will start at 6:30pm and there is no pre-registration required. We just ask that you show up early by 6:15pm Friday night to sign your little runners in
When? Packet pickup - Friday from 5PM-7PM and pre-race Saturday from 6:15AM-7:15AM.
Races - Saturday starting at 7:30AM.
Where? EB Lyons Nature Center. Map: EB Lyons - Mines of Spain
Why? Because running on trails is awesome!
Summary
Come join the MoS crew for 4mi, 7mi and half marathon distances on some of eastern Iowa's best and most challenging trails! The routes through Mines of Spain will challenge you with their difficulty and inspire you with their beauty as they climb the bluffs for views of the Mississippi, make their way through tall grass prairies and weave through dense hardwood forests.
The terrain is a diverse mix of dirt single and double track and wide prairie grass trails. There are some rocky, technical sections of trail as well as a few steep climbs but much of the course is smooth and runnable with just rolling hills to contend with.
Strava Activities & Maps:
Half Marathon / Map
7 mile / Map
4 mile / Map
Aids stations will have water and Tailwind Nutrition drink (Mandarin Orange flavor, mixed 100 calories per 12oz) along with some basic sweet/salty snack foods. There are two manned stations and one unmanned station.
4mi (1.5), 7mi (1.5 & 3.0) and half (1.5, 3.0, 5.1, 7.0 & 10.1). All runners (especially those in the half marathon) are strongly encouraged to bring a handheld water bottle or hydration pack as we are a cup free race and there will be no disposable cups provided on course.
The course will close at the 4 hour mark and volunteers will be pulled from the course then or whenever the last runner passes them, whichever comes first. If you feel you cannot complete the race in the allotted time, please consider switching to a shorter distance race.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In keeping with the beauty of the natural environment, the races will be as environmentally-friendly and sustainable as possible with local food and beer along with cup free racing and a zero waste approach from pre race to post race.
RACE MORNING SHUTTLE
Trolleys of Dubuque will be providing shuttle service to runners before and after the race to help alleviate parking congestion and to further reduce our environmental impact.The trolley will start shuttling runners starting at 6am up until shortly before the race start and then will be making return trips from 10am to 12pm. Parking IS LIMITED at the race start/finish so enough people utilizing the shuttle service or carpooling w/ each other will be essential to making sure there's enough room for everyone. The pickup/dropoff spot is the old Econo Lodge Inn & Suites (2090 S Park Ct) which is a short 5min jaunt from the race start. If you're local, plan to meet up as a group and either carpool or take the trolley over in the morning! Thank you!
CHARITABLE IMPACT
Proceeds from the race will be returned to the Friends of the Mines of Spain to help maintain trails and continue education and conservation efforts at the park. To date, we've donated over $18,000 to the park!
Registration Details
We want to be as sustainable as possible while keeping our registration fees as low as possible and providing the highest value to runners. We've made it a practice of changing up swag from year to year and this year will be no different with a few options for runners. This will help us offer variety, value and reduce waste on both our end and the runner's end.
-All runners will receive a piece of useful and functional custom race swag as part of their registration.
-All registered runners get a beautiful, challenging and well marked course along with a fun post-race that includes local craft beer and delicious brick oven pizza from a local vendor!
No paper form and no morning of registration. Online registration only.
Online registration closes August 4th
WAITLIST
We hit our initial capacity within minutes every year. When that happens, runners should continue to register through Ultra Signup if they'd like to be added to the wait list. Runners will be added to the event as spots become available in the order they joined the wait list. They will be notified via email of their selection and will have 3 days to either accept or decline the invitation. Three weeks out from race day, that window of time shortens to 24 hours. When that time is up, the invitation will be passed to the next person on the wait list. This acceptance window is out of courtesy for all of the other folks on the waitlist. Please note that you are charged and your registration finalized ONLY if you accept the waitlist invitation.
DEFERRAL POLICY
THE DEFERRAL DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY JULY 10TH.
If the race fills and pre-registered runners later realize they're unable to participate, please let us know ASAP via e-mail (minesofspaintrailraces@gmail.com) or the Mines of Spain Trail Races Facebook to open up spots for those on the wait list. A full deferral to next year's race is available to any runner who lets the race knew in writing that he or she is unable to attend this year's event AND receives written confirmation of the deferral from the race. Please note, the deferral is good for ONE year only and ONLY applies to your race registration fee. If you choose to defer, you forfeit any included swag for this year's race however, if you purchased any additional add-ons like a shirt, you or someone you know is welcome to pick it up for you on race weekend. Please note that the deferral is a 100% rollover discount to the next year of whatever you paid in the year you deferred. The deadline for the deferral option is Wednesday July 10th. All deferrals will be notified of early registration opening up (early March of the following year) via the email address used to register this year. Deferrals will have the week of early registration to redeem their deferred entry which will expire when general registration opens at the end of that week.
DISTANCE SWITCHING
Switching distances is allowed up until Thursday night before the race if switching to a longer distance. If switching down to a shorter distance, Friday night's packet pickup is the deadline. There are no refunds for switching to a shorter distance and the participants must pay the difference in price if switching up to the half marathon. No distance switching is allowed the morning of the race
***No bib transfers or refunds***
Awards
Top 3 Overall Male and Female winner for each distance
Top finisher for each age group in the 4mi and 7mi races and top 3 finishers in each age group for the half marathon.
19 and Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and Masters 50+
RULES
Don't litter.
Don't knowingly cut the course.
Don't cheat in any way.
Don't be rude or abusive to fellow runners, volunteers, spectators or race staff.
Don't give your bib to another runner to run in your place.
Breaking any of these rules is grounds for disqualification and a possible ban from future MoSTR and Sun Trail Running events.
We don't have many rules but if you don't think you should be doing something, you probably shouldn't do it.
Questions?
Please see Facebook or the Website for additional race information or contact minesofspaintrailraces@gmail.com with any additional questions
Event's current local time: 3:28 PM CT
