Race Overview
The Armed Forces Endurance Run (AFER) is a fixed time endurance run to honor all of our active duty service members and veterans. Each year the race will honor a different branch of the service and race swag will reflect that branch. In our second year we are honoring the Navy.
We are pleased to announce the race will be held at and cosponsored by Bixler Lake Park in Kendallville, IN which is just north of Fort Wayne. Bixler Lake Park completely surrounds 117-acre Bixler Lake. The natural beauty of the area has been combined with development of facilities for the enjoyment of all ages and interests. A pedestrian walkway and nature trail of over three miles circles the lake through the wetland nature area, and it runs by two beaches and landscaped woodlands.
Once again this year, a portion of the profits from the race will be donated to The National Veteran’s Memorial Shrine and Museum so they can continue to work towards their mission: “Where no veteran will ever be forgotten”. For more information about all of the projects they are working on please visit their website to learn more. https://honoringforever.org/
A portion of each race registration fee is donated to Team Red White and Blue as well. Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of veterans through a community for health and wellness.
Runners will choose to run the 4 hour race, 8 hour race or 12 hour race. Run as much or as little as you want in your chosen time limit. The course for the race will take place on the 3 mile walkway which will consist of part asphalt and part true trails. The loop has indoor restroom facilities on both sides of the lake as well. Every runner will receive a unique finishers’ medal and an additional special award that will be customized to reflect the mileage they achieved. Awards will be given to the top male and top female who accomplish the most miles in each of the 4 hour, 8 hour and 12 hour events.
In addition, this year we are offering a relay option! Gather up three of your running friends and create a team to participate in our 8 hour even or the 12 hour event. Each team the receives the most miles in each event will be given a special award on top of individual finisher medals and special custom awards.
Camping will be available in the campgrounds or right next to the aid station for runners who want to stay overnight (for small camping fee) or to just set up a tent for race day (no fee). Costs for camping and how to reserve spots next to aid station will be available soon.
Course Map
Aid Station
There will be a main aid station at the Lions Club pavilion. This will serve as home base and the start/finish line as well. We are prepared to keep you VERY well fed with real foods, soups (homemade vegan veggie soup will be back!) and typical ultra style snack foods. As we develop our “menu” more we will let you know what to expect. As an example. last year we had donuts, pizza, pulled pork grilled cheese, hamburgers, cookies just to name a few.
There will also be at least one other water/electrolyte self service station on the 3 mile course at about the half way point. If it is particularly hot that day we will add another one.
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Schedule of Events
Packet Pick up will be at the race site the night before the race and for a short period in the morning.
Friday May 17th 4pm to 7 pm:
Packet Pick Up
Saturday May 18th 5:30 am:
Runners can set up pop up tents
Saturday May 18th 5:30 am to 6:15 am :
Race Day Packet Pick up
Saturday May 18th 6:50 am:
Pre Race Instructions and National Anthem
Saturday May 18th 7:00 am:
All races begin
Saturday May 18th, 11:00 am:
4 hour race ends and awards to follow
Saturday May 18th, 3:00 pm:
8 hour individual and Relay races end and awards to follow
Saturday May 18th, 7:00 pm:
12 hour individual and Relay races end and awards to follow
Crewing
There will be parking spaces right next to the start finish area. There will be additional spots on the course just down the road from the start finish. Should all of those spots fill up there will be ample parking available near the course but not directly on it. Runners will be able to set up pop up tents on the course by the start finish area to work out of for race day. There will be a designated area at the aid station with picnic tables where runners can place drop bags to work out of as well.
Pacers
Pacers will NOT be allowed in the 4 hour event. After 12 pm, individual runners in the 8 hour and 12 hour events can have pacers assist run with them if they would like. Relay teams can only have one runner on the course at a time unless one of you removes your timing chip. Pacers will need to sign a medical release waiver so the we know who is out on the course with the runner. They can do this at packet pick up or any time that day at the aid station.
Even though dogs are man’s best friend we ask that you do not bring them to the race as the park will be open to the public that day and there could be quite a few other people at the park that day.
Race History
Our race was created for runners and walkers of all abilities to chase dreams and a performance they perhaps never dreamed of. The event is incredibly week supported with an amazing aide station, a massage therapist on site at the race and live music from an all veteran band. Our inaugural event was held in 2023 at the Veteran's National Memorial Museum and Shrine. The course consisted of a .85 mile loop that wound through the grounds. We honored the Army in our first event and race medals and swag reflected that.
Although we have outgrown the capacity of what the Shrine can support to have the event there we are excited they will continue to be our designated charity. Race Beyond Limits is committed to improving our community through donations back to charities for our events. In our second year we are going to honor the Navy and will be running around the beautiful lake at Bixler Park which just seems appropriate. So come join us on the trail party! We promise you will have fun!!
Race Start Times
Start Address
Distance/Duration
Start Time
# of Entrants
Cost
Directions
Entrants
| Team | First Name | Last Name | City | State | Age | Gender | Dis/Dur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | First Name | Last Name | City | State | Age | Gender | Dis/Dur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | First Name | Last Name | City | State | Age | Gender | Dis/Dur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherry | Brown | Columbia City | IN | 49 | F | 4-hour |
| Team | First Name | Last Name | City | State | Age | Gender | Dis/Dur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | First Name | Last Name | City | State | Age | Gender | Dis/Dur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amy | Lambert | Kalamazoo | MI | 58 | F | 12-hour | |
| Dave | Lambert | Kalamazoo | MI | 71 | M | 12-hour | |
| WALTER | EVANS | Lowell | IN | 58 | M | 12-hour | |
| Saundra | Stiner | Kingsley | MI | 54 | F | 12-hour | |
| David | Bruns | FORT WAYNE | IN | 41 | M | 12-hour | |
| Phillip | Gray | Fort Wayne | IN | 59 | M | 12-hour |
Awards
All finishers will receive a unique medal at the completion of their race. This year the medal ribbon will honor the Navy. Then after the race each runner will receive an additional personalized award with the exact mileage they completed during their race.
Individual Awards
Individual awards of a unique star shaped version of our logo will be given to the top performers (most miles) in each of the following categories:
12 hour male and female
8 hour male and female
4 hour male and female
8 hour relay
12 hour relay
Refund/Deferral Policy
There are NO refunds. You are able to defer your race entry for one year any time prior to May 1, 2024. You may defer for ANY reason. Please just contact the race director before this date and she can provide your deferral.
Volunteers
Would you like to help runners achieve their goals on race day? We can use your help. We will have needs in our aid stations and at packet pick up. Please fill out the form to sign up and let us know when you can help!
Race Waiver
I know that running or walking a race is a potentially hazardous activity, which could cause injury or death. I will not enter and participate unless I am medically able and properly trained, and by my signature, I certify that I am medically able to perform this event, and am in good health, and I am properly trained. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to any aspect of my participation in this event, including the right of any official to deny or suspend my participation for any reason whatsoever. I attest that I have read the rules of the race and agree to abide by them. I assume all risks associated with running in this event, including but not limited to: falls, physical contact with other participants, volunteers, race personnel, contract service providers, employees, and spectators including the potential of the contraction of a communicable disease resulting from contact with other participants, volunteers, race personnel, contract service providers, employees, and spectators. I assume all risks including: the effects of the weather; high heat and/or humidity; freezing cold temperatures; traffic and the conditions of the road/trail including surrounding terrain. I further agree to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations for the prevention of the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and other communicable diseases, and I attest to having read the CDC’s guidance at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html. I assume all such risks being known, appreciated, and accepted by me. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts and inconsideration of your accepting my entry, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release Race Beyond Limits, Armed Forces Endurance Run in Kendallville, IN, private property owners, park systems, sponsors, vendors, volunteers, the Road Runners Club of America, all event sponsors, their representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this event, even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons named in this waiver. In addition, I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases and voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 and/or other communicable diseases by participating in this event. I acknowledge that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and/or death. I understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 in connection with my participation in this event and personally assume this risk. I grant permission to all of the foregoing to use my photographs, motion pictures, recordings or any other record of this event for any legitimate purposes. I understand that this event does not provide for refunds in the event of a cancellation, and by signing this waiver, I consent that I am not entitled to a refund if the event is cancelled before or during the event.