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There are 49 races on this week’s UltraRunning Magazine race calendar, including several classics and plenty of exciting new events. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we highlight four of the classic events taking place in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, California and Oregon.
Kettle Moraine
Our first stop is in La Grange, Wisconsin, for the 27th annual Kettle Moraine Endurance Runs (100-mile, 100k, 50k and 38-mile races). First run in 1996, the classic 100-mile event is part of the Midwest Grand Slam of Ultrarunning and has become a favorite of endurance runners for its beautiful single-track forested trails (100% of the course is run on trails), and amazing aid stations and hospitality. The 100-mile course consists of two different out-and-back sections with 65 miles run on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The race offers a mix of rolling hills, rocks and roots, and smooth runnable sections of soft pine needles. The 100-miler has around 8,800 feet of elevation gain and participants have 30 hours to earn an official finish. Information about the other race distances can be found here.
Laurel Highlands
Next, we travel to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, for the Laurel Highlands 70.5-mile and 50k races. This year marks an amazing milestone as it’s the 45th consecutive running of the event. First raced in 1980, the 70.5-mile point-to-point course travels along the entirety of the Laurel Highlands hiking trail in southwestern Pennsylvania, beginning in Ohiopyle and finishing in Seward. Along the way, runners will be tested by rugged trails, steep grades and nearly 9,000 feet of elevation gain. Runners will have 22 hours to complete the challenging course and earn an official finisher’s award. Participants in the 50k event will have 10 hours to complete a point-to-point course that begins in Ohiopyle and ends at the Route 31 trailhead near Myersbrook.
San Diego 100
Heading west, we visit sunny Southern California for the 23rd annual San Diego 100 Mile Endurance Run. A local favorite, San Diego 100 is a challenging race where runners will have to battle technical trails, hot and dry conditions, and around 13,700 of elevation gain. This year’s race features a new loop course that begins and ends at Lake Cuyamaca Recreational Area. During the race, runners will navigate trails through Mount Laguna Recreational Area, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Noble Canyon, Indian Creek, Rancho Cuyamaca State Park and Lake Cuyamaca. Participants will have 32 hours to complete the course and earn their coveted SD100 buckle.
Wild Card: McKenzie River Trail
In this week’s Wild Card Race (where we feature an event you may not be familiar with) we journey to Blue River, Oregon, for the incredibly scenic McKenzie River Trail Run (50k). Oregon’s oldest ultramarathon (established in 1988), the McKenzie River 50k takes runners past some of the state’s most beautiful natural wonders including Clear Lake, Sahalie and Koosah Falls, Tamolitch Blue Pool, ancient lava flows and the crystal waters of the McKenzie River. The point-to-point course is a net downhill with around 2,200 feet of elevation gain and 3,300 feet of decent. Runners will have 8 hours to complete the course.
Other great events on deck include Snow Peaks 50 (Provo, UT), Mary’s Peak (Blodgett, OR), Survivorfest (Sherwood Park, AB), Klondike Ultra (Edmonton, AB), Huron 100 (Grass Lake, MI), OSS/CIA 50 (Triangle, VA), Scout Mountain Ultras (Pocatello, ID), Merrill’s Mile (Dahlonega, GA), and Coyote Trail Run (Cleburne, TX). Check out the full list of upcoming races here.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!