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The idea for the Ultra Race of Champions 100K was conceived by its race director, James Russell Gill III. Gill, a Hoka One One sponsored athlete and long time ultrarunner and race director, saw a need for a day when the best athletes in the sport could come together and measure themselves on one course, and where everyone who wanted to be part of the event could. In addition to the 100k race, the event also includes a 50k and 25k to allow runners of all abilities to participate in the day.

Flagstaff Sky Race was a beautiful display of not only what Flagstaff has to offer mountain runners but of what hard work and a season of Skyrunning produces in the final performances. Prize money and pride were big motivators but hard work, determination, and sure-footing is what really won the day.

After a few relaxing days in the Tetons, we headed northeast to continue our 2015 Western adventure. Our destination was the Ghosts of Yellowstone 100-mile run in the Tobacco Roots Mountains of Southwest Montana. We stayed in Ennis, MT and made the trek to Pony, MT (race HQ) for the 2015 edition of Rampage the Roots.

I wanted to avenge a defeat orchestrated by Mother Nature, who with her Labor Day hot flashes brought me to submission with 90-degree heat in last year’s Flatlanders event. I sought to use the 2015 race to honor four family members who had passed away since my first ultra at the Flatlanders event in 2012.