What's Up in Ultra This Weekend — May 17

Featured: Sun Mountain (Winthrop, WA)

The scenic Sun Mountain ultras (50-mile and 50k ultra distances) take place this weekend just outside of Winthrop, Washington, a quaint mountain town with a Western flair located on the eastern side of the North Cascades. First held in 2009, the event attracts runners to the Methow River Valley for its blooming spring wildflowers, picturesque snow-capped peaks, great single-track trails, race weekend camping at Big Twin Lake Resort and the post-race party complete with woodfired pizzas and cold beer. The 50-mile runners will have 16 hours to complete a course with 9,500 feet of elevation gain and descent, while 50k runners have 14 hours to tackle 5,500 feet of climbing. Read more.

Other West Events:

Pacific

Bishop High Sierra (Bishop, CA)
Born to Run Ultra Marathons (Los Olivos, CA)
Run for Amma (Sunnyvale, CA)
Corral Canyon Trail Scramble (Campo, CA)
Napa Wilderness Trail Runs (Napa, CA)
O’Neill Park Trail Races (Trabuco Canyon, CA)
PDX 50K (Portland, OR)
Dirty Turtle (Bremerton, WA)

Mountain

Sky Pilots Ouray Backyard Ultra (Ouray, CO)
Endure Trail Runs (Divide, CO)
Ram Party (Colorado Springs, CO)
Samson’s Revenge (Estes Park, CO)
Butterfield Backyard (Herriman, UT)
Utah 115 by Grand to Grand Ultra (Kanab, UT)

Featured: Superior Spring Trail Race (Lutsen, MN)

The Superior Spring Trail Race (50k ultra distance) begins and ends at the Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, Minnesota, 4.5 hours north of Minneapolis. Founded in 2003 as a companion event to the Superior 100-mile race in the fall, the popular event attracts hundreds of runners each year for its breathtaking scenery, challenging trails and great local running community. The 50k runners will have 9 hours to complete an-out-and back course that traverses the Sawtooth Mountain Range and runs parallel to Lake Superior on the Superior Hiking Trail. Along the way, they’ll have to navigate hilly and rocky single-track trails, several stream crossings and 4,200 feet of elevation gain. A portion of the race proceeds benefit the Superior Hiking Trail Association. Read more.

Other Midwest Events:

- Death by 5k Waterloo (Waterloo, IA)
- Galena Sky Trail Races (Galena, IL)
- CHICAGO 7-11 Hour Endurance Run (Willow Springs, IL)
- Dances with Dirt – Gnaw Bone (Nashville, IN)
- Armed Forces Endurance Run (Fort Wayne, IN)
- Iron Will Backroads (Enterprise, KS)
- Perfect PR Backyard Ultra (Clarkston, MI)
- Pound the Mound (Luverne, MN)
- Berryman 50 mile and Marathon Trail Races (Potosi, MO)
- Tie Dye (Yellow Springs, OH)
- High Lea 6/12/24 hour (Richfield, OH)
- Rumble on the Ridge (Arena, WI)

Featured: Massanutten 100 (Fort Valley, VA)

The 29^th running of the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run kicks off Saturday in the Massanutten Mountains in Virginia’s George Washington National Forest. The classic 100-miler starts and finishes at the Caroline Furnace Camp and Retreat Center in Fort Valley and features a loop course with 80% single-track trails, plenty of rocky and rugged sections, ten steep climbs of 750 vertical feet or more and around 18,500 feet of elevation gain and descent. Participants have 36 hours to finish the race and earn their engraved pewter buckle, with sub-24-hour finishers receiving the coveted silver buckle. Read more.

Other South Events:

Southwest

Adrenaline Night Runs (Fountain Hills, AZ)
Bradshaw Beatdown 50k (Prescott, AZ)
Land of Entrapment Back Yard Ultra (San Ysidro, NM)
Possum’s Revenge (Graford, TX)
East Texas Ultra (Pittsburg, TX)

Southeast

First State Trail Race (Wilmington, DE)
Keys Ultras (Key West, FL)
Cruel Jewel (Blue Ridge, GA)
Agape 100k + 50k (Fuquay Varina, NC)
Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay (Thurmond, WV)

Featured: Infinitus (Ripton, VT)

Infinitus is a unique event that features race distances from 9 miles all the way up to 888 kilometers (551 miles). Hosted by the Endurance Society, an organization “dedicated to providing extraordinary physical and psychological adventures to the endurance community,” the race takes place at Silver Towers, a camp for people with disabilities situated on 26 acres in Vermont’s Green Mountains. Races begin on Tuesday, May 15 and don’t finish until Sunday, May 25. Ultra distance events include 88k, 100 miles, penta-marathon (marathon a day for five days), 250 miles, deca-marathon (marathon a day for ten days) and 888k. Depending on their event, participants will run on the short course (9 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing), or the marathon course (27 miles with 4,500 feet of gain). Read more.

Other Northeast Events:

Run Ragged Last One Standing (Berlin, CT)
Camp Challenge (Ashford, CT)
Free Spirit 50 K (Leyden, MA)
Tails & Trails State Forest Run (Pittsfield, MA)
South Mountain Reservation Mayapple Trail Runs (Millburn, NJ)
3 Days at the Fair (Augusta, NJ)
C’mon Armageddon (West Milford, NJ)
Loop the Lemur at the Ross Park Zoo (Binghamton, NY)
Winona Forest’s Chase The Day 24-Hour Trail Ultra (Mannsville, NY)
Mind Over Miles- 24 Hour Challenge (Buffalo, NY)

Featured: Reesor 50 (Maple Creek, SK)

The inaugural Reesor 50 (50-mile ultra distance) kicks off Saturday in Maple Hills, Saskatchewan, at the historic Reesor Ranch, Saskatchewan’s first provincially designated heritage ranch. Set amongst the backdrop of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, known for its towering hills, lush forests and rolling meadows, the race features around 2,300 meters (7,500 feet) of climbing, six aid stations, a scenic course with 75% trail and 25% dirt roads, and an 18-hour cutoff time. Additional event highlights include festival-style camping at the Reesor Ranch, hot food and cold beer throughout the weekend, and $3,000 in prize money awarded to the top three finishers in the 50-mile race. Read more.

Other Events in Canada and Mexico:

Lakou backyard Ultra (Edmonton, AB)
Coach D’s Backyard Ultra (Lindsay, ON)

Email corys@ultrarunning with questions about adding your event to the UltraRunning Magazine calendar.

What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — May 17