What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — March 9

In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we head into the Blue Ridge Mountains, along the California and South Carolina coasts,  into the Arizona desert and over to New Jersey to try and figure out what a “Squatchapple” is.

Bel Monte Memories

We start in Waynesboro, Virginia, for an event that I have fond memories of, the Bel Monte 50 and 50k races. The Bel Monte 50 is special because I ran the race just a few weeks before my son was born and met some amazing runners and volunteers.

Taking place in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains, the Bel Monte races take runners through the George Washington National Forest trail system on a combination of technical and runnable single-track and jeep trails. The courses are challenging, with 8,600 feet of gain in the 50-miler and 5,200 feet in the 50k. Weather can also be a factor, with snow and cold temperatures (it was 10 degrees at the start of the race in 2017). Hopefully they’ll have a warm fire blazing for runners at the finish!

Coastal Challenge

Next, we head west to Sausalito, California, for the Marin Ultra Challenge races (50-mile and 50k). Now in its 11^th season, the Marin Ultra Challenge takes runners along some of California’s most spectacular trails, with diverse sections ranging from fire roads with incredible coastal views to technical single-track trails lead through canopies of redwoods. The 50-mile race challenges runners with over 10,500 feet of elevation gain, while the 50k has over 6,300 feet.

Wild and Wacky

Over in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, we check in on Peyton’s Wild and Wacky Ultra 10x5k, where runners will attempt to complete one 5K at the top of each hour for 10 consecutive hours. The race started in 2016 and was dubbed as “the coolest trail race in the Charleston area,” because it features good food, music and giveaways happening throughout the day, with all proceeds going to a great cause. As one of our readers pointed out, the race has over 650 runners signed up and sold out in under an hour. Be sure to check out this event if you’re on the East Coast.

Bring Your Camera

Taking place in the scenic and highly photographed Antelope Canyon region, the popular Antelope Canyon Ultras offer distances of 100 miles, 50 miles and 55k. Starting and finishing in Page, Arizona, runners traverse the Arizona desert where they get to experience a collection of amazing land features, including the famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. Please note that all races pass through Navajo lands, and all runners are asked to show respect and courtesy while running through this sacred region.

Wild Card

For this week’s Wildcard Race (where we feature an event you may not be familiar with), we try and determine what the heck a “Squatchapple” is and what it has to do with ultrarunning. Put on by the Sassquad (I’m sensing a theme here), who promise that every run is a “trail party,” the Squatchapple 50-mile and 50k ultra distances start and finish at Tulip Springs Trailhead in West Orange, New Jersey.  The course consists of three different loops (4 miles, 5.5 miles and 7 miles) that runners must complete in order to achieve the distance they are registered for. The 50-mile race features 5,790 feet of gain, with the 50k chalking in at 3,860 feet. I still have no clue what a Squatchapple is, but be sure to check out the Sassquad. It looks like they give a lot back to the community and know how to throw a trail party.

What event are you racing this weekend? Please leave a note in the comments below and good luck!