We warmly welcome Spring onto our UltraRunning Calendar with a smattering of races from a mostly singletrack 50k in Maryland, to a rails-to-trails four distance ultra in Kansas, a nearly straight uphill 50k in Arizona and a whole lot more for our March 25 What’s up in Ultra.
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In Havre de Grace, Maryland, we find the 34th HAT Trail Run 50k going down on Saturday, March 25. The course features approximately 5,100-feet of climbing on predominantly singletrack trails with some dirt and paved roads, and four stream crossing. Runners begin with a 3.6-mile loop followed by two 13.7-mile laps. The race is a popular one, completely sold out with 367 runners but the race organizers are still in need of some volunteers.
The Prairie Spirit Trail 50k/50-mile/100k/100-mile races in Ottawa, Kansas, are also happening on Saturday. The event is a stunning rails-to-trails, out and back course primarily on crushed limestone trail that runs through numerous quaint little towns situated about halfway between Emporia and Kansas City. Being relatively flat it’s the perfect course for newer ultrarunners or those looking to set a new PR. There are spots available in all four distances with registration closing Thursday, March 23 at 11:59 p.m.
Phoenix, Arizona is hosting the point-to-point 31st Crown King Scramble 50k on Saturday, starting in the Sonoran Desert and heading into the pines of the Prescott National Forest and the old mining town of Crown King. This race is almost entirely uphill, beginning at just below 2,000 feet and finishing at nearly 6,000 feet. The race is sold out with 267 entrants, but volunteers are still needed.
If you’re in Syracuse, Utah, check out the Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50k/50-mile/100-mile races starting on Thursday and Friday, the Badger Mountain Challenge 50k/50-mile/100-mile races in Richland, Washington, starting on Friday, the Lake Martin 100-miler (and accompanying 27 and 50-milers) in Alexander City, Alabama, on Friday, the Clinton Lake 30-miler in DeWitt, Illinois on Friday, the Dogwood Ultra Marathons 12/24/36-hour races in Chesterfield, Virginia, the White Mountains 100 in Fairbanks, Alaska on Sunday, and the Behind the Rocks 50k/50-miler in Moab, Utah, on Saturday, too.
How are you kicking off your first full weekend of spring? If you’re still looking for something fun to join, check out the other races on our calendar and keep us in the loop with how it goes out on the trails. Thanks, as always, for reading this week and please do visit us again on Sunday for our Ultra Weekend Recap.