The course begins just north of the town of Stewartville, MN on 20th St NE. We were able to park in the Fareway Foods parking lot. Be sure to stock up here on "fuel" for the ride as there aren't really any options to refuel on the course. Head east on 20th St NE and in less than a mile you will hit the gravel which is where the cue sheets begin.
The first 20 miles, or so, are wide open and tour around fields of corn and soybean farms. The road is never flat, however, there are rolling hills abound which all add up to about 3200 feet of climbing for the entire course. The middle section of the course begins with a mad descent into the valley of the Middle Branch of the Root River. You will travel upstream and gently uphill for the next 10 miles to the town of Fillmore. Enjoy this section, the road here is quiet and sheltered, winding its way through one of the most beautiful river valleys you will ever see. In Fillmore, we were able to refill our bottles from a spigot outside the Fillmore Free Methodist Church. If you are fortunate, as we were, Pastor Mike will notice you taking the church's water and offer to let you use the church's facilities as well.
Past Fillmore, you will ride along the river for just a few more miles and then abruptly climb out of the valley back to the wide open spaces of southern Minnesota farmland. This the home stretch and you begin to see Stewartville miles before the finish. Hopefully you are more fortunate than we were, and have the wind at you back at this point. We pushed though a 20 mph head wind for the last 10 miles or so which made me wish that I had brought more food to fuel the finish.
This is a spectacular 50 mile route on gravel. Congratulations to the organizers of The Filthy 50 for linking together this course and congratulations to the finishers of the first ever Filthy 50. I will look forward to next year.
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