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With just two months left on our 2024 UltraRunning Calendar, we still have some amazing races to talk about. This weekend, look no further than the 40th Mountain Masochist in Virginia, the 21st Rio Del Lago in California, the 16th Pinhoti in Alabama and as always, much more.
The Mountain Masochist Trail Run 50/50 in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a great place to kick off November. Starting at the James River Visitor Center, the entire course traverses some of the most beautiful areas in the Blue Ridge right around peak fall foliage. The 50-miler is one of the longest-running in the country and offers gravel roads, single track and jeep roads with over 9,000 feet of elevation gain. Introduced in 2021, the 50k covers the front half of the 50-mile course with 32 miles and over 5,600 feet of elevation gain. Nikki Kimball still holds the course record from 2006 and Geoff Roes’ 2009 time has yet to be dethroned.
Across the country in Granite Bay, California, we have the Rio Del Lago 100-miler and 50k on Saturday. Also known as the “Jewel of the Sierra Nevada Foothills,” the RDL course is rolling and covers some of the infamous Western States Trail. The scenery consists of spectacular views along Folsom Lake and the American River. Read Rio Del Lago’s Course of Legends by UltraRunning gear editor, Donald Buraglio, and listen to the UR Podcast with Erika Hoagland, the 2019 Rio Del Lago champion. Follow along with race day live tracking here.
In Sylacauga, Alabama, there’s the Pinhoti 100 also on Saturday. A point-to-point race starting in Heflin on the pristine Pinhoti single-track trail, runners will make their way over the highest point in Alabama (Cheaha Mountain) while navigating technical terrain through creeks and across beautiful ridge lines of the Talladega National Forest. The course consists of 81 miles of single track, 17 miles of jeep road and 4 miles of pavement, finishing at Lake Howard. The race is currently full with 225 entrants. Live tracking is here. Read: Moths to a Flame by UltraRunning contributor Gary Dudney.
Even more events to check out include the TARC Stone Cat Trail 50-miler Festival in Ipswich, Massachusetts, the Hamsterwheel 6/12/24/30-hour in New Boston, New Hampshire, the Azalea 12/24-hour and 50-miler in Florahome, Florida, the Mendon Trail Run 50k in Mendon, New York, the Deadman Peaks Trail Run 55k/53-miler in Cuba, New Mexico, the Antelope Island 50k Syracuse, Utah, the Eastern Divide 50k in Pembroke, Virginia, the Austin Rattler Run 50k in Smithville, Texas, and more.
Racing elsewhere this weekend? Leave a comment below and let us know What’s Up in Ultra in your world. Also be sure to check out our Ultra Weekend Recap from Sunday if you missed it, and subscribe to our Thursday newsletter so you can keep up to date with all the ultrarunning news.
3 comments
It appears you forgot to mention the gem happening in the New River Gorge National Park … Rim to River 100!! Near 12K climbing in “almost heaven”.
Racing the 50km at The Beav Trail Race in Hilton Falls, Ontario Canada on November 4th
That’s a picture of me running my first 100mi race – Rio Del Lago!
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