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The final weekend of October features 59 races on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar, including a few great Halloween-themed events and the largest ultramarathon in the United States. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we travel to Arizona, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. Let’s see what’s brewing in those aid station cauldrons.
Javelina Jundred
We kick things off in the Arizona desert for a costumed-themed ultrarunning bash, the Javelina Jundred (100-mile and 100k races). The festive events kick off on Wednesday with a group run and then feature a series of fun runs and parties over the days leading up to the main events. The 100-mile and 100k races take place on a single-track looped course in McDowell Mountain Regional Park, featuring rolling hills, a combination of sandy and rocky trails and 1,580 feet of elevation gain per 20-mile loop. The 100-mile runners have 30 hours to complete five loops, while 100k runners have 30 hours to finish three loops. In addition to being one of the most fun and social ultrarunning events you’ll find anywhere, with runners, crews, and volunteers decked out in elaborate costumes, Javelina annually draws some of the sport’s best athletes, with the top two male and female 100-mile finishers earning Golden Tickets to the 2025 Western States 100 Endurance Run.
Rim to River 100
Our next stop takes us to West Virginia’s New River Gorge for the Rim to River 100, the state’s first and only 100-mile trail race. Now in its fifth year, the “wild and wonderful” out-and-back course takes in some of West Virginia’s best scenery, including scenic vistas, plenty of bridge and creek crossings, flowing rivers and fall colors. Approximately 74 miles of the course takes place within the boundaries of the New River Gorge National River Area, with the full route consisting of 84 miles on trail, 6 miles on dirt and 10 miles on pavement, and a total of 12,000 feet of climbing. Runners have 32 hours to earn their buckles and Western States qualifiers. Race proceeds benefit Adventure Appalachia, a non-profit organization “facilitating empowering, educational outdoor adventure experiences for adolescents and adults.”
No Business 100
Heading over to Jamestown, Tennessee, and Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, we drop in on the No Business 100. This year marks the eighth running of the challenging race that takes runners on a 102-mile looped course through the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, starting in Tennessee and crossing the border into Kentucky before heading back to the Volunteer State. Along the way, runners will have to navigate 14,500 feet of climbing over remote and technical trails that showcase the natural and rugged beauty of the area as well as historic settlements like the No Business community. Participants have 33 hours to finish the loop and claim their buckles and Western States qualifier.
Wildcard: Marine Corps Marathon 50k
In this week’s Wildcard race (where we feature an event you may not be familiar with), we head to Arlington, Virginia, for the Marine Corps Marathon 50k (MCM). Despite being the largest ultramarathon in the United States, the MCM (established in 2019), is still a rather new addition to the iconic Marine Corps Marathon which is now in its 49th season. The urban race begins on Sunday and will take runners on a tour of our nation’s capital, passing by the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall before finishing at the Marine Corps War Memorial. The mission of the Marine Corps Marathon is “to promote physical fitness, generate community goodwill, and showcase the organizational skills of the United States Marine Corps.” Last year, an amazing 1,293 runners completed the 50k course while maintaining the required sub-14-minute pace.
Other Events this weekend include Ozark Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run (Steelville, MO), Canyonlands Ultra (Moab, UT), Hixon 50 (La Crosse, WI), Tussey Mountainback 50 Miler (Boalsburg, PA), Gate2Gate 50k (Alachua, FL), Door County Fall 50 (Sturgeon Bay, WI), ECT 50 Ultra Marathon (St. Johns, NL), Georgia Sky to Summit (Dillard, GA), Kansas Rails-to-Trails Extravaganza (Ottawa, KS), Lake Murray Endurance Run (Ardmore, OK), The Bad Thing (Goderich, ON), and Greensprings 24 (Williamsburg, VA).
Check out the full list of events here and good luck to everyone racing this weekend!