Darcy Piceu flies down a steep descent on the Hardrock 100 course in Colorado. Photo Howie Stern

What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — July 12, 2025

Drew Dinan
Drew Dinan

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The ultrarunning action heats back up this week with 52 races on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we highlight events in Colordado, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Alberta. If you’re a race director and would like your event to be featured in the calendar, register here.

Featured: Hardrock 100 Endurance Run (Silverton, CO)

The 30th running of the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run kicks off at 6 a.m. Friday, July 11, in the historic mining/mountain town of Silverton, Colorado. This year’s race will send runners in the counterclockwise direction as they tour the San Juan Mountains on a 102.5-mile loop course that boasts 33,197 feet of vertical gain and loss, an average altitude over 11,000 feet, and 13 mountain passes over 12,000 feet above sea level (the highest being the summit of Handies Peak at over 14,000 feet). In addition to battling the thin air, runners will have to navigate remote and rugged terrain, including extremely steep climbs and descents, as well as wildlife and the potential for hazardous weather. Runners have 48 hours to make it back to Silverton and kiss the rock to earn the coveted Hardrock 100 buckles. A few elites on this year’s entrants list include Ludovic Pommeret (course record-holder and defending champion), Germain Grangier, Zach Miller and Mathieu Blanchard on the men’s side, and Katie Schide (2024 female Ultrarunner of the Year), Katharina Harmuth, Aliza Lapierre and Manon Bohard for the women. See the full field here.

Other West Events:

Pacific

Mountain

Featured: Dances with Dirt – Devil’s Lake (Baraboo, WI)

Back in action after last year’s event was canceled, Dances with Dirt (50k and 50-mile) returns to Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin, for its 2025 edition. Established in 2009, the race highlights the varied and challenging terrain of Devil’s Lake State Park, where participants will run amongst a dramatic backdrop of fascinating geological formations carved out during the Ice Age. Both events will take place almost entirely on rocky, rooty and hilly trails, with the 50-miler boasting over 8,500 feet of gain and the 50k featuring close to 5,400 feet. The 50k runners have 10 hours to complete the race, while 50-milers have 13 hours. All runners will be treated to a “post-race bash with food, drink and tons of fun.” Read more.

Other Midwest Events:

Featured: Carolina Reaper Challenge (Greenville, SC)

The hot, spicy and festive Carolina Reaper Challenge 50k takes place at Riverwest Nature Preserve in Greenville, South Carolina. While entrants are not required to eat (or dress like) hot peppers during the race, they will have to navigate the extreme summertime heat of the south while attempting to run 12 laps (one every 45 minutes) on a paved 2.62-mile loop course. The first lap begins at 8 a.m., with the final loop starting at 4:15 p.m. After the race, runners are invited to “chill out and jam” at the post-race live music hangout. Read more.

Other South Events:

Southwest

Southeast

Featured: Ironstone 100k (Hollidaysburg, PA)

The Ironstone 100k is a 63.4-mile point-to-point endurance test with 7,994 feet climbing and 8,169 feet of descent that takes runners through the wild and scenic terrain of southern Pennsylvania. Participants will set off from Canoe Creek State Park in Hollidaysburg,  and weave their way through the remote trails of the Alleghany Mountains before reaching the finish line at Greenwood Furnace State Park in McAlevy’s Fort. The first 20 miles of the course is pancake flat, while the latter two-thirds will test runners with rocky ridgelines, technical trails and sweltering heat and humidity. Participants have 23 hours to make it to the finish line to earn their rewards that include a finisher medal, flannel shirt and post-race BBQ complete with local beer. Read more.

Other Northeast Events:

Featured: Sinister 7 Ultra (Crowsnest Pass, AB)

Sinister 7 Ultra (100-mile, 50-mile and 50k races) takes place in Crowsnest Pass, nestled in the Canadian Rocky Mountains just southwest of Alberta. First held in 2008, the race is known for its stunning scenery, extremely rugged and challenging trails, amazing atmosphere and true wilderness experience (each year, runners report seeing bears and/or mountain lions). Participants in the 100-mile event will set off Saturday morning to complete a course with over 6,600 meters (21,650 feet) of elevation gain, broken into seven unique sections, each featuring historic and geographic relevance to the area. They’ll have 30 hours to complete the grueling race to earn their finisher buckle and a much-deserved custom-labeled bottle of wine. The 50-mile runners will have 24 hours to finish a course with close to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) of climbing, and 50k runners have 13.5 hours to complete their race with 2,400 meters (7,870 feet) of gain. Read more.

Other Events in Canada and Mexico:

Email corys@ultrarunning with questions about adding your event to the UltraRunning Magazine calendar.

Drew Dinan traded the tropics of the Florida Keys for the trails of Bend, OR. Once living the Jimmy Buffett lifestyle, working on fishing boats and owning only a single pair of flip flops, he now has way too many running shoes in his closet and never hears the end of it from his loving wife. He is on a constant quest to find the best happy hours, likes to complain when it’s cold outside, and one day hopes to travel the country writing reviews on chicken wings.

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