The Hennepin Hundred

07/07/2026

The Yak Yak Sisters are an awesome group of Kayakers that have made it a yearly tradition to welcome runners onto the Hennepin Canal State Park trail in Rock Falls. They have been doing this since year one of the race! Runners love seeing them.

The Yak Yak team talk about this on this podcast.

Drop a comment or photo about how it felt to see them during your race!

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long welcomes Karen Miles and Cyndi Muler of the Yak Yak Sisters to share the story behind one of the Sauk Valley's most welcoming outdoor groups. What began as a small gathering of kayaking enthusiasts has grown into a community that encourages peopl...

06/01/2026

Holding Denise and all who loved Frenchy in our hearts today.

04/11/2026

Super cool video about Rock Falls. This is where the Hennepin Canal State Park trail begins.

01/12/2026

♥

The secret to running 100 miles…

is actually walking.

I’m not a running expert.

But I’ve been running almost every day for over 35 years.

And the one thing that’s kept me in the game?

Run-Walk-Run.

I learned it from a man named Jeff Galloway nearly 20 years ago.

Now I use it for everything… from daily runs to 100-mile races.

At Hennepin 100, we ran 6 minutes, walked 4.

Finished in under 24 hours.

51st place out of 200.

No injuries. No burnout. Just forward motion.

Today I use a 7:3 rhythm.

Run 7 minutes.

Walk 3.

Repeat.

But you can start at 1:1 if you’re new.

Walk a minute. Jog a minute.

Just get out the door.

The benefits?

- Delays fatigue
- Speeds up recovery
- Lowers injury risk
- Breaks the run into digestible bites
- Makes running sustainable

It’s not about ego.

It’s about finishing strong.

And showing up again tomorrow.

Don’t overthink your pace.

Just move.

And trust that motion creates momentum.

12/18/2025

History buffs love the Hennepin Canal State Park. Here’s an interesting photo from when the canal was being built.

You’ll notice several bridges crossing the canal. This area has always been a strong farming community, and when the canal was constructed, many farmers suddenly found their fields split in half. The bridges weren’t just decorative. They were essential, allowing farmers to move equipment, livestock, and themselves from one side of their land to the other.

It’s a great reminder that this beautiful trail we run today was built with purpose, practicality, and a whole lot of hard work.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Enjoy Illinois

While today's Throwback Thursday picture is a cool historic shot, unfortunately, we don't have any information on its location or the year it was taken.

12/14/2025

Runners, make sure your crew knows to swing by Paxton's Corner Coop in Annawan, IL on race day, or anytime you’re passing through. This family-owned bakery and ice cream shop sits right near Aid Station 7/14 and just a quick hop from Aid Station 15.

They were open today in below-zero temps with a line wrapped around the building… it’s that good! Support local!

You guys never disappoint! 😂