What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — August 10

We have another busy weekend on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar, with 52 ultramarathons on deck in the US and Canada. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we travel to Pennsylvania, British Columbia, Washington and Nova Scotia.

Eastern States 100

When thinking of challenging ultras on the “Beast Coast,” one of the first races that comes to mind is the Eastern States 100. While I’ve never had the pleasure (or pain) of running this race, it sounds as though it’s likely one of the toughest 100-milers in the country. Set in the remote Wilds Region of north-central Pennsylvania, Eastern States challenges runners with 20,000 feet of gain, long and steep climbs, rugged and technical trails, and the likelihood of extreme heat and humidity. The race begins and ends at Little Pine State Park, where participants will have 36 hours to complete the 103-mile circumnavigation of Pine Creek (aka, the Lost and Bewildered River), to earn their official finish and newly designed belt buckle. Good luck to all the runners attempting to tackle this East Coast beast.

Fat Dog 120

Next, we travel north to British Columbia for the Fat Dog 120 (120-mile, 100k, 50-mile and 40-mile races). Beginning in East Gate, BC, the point-to-point 120-mile race (actually 124 miles), takes runners through some of the most scenic sections of southwestern British Columbia before reaching the finish line in E.C. Manning Provincial Park. Along the way, runners will have to navigate remote and technical single-track trails that take them from deep valleys to high alpine terrain and combine for over 26,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain. Runners will have 48 hours to finish the race and earn their Hard Rock 100 Qualifier. Fat Dog 120 is a proud partner of the Run for Water Society, a supporter of the International Trail Running Association’s green program, and a Trail Sisters-approved race. Read more about the other race distances at the Fat Dog 120 official website.

Big Foot 200

For those looking to run even farther, the Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run may be just what you’re looking for. Starting in Cougar, WA, and ending in Randle, WA, the Bigfoot 200 the 200-mile adventure takes runners through Washington’s beautiful Cascade Mountains where they’ll travel along exposed mountain ridgelines, journey through dense Pacific Northwest Forests, and traverse lava fields from the 1980 eruption of Mt. Saint Helen’s. The race begins at noon on Friday, and ends at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, with runners having 107 hours to complete the course. While the race provides 13 full aid stations (six of which are designated as sleep stations) runners must be prepared to support themselves on the remote trails, including being well-trained in navigation, carrying the appropriate gear and supplies, and being mentally and physically prepared for the challenge. Editor’s note: due to wildfires, the course has been altered to two 50-mile out-and-backs.

Wild Card: Capes 100

In this week’s Wild Card Race, where we feature a race that you may not be familiar with, we head to the breathtaking trails of Cape Mabou, Nova Scotia, for the Capes 100 (160k, 86k and 46k distances). Held in the Mabou Highlands, first settled by Scottish immigrants in the 1800s, the Capes 100 is the first 100-mile trail race in Atlantic Canada. Participants in the 160k will face over 19,000 feet of gain with a 36-hour time limit. The 86k runners will have 22 hours to tackle over 10,000 feet of climbing, and the 46k runners will face 6,500 feet of gain with 14 hours to complete the course. All runners will be treated to stunning views of the rugged Atlantic Ocean coastline and will hopefully have time after the race to enjoy some of the famous local Celtic music.

Other great races this week include: Howl at the Moon 8 Hour (Danville, IL), La Chute du Diable (Montreal, Quebec), Skyline Mountain Marathon (Liberty, UT), Sweltering Summer Ultra (Pittsfield, MA), Kesugi Ridge Traverse (Denali State Park, AK), Vertigo Night Runs (Waddell, AZ), Marlette 50k (Spooner Lake, NV), Ultra-Trail du Fjord du Saguenay (Bas-Saguenay, QC), Rock N Brew (Boise, ID), Prospector’s 50k (Cooke City, MT), In the Heat of the Night (Anniston, AL), Summer Beast of Burden (Lockport, NY), Buckeye 200 (Wellsville, OH), Headlands (Sausalito, CA), and Anchor Down Ultra (Bristol, RI). Click here for our complete list of races.

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend and thank you to all the volunteers for making it all happen!