What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — February 24

In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we set sail for the majestic San Juan Islands in Washington, journey through natural wonders in Utah, climb to the highest point in Alabama and run along rugged and scenic trails in Arkansas.

A Killer Test

We start at Camp Moran, located on Orcas Island in Washington state, for the Orcas Island 100. Participants will attempt to complete four 25-mile loops on pristine PNW single-track trails that meander through old growth forests and reward runners with spectacular views of the surrounding San Juan Islands, Cascade and Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Started in 2016, the race is a favorite for runners looking for a intimate ultra vibe with an old school, grass roots feel. This is a challenging race, however, with steep climbs and descents and over 26,000 feet of elevation gain. Frequent cold, wet and windy conditions make this a race where you’ll definitely want to avoid a chair by the fire until after your fourth loop is complete.

Natural Wonders

Next, we head to Moab, Utah, for the Moab Red Hot Ultras 50-mile race (inaugural event) and 17^th running of the 55k distance. Moab’s Red Hot Ultras feature breathtaking natural scenery, with epic views of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and the La Sal Mountains. The 55k has traditionally attracted fast ultrarunners from around the country and this year should be no different. The 55k features 4,639 feet of elevation gain, while the 50-miler has just over 7,000 feet.

Alabama Pines

In its 19^th year, the Mount Cheaha 50K has become a southern classic where runners finish at the highest point in Alabama, Mount Cheaha, at 2,407 feet. The point-to-point course consists of 80% single-track trails in the Talladega National Forest that feature creek crossings, waterfalls, scenic overlooks, hardwood and pine forests. As sung by the award-winning singer/songwriter Jason Isbell, a native Alabaman, “Somebody take me home, through those Alabama Pines.”

Wildcard

I’ve heard amazing things about the trails in Arkansas, but I’ve yet to have the chance to experience them. That’s why, for this week’s wildcard race (where we feature an event you may not be familiar with), I wanted to take a closer look at The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail Endurance Runs, aka, the LOViT 100-mile and 100k races. Starting and finishing in Mt. Ida, Arkansas, The LOViT Endurance Runs promise runners challenging yet scenic adventures as they make their way along the rocky and rolling hills of the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, one of 53 worldwide trails to receive the IMBA Epic Trail designation. The 100-mile course features 17,000 feet of elevation gain, while the 100k chalks in around 10,000 feet.

Good luck to every runner racing this weekend and be sure to check out all the upcoming events in the UltraRunning race calendar.