What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — March 1

In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we list upcoming races by region, including events in California, Missouri, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Urique, Mexico. You can view all 34 of this weekend’s races in the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. If you’re a race director and would like your event to be featured on the calendar, register here.

Featured: Way Too Cool (Cool, CA)

The Way Too Cool 50k returns for its 35^th running after being canceled last year due to high winds and unsafe course conditions. Known as one of the premier West Coast ultramarathons, the event annually attracts deep fields of elite ultrarunners chasing fast times and attempting to write their names into the record books. The race begins and ends in Cool, California, and takes runners on a course consisting of 98% single-track trails covering iconic sections of the historic Western States Trail, with 4,799 feet of elevation gain and 4,209 feet of loss. Participants have 9 hours to complete the course for an official finish. Read more.

Other West Events:

Pacific

• Chena River to Ridge Endurance Race (Fairbanks, AK)
• Big Bloops Ultra (Palo Alto, CA)

Mountain

• Grandmaster Ultras (Mesquite, NV)
• Flat Top Mesa Endurance Run (Mesquite, NV)
• Red Mountain (St. George, UT)
• Monument Valley Ultra (Monument Valley, UT)
• Lake to Lake Ultramarathon (St. George, UT)
• The Hunt Trail Race (Cody, WY)

Featured: Queeny Backyard Ultra (St. Louis, MO)

The Queeny Backyard Ultra is a last person standing event held at Queeny Park in St. Louis, Missouri. Runners will complete a 4.19-mile loop every hour on the hour until one person remains. Each loop consists of 430 feet of elevation gain and descent and is run in the counterclockwise direction on the Hawk Ridge Trail, Fox Run Trail, White Oak Trail and Owl Creek Trail. Queeny Backyard Ultra is an official Backyard Ultra “Bronze” event, with the winner securing an entry into a Silver Ticket race. Read more.

Other Midwest Events:

• The Skyline Scramble (Topeka, KS)
• Super Bull Trail Championships (Wooster, OH)

Featured: Mississippi Trail 50 (Laurel, MS)

Founded in 1985, the Mississippi Trail 50 is a classic southern ultramarathon that includes a 50-miler, 50k and Mississippi’s only 100-mile trail race. Taking place in the Desoto National Forest in Laurel, Mississippi, runners will navigate a combination of big (12.6) and short (6.1) loops that meander through a longleaf pine forest on rolling logging roads and a combination of single and double-track trails. The 100-mile race kicks off at noon on Friday and ends at 6 p.m. on Saturday (30-hour cutoff). The 50k and 50-mile entrants will have 12 hours to complete their races. Read more.

Other South Events:

Southwest

• Old Pueblo (Sonoita, AZ)
• The Daydreamer (Patagonia, AZ)
• Sierra Vista Trail Runs (Las Cruces, NM)
• Lake Vian Hilltop Run (Vian, OK)
• Cross Timbers Trail Run (Gordonville, TX)
• Hachie 50 Ultra, Marathon & Relay (Waxahachie, TX)
• Dos Senderos Trail Race (Comfort, TX)

Southeast

• McClellan Madness 4hr/8hr Run (Anniston, AL)
• Ozark Highlands Endurance Run (Norfork, AR)
• Long Play (LP) Trail Race (Ridge Manor, FL)
• Coyote Ugly 30k & 50k (Ellijay, GA)
• The Dark Side 8 Hour Ultra (Clarksburg, MD)
• Naked Mountain Ultra (Albemarle, NC)
• The TarDevil 30 Mile Bushwhack (Chapel Hill, NC)
• Foothills Ultra (Conquer the Rock) (Pickens, SC)
• Music City Trail Ultra (Pegram, TN)
• Aethon (Ashland City, TN)

Featured: Naked Bavarian (Leesport, PA)

The Naked Bavarian is a “a back to the basics low fee trail run” held at Blue Marsh Lake in Leesport, Pennsylvania, a popular spot for outdoor recreation featuring 36 miles of trails and 1,147 acres of water for boating and fishing. The 40-mile ultra distance takes place on a 20-mile lollipop course that runners will attempt to tackle twice in under 10.5 hours. Each loop consists of 2,000 feet of elevation gain on 80% single-track trails and 20% gravel roads. Read more.

No other Northeast events.

Featured: Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco (Urique, Chihuahua, MX)

Made famous in Chris McDougall’s book Born to Run and named in honor of Micah True who created the race to introduce athletes to the lands, people and culture of the Sierra Tarahumara, the Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco is on the top of many ultrarunners’ bucket lists. The race is held in North Central Mexico at the bottom of one of the Copper Canyons and is known for its beautiful trails and hospitable locals. This year’s event features a new 100-mile race in addition to a 160k, 50-miler and 80k ultra distances. Read more.

Other Canada & Mexico Events:

• The Mad Trapper Snowshoe Backyard Ultra (Denholm, QC)
• 6633 Arctic Ultra (Whitehorse, YT)