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In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we check in on classic races in North Carolina, California, Texas and Virginia.
A Run in the Park
We start in Raleigh, North Carolina, for the 29th annual Umstead 100 and 50-mile races. A local favorite, the race takes place in William B. Umstead State Park where participants will run eight 12.5-mile laps for the 100-miler and four laps for the 50. This year, the race course will consist of two out-and-back segments due to a course change but will still chalk in at around 1,000 feet of elevation gain per lap. This is a runnable course taking place on well-maintained trails throughout the park. Combined with a highly supportive group of volunteers, Umstead is a great option for runners looking to complete their first 100-mile race or go after a PR.
American Classic
Next, we head to Folsom, California, for a classic West Coast race, the American River 50. First run in 1980 and following in the tracks of a horse race like another famous race that takes place in the same area, the American River 50 has grown to become the second largest 50-mile race in the United States. Runners will begin at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, and follow the American River on a combination of single-track trails and paved bike paths, before grinding out a 3-mile uphill finish into Auburn, California. The American River 50 course has around 5,500 feet of climbing and 4,600 feet of descent.
The Fastest Race in Texas
Taking place on extremely flat and well-maintained trails, with the largest hill being only 10 feet, Brazos Bend (50-mile and 50k races) has staked its claim as the fastest trail race in Texas. First started in 2014, the Brazos Bend races are multiple loop courses that take place in Brazos Bend State Park, just 45 miles southwest of Houston. One of the highlights of the race is getting to experience the diverse abundance of wildlife in the park, including 25 different species of mammals, 21 species of reptiles, 300 species of birds and last but not least, the American alligator, just waiting to sink their teeth into runners who toss gel wrappers on the ground. Kidding. According to the race website there has never been an incident in the park. But why chance it?
Wildcard
For this week’s Wildcard Race (where we feature an event you may not be familiar with), we journey to Clifton, Virginia, for the 30th running of the Bull Run Run 50-mile race. The Civil War themed race takes place on historic lands where the First Battle of Bull Run was fought in 1861. This is a double out-and-back course run almost entirely on single-track trails that meander through scenic woodlands and feature the spring beauty of the largest bluebell flower stands on the East Coast. The Bull Run Run has plenty of ups and downs, with a total elevation gain around 5,300 feet.
Other races this weekend include: Red River Gorge in Pine Ridge, KY, The Country Mile in Slater-Marietta, SC, Potawatomi in Pekin, IL, Kanawha Trace in Oma, WV, and Diablo Trails Challenge in Walnut Creek, CA.
In total, there are a whopping 40 races taking place this weekend! Check out the full list here and let us know in the comments what you’re racing and if we missed any events.