Sponsored By:
The month of May hits its stride on our UltraRunning Calendar with a classic 50-miler in Wisconsin, a 50k/100k that’s been taking place for nearly four decades in the Bay Area, a flat and fast looped course in British Columbia and more.
The Ice Age Trail 50 in La Grange, Wisconsin, on Saturday, May 13 is one of America’s classic ultra marathons. Run mostly on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin’s Southern Kettle Moraine Forest (within an hour’s drive of both Milwaukee and Madison), the course takes you on a tour of geological features from the last ice age. Evergreen and deciduous forests, natural prairies, ponds and kettles are all part of this diverse and beautiful landscape. The trail ranges from flat and grassy double-track to twisting and technical singletrack, with plenty of hills. The race is sold out for this year. Read: Family Reunion at the Finish Line by race director Jeff Mallach.
Out west in San Jose, California, at the 39th Quicksilver 50k/100k, participants will be treated to scenic, hilly single-track trails and fire roads just south of San Francisco. The courses run through peaceful oak forests, wide-open meadows and ridges with spectacular views of the Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Both races are sold out for 2023.
Heading up north we find the 36th annual Harriers Elk-Beaver 50k/50-mile/100k, which are all looped events in Victoria, British Columbia. The fast and flat 10k circuit around Elk and Beaver Lakes has runners completing 10 laps for the 100k division, 8-plus laps for the 50-miler and 5 laps for the 50k. The course is all dirt trails with excellent footing, priming all participants to chase swift times and personal records. There are still spots available and you can register here.
Our North American UltraRunning Calendar is packed with other events, too. Don’t miss the Wapack and Back Trail Races 43/50-miler in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, the Glacier Ridge 50/50 in Portersville, Pennsylvania, L.I. Greenbelt Trail 50k in Plainview, New York, the Wambaw Swamp Stomp 50/50 in Cordesville, South Carolina, the Paiute Meadows Trail Run 50k in Susanville, California, the Chupacabra 50k in Quanah, Texas, the Tiger Claw 50/50 in Issaquah, Washington, all on Saturday, May 13.
How are you celebrating Mother’s Day weekend? Let us know if you are a mom running a race, running with your mom, crewing your mom or just headed out on the trails wherever you may be.