Rattlesnake Master Run for the Prairie

The Rattlesnake Master Run for the Prairie circles Meadowbrook Park and its prairie in Urbana, Illinois, featuring a 10K run, a 5K run, and a 5K walk. All events begin from the park on South Race Street. The event proceeds regardless of weather, utilizing portions of the park's 130 acres. It incorporates some trail running, distinguishing it from a standard road race. The entry fee is kept modest, medals are provided, and participants may purchase a shirt separately rather than having one included with registration. Virtual 5K and 10K options are available for those wishing to support the race remotely; these results are posted separately and are not eligible for medals. The race supports Grand Prairie Friends, a land trust and conservation organization in central Illinois, aligning with the event's location. The course winds around prairie habitat, avoiding a downtown street layout. Participants of all ages are welcome, with age-group awards for the 5K and 10K runs and wider age categories for the walk. The event has a small, local atmosphere, featuring music, volunteers, and packet pickup at a running store in nearby Savoy, with race-day pickup at Meadowbrook Park's Garden Pavilion. The name derives from Rattlesnake Master, a tallgrass prairie plant (Eryngium yuccifolium). Native Americans used its dried seed heads as rattles, and early settlers mistakenly thought its roots could cure rattlesnake bites.