The annual Tryon Farm 5K/10K/50K is a unique race, one that features a 10K loop through rolling native prairie grassland, towering beechwoods and sloping dunes through the beautiful Tryon Farm in Michigan City.
As usual, the 50K “ultra” race, set for Saturday, May 17 at 8 a.m., will feature only the most hard-core runners. This year, one of them will be 11-year-old Oliver Bohac-Datz, a youngster who, according to Race Director Will Noonan, will be the youngest ever participant in the Tryon Farm 50K.
“He is very motivated and focused and has already completed a marathon in preparation,” Noonan said.
That marathon, one that was held in Champaign, Illinois in late-April, was the longest race Bohac-Datz has competed in thus far, finishing in 4 hours, 55 minutes, 2 seconds. The Tryon Farm 50K is a 31-miler, which goes along with his goals of competing in events of longer distances.
“I just want to push myself further and further,” said Bohac-Datz, of Batavia, Illinois, who says his career goal is to complete a 100-mile course by the time he turns 20.
In addition to his recent marathon, Bohac-Datz has participated in four half-marathons, but the marathon itself was “three times as hard” as the toughest half.
“It was particularly more mentally challenging for me,” he said. “But i'm confident I'll be more prepared for Tryon Farm, and with the added shade hopefully it will not be as hot."
Oliver will run the Tryon Farm 50K with his mother, Amy Bohac-Datz, who accompanies him during the races. It was while watching his mother compete in the Desplaines River Trails marathon in Illinois two years ago that triggered his passion for the running life.
"It was my mom's first marathon and she hurt her knee during the second half, so I decided to run the last eight miles with her in my jeans," Oliver recalls. "It was a great experience and I've been hooked on running ever since."
Amy, who has been running "on and off" since high school, but has only been competing in marathons for the last three years, says her recent passion of long-distance events has been triggered by her son's "love for the ultra-marathon community."
"He likes the smaller trail runs better," Amy said. "While he appreciates a crowd at the races, he doesn't need a big crowd."
"I just like to achieve greater and greater distances," added Oliver, a fifth grader at Alice Gustafson School in Batavia. "This (Tryon Farm) will be my longest one so far and I'm looking forward to it."
About the Tryon Farm run
On-site packet pickup and registration begins at 7 a.m. at 1500 Tryon Road, Michigan City.
The 50K will start at 8 a.m., with the 5K and 10K runs set to begin at 10 a.m.
A kids race will begin at 9 a.m.
Proceeds will benefit the Tryon Farm Institute