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June has arrived in style with nearly five dozen events spread all over the country on our UltraRunning Calendar. Highlights include a 50/50 in the Marin Headlands, America’s second oldest ultra in Virginia, a 100-miler in Ohio that’s approaching four decades old and so many more that we can’t list them all.
In the Marin Headlands just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, we have the rescheduled Marin Ultra Challenge 50k/50-mile races on Saturday, June 3. Originally slated for March, this event starts on the black sands of Rodeo Beach. The two courses loop through the majority of the stunning coastal trails gathering roughly 11,000 and 6,000 feet of elevation gain, respectively. The weather forecast is calling for plenty of precipitation, so the 400+ participants can expect a sloppy day on the trails. Podium finishers in the 50-miler will split a $1,800 prize purse. We spy Dylan Bowman on the start list for the 50-miler.
Across the country in Woodstock, Virginia, is the 43rd Old Dominion 100-miler. The single-loop course takes place in the Shenandoah River Valley, through the Massanutten Mountains and Fort Valley, with 14 climbs of note and approximately 14,000 feet of gain. The defending champion, Kathleen Cusick, is back looking for her fourth win in five tries. Also on the start list is the multi-time, top-10 UltraRunner of the Year Oliver Leblond from Arlington, Virginia, aiming for his sixth win in nine attempts and fourth consecutive crown.
The 34th Mohican 100-miler (and accompanying 50-miler) in Loudonville, Ohio, is also going down on Saturday. Mohican is reportedly the fifth-oldest ultramarathon in North America. Four 25-mile loops make up the course, accumulating a total of 12,458 feet of elevation gain through the lush 5,000-acre Mohican Memorial State Forest. Read: Something More Than Expected by Daven Oskvig about the 2018 race.
Our North American UltraRunning Calendar also includes the San Diego 100 in Lake Cuyamaca, California, and Alaska Endurance Trail Run 6/12/24-hour races in Fairbanks, Alaska, starting on Friday, June 2. Kicking off on Saturday we have the Cape Mountain 50k in Florence, Oregon, the FANS Ultra Races 6/12/24-hour events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Black Mountain Monster 6/12/24-hour races in Black Mountain, North Carolina, the North Fork 50/50 in Pine, Colorado, the Eagle Up Ultra 50k/50-mile/100k/100-mile in Canal Fulton, Ohio, the Scout Mountain Ultra Trail 50/100-miler in Pocatello, Idaho, the Chesterfield Gorge Ultra 50k/50-mile/100k/100-mile in West Chesterfield, Massachusetts, and the Cayuga Trail 50/50 in Ithaca, New York.
There are many more races happening this weekend, so we want to know where you are pinning on a bib number. Thanks for reading What’s Up in Ultra as always, and don’t forget to check back on Sunday evening for our Ultra Weekend Recap.