The Power of Walking & Consistency: My Badger Palooza 12-hr Race Report

If you haven’t tackled any of the Badger Palooza ultra events, you should. You have many options: 24hr, 12hr, 6hr or relays offered in all of these events.

My first Badger Palooza experience was in 2024. I enjoyed the concept so much, I came back in 2025. The ultras take place in October.

The concept behind this ultra event is simple: participants have 1 hour to run a 5K-loop around two lakes and a vineyard (the ultra takes place in Autumn Lake Winery in Williamstown, NJ). If you don’t cross the timing mat in the 1-hour time limit, you are out and essentially DNF. 

There’s an event for everyone. If you enjoy night running, the 24-hr event starts at 6 pm on a Friday night. And just as the 24hr folks have completed the first 12 laps, the 12hr participants start their laps at 6 am Saturday morning. And just as the 12hr folks have completed their first six laps, the 6hr participants start their six laps Saturday at noon.

My experience this year was not very different from my experience last year. Both 6 am starts were cold and chilly with temps in the 40s. I wore layers to stay warm both times.

Both times the sun came out to keep us warm and the blue skies brightened the day as we collected laps on a course that is part trail, part sandy soil and grass along the vineyards, and part paved path. As the day got warmer, layers came off.

The course has a tiny bit of elevation. Oh, I forgot to mention….the start of the ultra begins with climbing up a few stairs; we repeat the climb at the start of each lap.  

This year, I shared the course with a couple of runners I met last year, and new runners I met this year, including first-time ultra runner David in the 12hr. Thank God for David...during lap 7, while we were walking and chatting and approaching mile 1, I tripped over a rock protruding from the ground and almost fell forward. But David, on my right, held me up. It was near the same spot where I fell last year during lap 1 when I tripped over a tree root but bounced back up.

And like last year, I was the oldest participant in the 12-hr event at age 66. The youngest, Landon, 17, like last year placed first In the 12hr, and broke his own course record. The other runners were in their 30s and 40s. My friend Jim Kelly, also 66, and his wife Barb, placed second in the 6-hr relay.

Like last year, I power walked the laps and collected 37.2 miles. Everyone collects the same distance, some very fast and others, like me, very slow. A few did not meet the 1-hour time limit and DNFed.

Last year, I placed 7/7 female and 10/12 overall. This year, I placed 4/4 female and 11/13 overall. Here's last year's race report. I'm pretty consistent.

The Power of Walking and Consistency

And this year, I broke my own record at Badger Palooza. I shaved off 22:18 seconds. This is the kind of stuff that makes and breaks records. Haha!

Here’s a comparison of my 5K laps at Badger Palooza in 2024 and 2025 and my pace consistency.

2024

2025

My last ultra before Badger Palooza was the 2025 Sri Chinmoy 12hr in Rockland Lake State Park in New York in June. I power walked this one too, collected 44.22 miles, placed 9th female, 28/83 overall, and 3rd female in the 60-69 age group. I maintained a 15:42 pace.

Between the end of Sri Chinmoy and the start of Badger Palooza, I logged 485.4 miles, a mix of maintenance and training miles, the majority power walking miles.

Prior to Sri Chinmoy, I powered walked the.... 

2025 D3 50K track ultra: I logged 125 laps, mostly power walked; 14:19 pace.

The inaugural 2025 Old Six Day - 72hr track ultra; I collected 143.24 miles; traveled home to sleep 2.5 hours on two of the days, so I'm not sure how many hours I was actually on the track collecting miles and pace. I placed first place female, and set the female course record.

2024 Hainesport 12hr - 42.62 miles/16:37 avg. pace. Placed 7th female; 19/44 overall.

Power walking ultra events at any age, but especially for aging runners like myself, is key. I feel more energetic, efficient, and a lot less tired power walking. No doubt, my body, now approaching age 67, no longer moves fast. Long gone are the days of 8-plus-to 10-plus-minute miles. 

I have never gotten compliments on my running, but I get compliments during ultra events on my power walking. “You walk so fast.” “I can’t keep up with you.” I'm always happy to offer fellow runners on the course a power walking tip or two.

I gave Karl, who was hurting at the time, a few tips on how to power walk and still move when our legs and feet are fatigued. I demonstrated alongside him as we moved, and he remarked, "You glide." He went on his way and thanked me along another lap. He was flying. Karl placed second male in the 24hr,

The more I power walk in my training, the more consistent I get with my pace at ultra events. Consistency, however fast or slow, has its rewards in timed races. It will get you to the finish. And at Badger Palooza, a prize might be bestowed upon you.

At the end of lap 2, one of the race directors, Lou, surprised me with a prize for being the slowest female at the end of lap 2. My prize-winning moment was a pleasant surprise. I got a cryo ball, a hot and cold muscle massager.

Prizes are given at the end of every lap (I think), in all kinds of categories. Another reason Badger Palooza ultras are so much fun.

Next, I'm off to tackling my 42nd ultra, the Old Six Day 144-hr track ultra, in April 2026. I will definitely be power walking that one too.

Photo: Jim Kelly

Check out the video my husband Jon made. Thank you for watching.

My nutrition and my calories were all homemade and free of chemicals, including homemade vanilla ice cream waiting for me at home to enjoy.

These foods, along with electrolytes, always keep me going, as well as homemade ginger ale for nausea, just in case. I didn't need ginger this time, but I was happy to share some with fellow runner Lisa in the 24hr. Lisa placed second female in the 12hr.

Congrats to all. Hope to see you next year!

Here are all the results on RunSignUp.

All photos: Jon Gilbert

©2025

I'm also the author of Come What May, I Want to Run: A Memoir of the Saving Grace of Ultrarunning in Overwhelming Times. Order your copy here.