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We’re just a week and half away from the first 2023 Western States Golden Ticket race on our North American UltraRunning Calendar, but before we get ahead of ourselves, we’ve got a fun 50/50 in the Music City, a rugged 100-miler in the Lone Star State, the 20th edition of Cincinnati’s oldest ultramarathon and so much more.
UltraRunning reader Bo Harrington let us know in our Ultra Weekend Recap about the Nashville Ultra 50k/50-mile races on Saturday, October 22. These out-and-back courses are very flat, and both follow paved walking and bike trails. The entire route takes place on part of Nashville’s sprawling greenway system and includes pedestrian bridges that cross over the Cumberland River at two different points. Registration is still open for both distances.
In Bandera, Texas, on Friday, October 21, we have one of Tejas Trails’ toughest courses of the year, the Cactus Rose 100-miler and accompanying 50 and 150-miler. Runners will tackle either two, four or six 25-mile loops to complete the three different distances. Each lap consists of technical trail climbing and descending in the unrelenting style that Bandera and the Hill Country State Natural Area is known for. There’s also a 4-person relay and youth trail race. Registration is still open over on RunSignup. Read: Cactus Rose 100 by Joe Prusaitis
Cincinnati, Ohio’s longest running ultramarathon, the Stone Steps 50k in Mount Airy Forest, is on Sunday, October 23. The city’s largest park, at 1,459-acres, is the perfect setting for the 20th year of this urban ultra. The looped course has some technical single-track trails, and is rather hilly with roots and rocks and, of course, stone steps. One 5-mile loop is run four times, alternating with a 3-mile loop run three times. Registration is still open, but there are just nine spots left. Get on it at RunSignup. Read the 2015 Stone Steps 50k race report to whet your appetite, too.
The Lake Hodges Trail Fest 50k in San Diego, California, on Saturday, October 22, rounds out our highlights for the week. Featuring an out-and-back course perfect for the first-time ultrarunner or experienced veteran going for a personal record, the race takes place at the 40-acre Rancho Bernardo Community Park, about 25 miles north of downtown San Diego. Register here.
Fear not, there are a plethora of other races on our UltraRunning Calendar this week around the country. On Friday, October 21, check out The Endless Mile 6/12/24/48-hours races in Alabaster, Alabama. For Saturday, October 22, don’t miss Surf the Murph 50k/50-miler in Savage, Minnesota, Glacier Hills Ultra 50k in Canton, South Dakota, Southern Discomfort 6/12/24/30-hours races in Albany, Georgia, and the Bobcat Trail Races 50k in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Finally, on Sunday, October 23, we have the Bimblers Bluff 50k in Guilford, Connecticut, and the GOATZ Trail Runs 50k/50-miler in Omaha, Nebraska.
What’s Up in Ultra in your running community this weekend? Leave a comment and link so we can follow along, and post results on Sunday in our Ultra Weekend Recap.