Highlander Assault Obstacle Race - Holiday Hills, Illinois

Vito Thomas

This is by far my favorite of the real obstacle course races. Tough Mudder and Savage are a close second.

Highlander just has that family feel to it. It's stationary. Meaning it's always here. So the obstacles are better and fun.

The property has endless options.

If you want to test yourself or just want to get some fresh air and hike check them out. So worth it!

Sara Mendralla

Absolutely an incredible experience you won't want to miss. Our entire family was able to participate in several ways, from a competitor elite race my husband did, a family race tailored to the kids, and a night race with the headlights guiding you.
The medals you earn are super high quality too.
The atmosphere is outstanding with the entertainment, scottish theme bagpipes playing, and the most down to earth friendly people you'd ever meet from around the country.
There is a challenge for everyone at this race so no one feels left out. I saw people with no athletic ability come out and try the race. no judgement. Just a lot of encouraging people! You won't regret trying this one!

Ryan Seiffert

Great local Obstacle Race. For a fraction of the cost you would pay at a Spartan race you get the same experience here.
Tons of fun and the Owners of the race really put their heart and soul into the event!

Eddie Lemay

Appreciation point 1: The lead up. The influence from War-X was evident in this year’s Highlander. That’s not a bad thing; replication is considered one of the largest forms of flattery, after all. 3 races, 1 day; family fun; competitive heats; the prizes; the vendors… the lead up was hands down part of the best form of marketing I’ve seen with any race. Where races such as Savage and Spartan will pay for Facebook targeted ads or bombard you with spam text messages about how “You can sign up now for the cheapest rates ever! But we won’t tell you about the 45 extra costs we’ll tack on at the end.” Highlander promoted through Facebook live videos with every new idea and implantation that had come up. Highlander introduced you to people from random parts of the United States in an effort to show you that anyone and everyone does these races. Highlander brought you on this journey to middle-earth (Illinois) with them every step of the way.

Appreciation point 2: The team. When I first ran Highlander 5 years ago, I did so with a couple friends that enjoyed getting muddy. Since then, those friends ventured away while I strived to dig deeper into it. Year 3 for me, I had run alone. Before the run, during the run, and after the run, I didn’t talk to anyone. It was boring and I saw why my friends had stopped doing it. You can only do things by yourself for so long before it starts to lose its fun. Team Highlander gave me a reason to be excited again. Dozens of people with the same mindset as you, coming together to achieve the same goals, all while cheering you on to achieve your own… it’s a feeling unlike any other. Excluding the two-time defending largest team ‘Team Highlander’ from this, the event promotes the idea of team comradery. Small or large, they encourage groups to experience something new together, because this is what brings you back for seconds, or thirds, until eventually it’s all you can eat buffet of mud and rain, and bagpipes.

Appreciation point 3: The execution. This was the first year I got to experience the behind the scenes of what it takes to put together a successful obstacle course race. Though I only had the chance to help for a single day, I was able to see the hard work, the blood and sweat and tears it took to make such a thing come together. Putting on such an event is hard, and it’s something that no one could quite put into words. Leaving the event, the only people upset at the ongoings around the Highlander grounds are those that were too busy sulking like children because they didn’t get a top 3 podium spot… crazy, I know.

Obstacle Feedback: 4 rigs, all with their own varying degrees of difficulty; but leaps and bounds better than anything Spartan can put together. I loved all of them and there’s not much bad to say about them, except for maybe ask for more of them. I understand this isn’t everyone’s cup o’ tea, but from a monkey bar connoisseur such as myself, I can never have enough upper-body-taxing obstacles in a single race. The 3 water obstacles were great, a staple to Highlander at this point (don’t ever get rid of them). In fact, add more, but later in the race as well. I feel like there’s some untapped potential in the back half of the 8-mile course with that massive pond that’s just waiting to be… well, tapped.

Favorite obstacle: The Titled Kilt, obviously (totally unbiased take).

Least favorite obstacle: All the guys that beat me in the competitive heat (grumble grumble).

Overall rating: I suck at leaving out my unbiased opinion on this, so it’s going to be a 10/10.

Danielle Hoffman

This is THE RACE that I look forward to all year long! They have something for everybody- 4 miles, 8, 12, and for the truly tough, the King Arthur Challenge, a full marathon with inventive obstacles, like my favorite rig ever, Tilt-a-Kilt. It's fun, challenging, and messy. I can't recommend Highlander Assault enough! You have to try it!!!

Rich Hobson

Great obstacle course race, even better people running the event. Local fun OCR, did my first race back in May with the highlanders and been medal chasing since.