There are races that challenge runners, races that inspire runners, and races that remind runners why they fell in love with the sport in the first place. The Badger Trail Races, put on by Ten Junk Miles Racing, manage to do all three. Held on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2 in Belleville, Wisconsin, this event was an unforgettable weekend of grit, joy, friendship, and pure running community.
With race distances that included the 100 mile, 100K, 50 mile, 50K, marathon, and half marathon, Badger offered something for everyone—from seasoned ultrarunners chasing a huge goal to runners stepping onto the trail for a new adventure. Every distance felt like part of the same larger celebration: runners showing up for themselves, for each other, and for the shared experience of moving forward one mile at a time.
A Beautiful Course Built for Big Dreams
The Badger Trail Races use the Badger State Trail and continue onto the Jane Addams Trail between Belleville, Wisconsin, and Orangeville, Illinois. The course is nearly all rail trail, with less than one percent asphalt, giving runners a smooth, scenic, and welcoming path for big miles and meaningful moments.
What makes this race especially inviting is the way the course combines challenge with charm. Runners pass through supportive trail communities, experience the beauty of southwest Wisconsin, and share the trail with athletes pursuing every kind of goal. Whether someone is chasing a buckle, a finisher’s medal, a personal best, or simply the satisfaction of finishing what they started, Badger gives runners a place to dream big and feel supported while doing it.
Aid Stations That Felt Like Home
One of the true highlights of the Badger Trail Races was the incredible aid station support along the course. For runners tackling long distances, aid stations become more than a place to refill bottles or grab calories; they become emotional checkpoints, sources of encouragement, and moments of connection when the miles start to feel big. Badger’s aid stations delivered exactly that. They were welcoming, organized, energetic, and full of the kind of care that can completely change a runner’s day.
The volunteers and supporters on course made runners feel seen and supported at every stage of the race. Whether someone needed food, fluids, a quick laugh, a practical reset, or simply a reminder that they were doing something amazing, the aid stations provided it. That level of support is part of what makes Badger so special: runners were never just moving through miles alone; they were being carried forward by a community that genuinely wanted every person to succeed.
Ten Junk Miles Racing Knows How to Take Care of Runners
From start to finish, the Badger Trail Races felt thoughtfully organized and genuinely runner-focused. Every runner received a generous collection of race swag, including a bag, t-shirt, beach towel, bracelet, stickers, and more. Every finisher also received a medal, and 100 milers were awarded a unique belt buckle that honored the magnitude of their accomplishment. Runners who have completed multiple Badger events received a belt concho thoughtfully designed by the Race Director, adding another meaningful layer to the event’s tradition and sense of belonging.
Those details matter because they send a clear message: Ten Junk Miles Racing values the runners who show up, celebrates their effort, and wants them to leave with something that reminds them of the experience long after race weekend is over.
The finish line was just as memorable. Free pizza, beer, and pop created the kind of relaxed, happy, welcoming atmosphere that every runner hopes to find after a hard-earned finish. It was not just a place to collect an award and head home; it was a place to sit down, cheer for others, swap stories, celebrate survival and success, and remember that running is even better when it is shared.
Scott Kummer’s Commitment to Runners and the Sport
Race Director Scott Kummer’s commitment to runners and to the sport of running is felt throughout the Badger Trail Races. Scott founded the Ten Junk Miles Podcast to build exactly this kind of community—a place where everyday runners could feel like they had running partners, honest conversations, shared stories, and a home in the sport. His leadership is not simply about putting on an event; it is about continuing that mission in person by creating a space where runners feel welcomed, respected, celebrated, and cared for. From the thoughtful race details to the generous finish-line atmosphere, Badger reflects a race director who understands that runners remember how an event made them feel just as much as they remember the miles themselves…