2025 Tough Tarmac Challenge

Fathers Day 2025. My wife and kids rewarded me with plenty of running time so I decided to take care of the FLRC Challenge Tough Tarmac 50k — all five of the 2025 Challenge's road courses, totaling 28.4 miles. The event title is a little deceiving. Besides being three miles short of 50k, three courses are on asphalt, one on a track of my choice, and one on a crushed gravel rail trail. 

Lakefront Loops 5k 

Stop one on the Father’s Day Tough Tarmac Challenge brought me to Cass Park for an easy 5k. I slept poorly and started later than planned. Instead of starting with the Black Diamond Trail by headlamp I ran the Lakefront Loop first to make sure I’d be out of the way before the Peter De Mott Peace Trot organizers started setting up to host 500 people at their 5k. Cass was pleasantly