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When I started writing this column, I was unaware of just how many ultramarathons had popped up across North America. Every week there are dozens of amazing events. We’d love your input on which races to feature. You can see what’s on deck in the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. Please leave a comment and let us know which upcoming races you’re excited about.
In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we travel to Colorado, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska.
Run Rabbit Run
We begin in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for the Run Rabbit Run 100-mile and 50-mile races. Now in its 12th season, the 100-miler attracts top endurance athletes from around the world vying for their share of the $75,000 prize pool, including $15,000 awarded to the men’s and women’s winners in the hare division in which runners aren’t allowed to have a pacer. This year’s race will award an additional $5,000 to the top male and female teams, and $1,000 for the first to reach the top of the gondola. The 100-mile race begins Friday and features over 20,000 feet of elevation gain and descent on scenic northern Colorado mountain trails teaming with early fall colors. Hares have 30 hours to complete the course, and tortoise runners (allowed a pacer) have 36 hours. Saturday’s 50-mile race features 9,000 feet of climbing and a 15-hour cutoff. Race proceeds benefit local charities and nonprofits, with over $505,000 being donated since 2012.
The Rut Mountain Runs
Heading to Big Sky, Montana, we check in on the Rut Mountain Runs (50k and sub-ultra distances). Known for being one of the most difficult 50k races in the country, the Rut challenges participants with extremely steep climbs and descents, technical trails, exposed ridgelines, the iconic summit of Lone Peak and over 10,000 feet of elevation gain. The race begins Sunday at Big Sky Mountain Village and runners have 13 hours to complete the course for an official finish, with the top three female and male finishers receiving cash prizes. In addition to the 50k, the three-day running festival includes a 28k, 21k, 11k, VK and kids “runt” run. I’ve had the pleasure of running and volunteering at the Rut and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a true mountain running adventure in a beautiful part of the country.
Boulder Field 100
Our next stop takes us to the Poconos and the charming town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, for the Boulder Field 100 (100k and 50k races). First held in 2016, the event takes place in Hickory Run State Park on a figure eight 50k loop course (100k runners will run the loop twice) with 4,000 feet of climbing per loop. Most of the course features rolling and runnable trails, however, runners will have to navigate a large boulder field (hence the race name) and a rugged one-mile section known as the “Shades of Death Trail.” Race highlights include incredible scenery, free tent camping for runners and volunteers, and German-inspired finish-line food provided by the folks at Uberendurancesports. Participants in the 100k race have 16 hours to complete the course, and 50k runners have 14 hours to earn an official finish.
Wildcard: Cowboy 200
In this week’s Wildcard race, where we feature an event you may not be familiar with, we travel to Norfolk, Nebraska, for the Cowboy 200 (200-mile and 100-mile races). The 200-miler runners will begin Friday and travel west from Norfolk to Valentine, Nebraska, along the Cowboy Trail, a rail-to-trail path that follows the old Chicago & Northwestern railroad route. Along the way, runners will pass by historic towns and old railroad relics, experience the quaint solitude of northern Nebraska, and cross over a remarkable 200 bridges, including a bridge that is a quarter-mile-long and over 148 feet high. This is a flat and fast course, run mostly on crushed limestone, with an 84-hour cutoff time. First-place male and female runners will receive a $1,500 cash prize, with an added $500 bonus to anyone who sets the course record. The 100-mile participants will start on Saturday at the Community Center in Atkinson, Nebraska, and have 32 hours to reach the finish line in Valentine.
Other events this weekend include Patriots’ Run (Overland Park, KS), The Golden Ultra (Golden, BC), Noble Canyon (Pine Valley, CA), Ouray 50 (Ouray, CO), Berkeley Trail Adventure (Berkeley, CA), Shawangunk Ridge Trail Run (Rosendale, NY), Rockin’ Rockwoods Trail Race (Wildwood, MO), Plain Endurance Runs (Plain, WA), Germantown 50k (Germantown, OH), Kilkenny Ridge Race (Stark, NH), Freaky Creeky 50 (Vernon, BC), The Final Countdown (Winnabow, BC), Sugg Farm Ultra (Holly Springs, NC) and Frosty Mountain (Manning Park, BC).
Check out all the races here and good luck to everyone racing this weekend.