We'll be brutally honest with you: our 100 mile course is really closer to 108. Could we shorten it? Maybe. But it sets up so nicely running from Sturgis to Silver City and back. So, 108 it is. The race begins and ends at the City Park in Sturgis. The first mile follows the paved city bike path east to the Fort Meade trailhead. From there, the course takes to the Centennial Trail (Trail #89), which is mostly singletrack trail with some short sections of old logging roads and a 13 mile stretch of ATV trail thrown in. First and last mile are on paved bike path; the rest is dirt. The last few miles before the turnaround are on the Deerfield Trail (Trail #40), a beautiful stretch of singletrack that will drop you down to the halfway point at Silver City, where you'll turn and retrace your steps back to Sturgis. The 100M race has 8 aid stations along the way, 7 of which are visited twice. Runners may have drop bags at three aid stations: Elk Creek (miles 19/87), Dalton Lake (32/74) and Silver City (53).
The 50 mile race follows the back half of the 100 mile course, starting in Silver City and running back to Sturgis. Runners will be bused up to Silver City bright and early Saturday morning and will run back down the Deerfield and Centennial trails to Sturgis. 50 milers will have 7 aid stations along the way with drop bags at Dalton Lake (mile 21) and Elk Creek (34).
The 50K course will start up the road from the Dalton Lake Trailhead. You'll get a brief chance to stretch your legs and spread out along the road before hitting the Centennial at Dalton Lake and heading north to Sturgis. The 50K course has 4 aid stations, with the option to have a drop bag at Elk Creek (mile 14). Buses will be available to transport runners from Sturgis to the start in the morning.
