Exactly 4 minutes and 20 seconds before the blast of the starting gun at the Loud Thunder 50 half marathon, a man in a pickle costume named “Pickle Phil” took off from the start line and sprinted into the woods. While starting early is generally frowned upon at competitive races, all the runners waiting for the gun knew the dill: Pass Pickle Phil in the first 2 miles and win $50. The previous year, two runners were successful.
Race director Josh Sun was a bit nervous this year—while Pickle Phil is a beast on a bike and an experienced runner, he hasn’t been able to train like he has in years past. In fact, Phil had just arrived specifically for this event after spending six months working as an electrician at the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. We knew he hadn’t been able to bring his bike and, based on the sub-zero temperatures, he likely wasn’t going for daily jogs. Josh was reasonably concerned that he may not financially recover from this stunt.
Nonetheless, Pickle Phil was not about to let Josh down. Feeling inspired by warmth on his face and likely the first green tree he had seen in six months, Pickle Phil sprinted out of the woods and into the start/finish area just 10 seconds ahead of eventual winner, Nate Shaffer. He could’ve easily quit and relished his victory, but he kept running and ended up finishing 55th place out of 92 overall. It seems that despite a lack of training, the Antarctic chill had made Pickle Phil stronger.
Courtney Osbourne crosses the new footbridge funded by a donation from the race organization and dedicated to the life of Austin Schoeck who passed away shortly after the 2023 event. Photo: Kristi Mayo / Mile 90 Photography
Pickle aside, Sun Trail Running races are also serious running events. The Loud Thunder 50 includes 50-mile, 50k and half marathon distances. Located in the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve in Rock Island County, Illinois, the course includes single- and double-track trails around Lake George and bluffs over the Mississippi River. While this course had to be modified this year due to excessive rain and flooding, there was still around 4,000 feet of climb in the 50 mile and 3,000 feet in the 50k, including an excruciating straight shot up the backside of the Lake George dam. With beautiful Midwest spring weather, the 50-miler had 40 starters and 40 finishers, and the 50k had 44 starters and 43 finishers.
Austin Schoeck with an item from the Thunder Alley Thrift Store during the 2023 Loud Thunder 50. Photo: Mike Van Hulle
As a Sun Trail Running event you can expect aid stations with experienced volunteers, custom finisher and podium awards, and a post-race party with great food and local microbrews. Profits from the race go right back into the forest preserve. Over the past 4 years, several large park projects have received funding from the race, including the installation of a beautiful new metal bridge dedicated to the life of Austin Schoeck, a great friend, husband and father, and finisher of all three Loud Thunder race distances over the previous three years. A solid bridge for a solid dude.