The ultrarunning action is slowing a little as we enter the third weekend of November, but we still have 29 exciting races on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we set sail for Utah, California, Florida and North Carolina. Let’s toss the lines and get cruising.
Dead Horse Ultra
We start things off in Moab, Utah, for the Dead Horse Ultra (50-mile and 50k). First run in 2014, Dead Horse Ultra is one of the largest trail running events in the United States, with nearly 800 runners signed up to compete . Both courses feature the “Magnificent Seven” trails located near the Gemini Bridges area in Moab, which challenge runners with technical single-track trails, rocky climbs and 4,895 feet of elevation gain for the 50-miler (2,800 feet of climbing for the 50k). Along the way, runners will get to take in spectacular views from the Bull Run Trail, which includes glimpses of Arches National Park, the La Sal Mountains and the Moab Valley. Both races kick off Saturday morning in wave starts and finish with cold beverages and Mad Moose Enchiladas for all participants. Dead Horse Ultra is the event of the Triple Crown of Moab race series.
Mt. Tam Trail Run
Heading west, we tie off in beautiful Stinson Beach, California, for the 13th annual Mt. Tam Trail Run 50k. The race begins on Saturday in Stinson Beach and sends runners up the trails of Mount Tamalpais where they’ll experience majestic views of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay, Marin County hills and even the snow-peaked Sierra Nevada Mountains on a clear day. After heading up Mt. Tam, runners will then race along some of the best trails in Muir Woods and the Marin Headlands, before heading back down to the beach and the finish line. Participants have 8 hours and 30 minutes to complete the course, with the top three male and female runners taking home prize money.
Wild Florida
Our next port of call is Suwannee Springs, Florida, for the Wild Florida 50k. The “old Florida” point-to-point course takes runners through one of the most scenic sections of the 1,108-mile Florida Trail, where they’ll run along the Suwannee River against a backdrop of cypress trees, large oaks, palm trees and magnolias. The 50k runners will have 11 hours and four aid stations to make it from the start down to Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida. Race proceeds benefit the Florida Trails Association, with $19,000 raised by race organizers in 2023.
Wildcard: Looking Glass 100k
In this week’s Wildcard race, where we feature an event you may not be familiar with, we drop anchor in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, for the Looking Glass 100k. I was excited to write about this event because, to be honest, I assumed it had been canceled due to the devastation Hurricane Helene caused much of the North Carolina mountain towns. Fortunately, the Pisgah Ranger District was spared from the brunt of the storm. This year’s event will feature an alternate course due to closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but runners will still get to enjoy 100k of stunning western North Carolina trails that include waterfalls, scenic vistas, stream crossings and dense forests as they make their way around Looking Glass Rock. Participants have 22 hours to navigate 12,284 feet of climbing to earn an official finish.
Other events this weekend include Big Texas Ultra (Georgetown, TX), The 16 Hour Lock-In (Wilmington, NC), NYC Trail Mix (Staten Island, NY), Mental Health Ultra Marathon (Newnan, GA), Dizzy Fifties (Huntsville, AL), Caspers Trail Races (San Juan Capistrano, CA), Buts Bearly Ultra (Birmingham, AL), and Wild Hare (Warda, TX).
Check out the full list of events here and good luck to everyone racing this weekend!