As summer inches closer, our UltraRunning Calendar continues to go deeper than ever before. We have 49 different races to choose from this coming weekend, May 14-15, scattered across the country. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we’ve highlighted a handful that caught our eye.
The 38th edition of the Quicksilver 50k/100k race on Saturday, May 14 in San Jose, California, is a must-do for any Bay Area runner. The course features hilly, yet scenic single-track trails and fire roads that meander through peaceful oak forests and wide-open meadows. Runners will also traverse along ridges with spectacular views of the Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains. This event has been going on for nearly four decades for a good reason. The 100k distance is a Western States Endurance Run qualifier if you finish in under 16 hours.
At the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, New Jersey, the 3 Days at the Fair offers six different race distances on a USATF-certified, one-mile loop course. The paved loop is fairly flat with approximately 5% crushed gravel. The 144-hour race began on Monday, May 9, and the remaining events all start on Thursday-Saturday, including 6/12/24/48/72-hour options.
The Cruel Jewel 100 in Blairsville, Georgia, is quite simply, extremely cruel. With the race distance actually 105.9 miles and boasting 33,000 feet of ascent and descent, you truly can’t find a more beastly course to test your mettle. Taking place deep in the beautiful Chattahoochee National Forest of the North Georgia Mountains, you’ll find a bit of everything at this event. Technical, single-track trails, ferns and old growth poplar trees, steep ascents, even steeper descents, a section of the course called the “Dragon’s Spine,” lush, green forests and so much more. The race begins at noon on Friday, May 13 in Vogel State Park, and is a Western States, Hardrock 100 and UTMB qualifier. There is also an accompanying 56-miler that starts on Saturday morning.
Bouncing back across to Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne, Oregon, and only 45 minutes north of the UltraRunning Magazine headquarters in Bend, is the Smith Rock Ascent 50k on Saturday, May 14. A 641-acre park located in Central Oregon’s high desert, Smith Rock is considered to be the birthplace of North American sport climbing. The area has also become a year-round destination for ultrarunning enthusiasts. With drop-dead gorgeous views, it’s no wonder this race is sold out with more than 350 participants.
In Stearns, Kentucky, the Yamacraw 50k is a rolling, point-to-point course treating ultrarunners to some of the most beautiful trails in the southeast. Passing by gorge overlooks, stunning natural arches and waterfalls in the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Areas, this is an ultramarathon to add to your hot list for 2023 as this year’s edition is also completely full.
Other races on our UltraRunning Calendar this weekend include the Rock the Ridge 50-miler in New Paltz, New York, the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run in Fort Valley, Virginia, the Tiger Claw 50-miler in Issaquah, Washington, the Harriers Elk-Beaver 50k/50m/100k in Victoria, British Columbia, all beginning on Saturday, May 14, and a new race, the SAMO 100 in Malibu, California, starting at 5 a.m. on Friday, May 13.
If you’re racing at one of these events or somewhere else on, or perhaps even off our calendar, leave a comment and link below so we can follow along. Any races not in our database can easily be added and we thank you in advance for helping out.
13 comments
I am running the Blood Root Ultra 100 Miler 5/13 & 5/14 in Pittsfield Vermont and I don’t see it on your calendar.
There is also a 50 Miler and 50K on 5/14
Thanks and happy racing
Lee Pellerin
Thanks for letting us know Lee and have a great time out there!
The Endure 12-Hour and 24-Hour is taking place in Divide, CO at Mueller State Park. The 12-Hour is a one of it’s kind event where little balls decide the runners fate… There are 5 different colored loops on the course, and 5 different colored ping pong balls in a bucket to coincide with those loops. Runners pull a ball, and that’s the loop they now run.. this continues for 12 hours, average distance covered is 50k, with top runners breaking 50-miles. The 24-Hour mashes this concept together with the “last man standing” type of event.
That sounds pretty fun John, what a unique event! Want to write a race report after the event?
Love to!
I’ll be running the 50-mile at the first-year Highlands Trail Festival in northern New Jersey. The Red Newt Racing event offers four distances—100k, 50M, 50k, and 25k—over rocky and technical terrain through Norvin Green State Forest. The Web site shows some killer views of the 2,300-acre Wanaque Reservior and surrounding forest and an estimated 12,000 feet of vertical gain for the 50M. For a unique twist, the staging area is at the Jungle Habitat—the site of a former Warner Brothers animal theme park, which has been abandoned since 1976.
Best of luck and happy trails to all who are racing this weekend!
What a trip, Pete! Send us some photos from that!
The Ice Age Trail 50 is this weekend (50k, 50 mile are the ultra options) in Wisconsin’s Southern Kettle Moraine Forest! It’s the 40th running of the event, and fun fact that Kaci Lickteig holds the women’s 50 mile record and Nikki Kimball holds the women’s 50k record. Zach Miller has the age group record for 18-29 in the 50k as well. Very storied Midwest event!
I don’t know how I missed that one Sophie…thanks for the historic course record details. Will you be out there racing?
I was out there — it was VERY hot on race day, but I was able to squeak into a slow and steady second place in my age group! :^)
Congrats on the incredible result in tough conditions!
Thanks for the calendar updates!! Did Cruel Jewel 100 or 106 or 110.. Anyway it was exactly as you described it
That’s a long one hundred Sebastian! How’d it go for you? Hope it was a great day.