This is Michigan’s Most Beautiful and Most Challenging Marathon

Trail running gets you out of the city and into the beauty of Nature. This race showcases the most beautiful scenery Michigan has to offer. But, it comes at a price.

I know many of you would enjoy Bell's Two-Hearted much more than this. The Two Hearted Trail Run Marathon started in 2014 and offers a 13.1 mile half-marathon, the full 26.2 mile marathon and a 50k run. The course is off-road, much of it on the scenic North Country Trail along the Lake Superior shoreline.

They say "this course has the capacity to transform the way you see nature and the world," and use words you see in movie reviews like "awesome," "spectacular," "phenomenal." It is precisely the gorgeous landscape that makes it so difficult. Not only do you have the uneven footing of Michigan beach sand, but steep sand dunes to climb in a few sections of the course. It all pays off in the end as the finish line is at the incomparable Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Take a look a the video below for the race start, runners on the course, and winner interviews. The ending song is "Never Quit," which reminds me of the Shima Morita quote,

When running up a hill,, it is all right to give up as many times as you want to, as long as your feet keep moving.