3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The things that draw me back to the Quad Dipsea year after year are great because they are experiential, not necessarily performance-based.
Community: It’s truly incredible. The race has a long history (42 years) and there are people who have run it for many years.
Camaraderie: The race is a double out-and-back, so you see everyone at least 2-3 times, and the camaraderie is amazing!
Course: It’s so unique. Over 28 miles and 9,000 feet of climbing, you run up and down hundreds of stairs (about 600 to start!), down into Muir Woods, up onto bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and down to Stinson Beach practically touching the ocean before returning to Mill Valley. Then you do it again!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
It is hard! For me personally, racing the Quad Dipsea was a question mark because of a hip fracture. I had been working with a PT and he was confident I could race, but I had major injury-related race anxiety! I didn’t go in with a ton of confidence, but racing it proved to me that sometimes your body can show your brain what is possible, if you keep your heart in it. If the race atmosphere wasn’t wasn’t so community-focused, I might not have started. Again, the race is hard! But worth it.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
The stairs! As if running up and down hundreds of stairs wasn’t already hard enough, they are all different! Cement, stone, wood; some are slippery; some get muddy; one flight will be one width and then you’ll get to a set that is different height AND width, so it’s really tricky! But once you know, you know.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
This year, I placed higher overall despite being 5 minutes slower than my best time for the Quad Dipsea. However, this was achieved with little to no specific training due to a recent injury, making it a huge win! My hip being strong the whole race (and after!) is the biggest win.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Preview the course!! One-way, the Dipsea trail is 7 miles. Running this, or double prior as an out-and-back, prior to the race would be very helpful. There are a lot of intersections, and while they’re always marked well it helps to know what to expect. It is also worth getting a feel for the stairs and the flow of the course: every 7 miles, there are 2 climbs.
Expect that regardless of the temperature, it is always humid. Be prepared to do lots of power hiking, and poles are not allowed.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I need to execute my fuel and nutrition strategy better. As a coach, I talk about these things all the time, but I didn’t do a good job myself; I got caught up in the chase a bit and put off both. That was a very silly thing to do.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
The Quad Dipsea is one of the most beautiful and varied “shorter” courses there is!
Quad Dipsea course profile.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
9,000 feet of elevation across 28 miles puts it at one of the toughest elevation to miles ratios in trail and ultra.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The Quad Dipsea has been run for 42 years: it’s is dialed. It balances the feel of a hometown race with the presence of big, world class talent.
TRR Coach Emily Keddie during the early stages of the Quad Dipsea, with a smile (or perhaps a grimace) on her face. PC: Facchino Photography
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes! Megan Roche won this year and broke the 15-year old course record. It was incredible to see her in action multiple times during the race. On the men’s side, Nick Handel won and also set the course record.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Registration fills immediately, so if you want to the Quad Dipsea it, you have to be ready!
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
All aid stations will be stocked with the normal ultra fare as well as GU Roctane Endurance Drink. Runners do need to bring their own gels too.
Weather and typical race conditions
The start is chilly and, as mentioned above, it’s always humid throughout!
How’s the Swag?
Great swag every year: they rotate between jackets, hoodies, t-shirts, socks, and water bottles.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
6/5 stars! The Quad Dipsea is an amazing race: I highly recommend.
Emily Keddie is a coach with Team RunRun based in Bend, OR. She is an experienced runner and dedicated coach, with a PhD in Psychology. Emily coaches a wide range of athletes in road and trail/ultra running, from 5K to 200+ mile distances.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Community: Santa Barbara is such a special place filled with people who love running. The race organization, Run Local Events, focuses on highlighting the local community and supporting local artists and vendors. They do this all while putting on a high quality event with over 7,000 participants.
Course: The half marathon runs through all the significant areas of Santa Barbara. It takes you along a scenic tour of the waterfront, bustling State Street, and around some of the most beautiful parks and botanic gardens.
Post-Race Festivities: Right after you finish, you can explore the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara known for its many breweries and trendy restaurants. The race partners with different establishments to open their doors early as the streets are closed to traffic, and a live band sets up in the street and fills the air with music.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Each year this race has been growing, which is great! But I will say the line to pick up your free drink might be getting too long for those who finish at the peak times, 1:45-2:15 for the half marathon. Other than that, I honestly can’t think of any complaints! It is so well-run and such a fun vibe.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I paced myself well, taking the conservative approach in the beginning miles. This allowed me to have a strong finish down State Street, which I enjoyed tremendously! I love that this race has multiple sections where you turn around (a generously wide turn) and get to see all the runners either behind or ahead of you. There were so many shouts of joy and encouragement from my friends out there.
TRR Coach Evan Covell and a group of his athletes after finishing the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Be patient in the beginning miles up the first climb, you will make back your seconds lost on the blazing fast and runnable downhill sections. Also be sure to look around, you won’t want to miss the amazing sights that Santa Barbara has to offer. Pro-tip: around mile 7.5 look to your right, you might see the giraffes poking their heads out of their exhibit at the Santa Barbara Zoo!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Be aware of the two hills, from mile 1 – 2.5, and then again from mile 10.5 – 12. These hills are gradual but tough. The first one is early enough that you run it well, but if you push too hard you might zap your legs a bit for later on. The second hill is more difficult mainly by its position in the race, you will get through it and enjoy the downhill finish.
Santa Barbara Half Marathon course map.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
YES! Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, in my opinion. You run the majority of the miles along Cabrillo Boulevard which hugs the coast line. You climb up into the Mesa neighborhood which offers beautiful views of the mountains to one side and the Pacific Ocean to the other. Then you run up historic State Street past all the shops and restaurants. Finally, you head around Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, a beautiful botanic garden often called the “crown jewel” of city parks.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
It is a moderately tough course. The first mile is flat then you climb up Shoreline Drive for about 1.5 miles. This steady climb can slow you down a touch, but you get all that blazing fast downhill right back as you make your first turn-around. Then the course is flat along the waterfront for through mile 10.5, before taking a steady climb up State Street and around the park, before a downhill finish for the last 1.1 miles. The climb up State Street is the most difficult portion of the course mainly because at that point in the race you are already fatigued. But the downhill finish is extremely runnable and is home to the State Street Mile, typically a springtime race where many elites chase down a sub-4 minute mile.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The Santa Barbara Half Marathon is extremely well organized. From the pre-race communications, to the day off experience, in my last three years running this race I’ve experienced zero hiccups. While the participation numbers have increased pretty dramatically, the race organizers have handled in the increase with ease and professionalism.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Moderately so: the winner of the men’s race this year ran 1:06:35, the winner of the women’s race ran 1:19:47. My time of 1:27:34 placed me in 103rd for reference.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
2025 is the first year the Santa Barbara Half Marathon has sold out: about 3 weeks in advance. There was a lot of chatter of people looking for a transfer bib, because they were surprised it sold out so soon. I would expect it to sell out sooner next year as well. I heard from the race director that all the waterfront hotels were at capacity on the weekend. And if you’re traveling from out of state or northern California, Santa Barbara has it’s own airport that is convenient and super easy to navigate.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard fare for the aid stations. The race has the local high school cross country teams attend a few of the aid stations. They always bring a lot of fun energy!
Weather and typical race conditions
Weather is typically low 50s at the start and mid 50s at the finish: perfect conditions. The 7 am start time is perfect, typically giving you some marine layer fog to block the sun. But by the time the post-race festivities come, it’s a classic bright and sunny Santa Barbara day.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
A very spectator friendly course, and the crowds were amazing this year! The energy was so high, and there were so many fun signs out there. You can tell the locals enjoy when the race runs through their neighborhood as they are typically out in their front yards to cheer. Santa Barbara has many rental e-bike options that make getting around the closed-for-race-day streets a breeze.
How’s the Swag?
The swag is epic! Each year they commission a local artist to design the medal and the event T-shirts with a unique design. At the expo they regularly sell shirts, jackets, and hats with the Santa Barbara Half logo on display!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10/10 stars! If you couldn’t tell, I really love this race. I may be slightly biased since it is in my home town, but I really do believe in the growth and professionalism that this race brings. I couldn’t recommend the Santa Barbara Half Marathon more!
Evan Covell is a coach with Team RunRun based in Santa Barbara, California. He helps runners set and achieve their goals through personalized, science-based training and injury prevention.
Elaina’s story of overcoming adversity and GI distress en route to smashing the all time 104-kilometer Cataraqui Trail fastest known time (FKT).
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Mike Tyson said that.
But what if, instead of getting punched in the face, you get punched in the stomach? Repeatedly.
If you’ll stay with me, I’d like to tell you that story.
Today’s the Day for 104 Kilometers Along the Cataraqui Trail
It’s Saturday, November 28th and my alarm goes off 4:30 a.m. A cruel time of day if you ask me, but I have work to do.
I yawn as I pull on the leggings, sports bra, and long-sleeve shirt I laid out the night before. In the kitchen, I toast a bagel. One last push to get a few more carbs in before the day really begins.
I put on my vest, headband, gloves, and headlamp, then drive to the trailhead. When I pull up, it’s a few minutes before 6:00 a.m. It’s minus 5 degrees Celsius outside and I can see my breath lingering in the cold air.
5…4…3…2…1.
Map of the 104-kilometer Cataraqui Trail.
And We’re Off on the Cataraqui Trail
A view of the Cataraqui Trail.
I start my watch for what I know will be an 8+ hour run: 104 kilometers (65 miles) along the Cataraqui Trail from just outside of Napanee to Smith Falls in Ontario, Canada.
The first 45 kilometers feel smooth. My legs are light, my breathing steady. I’m rolling at 4:46 min/km (7:38 min/mile) pace. I’m exactly where I want to be. Everything feels easy.
Until it doesn’t.
It starts as a cramp. Annoying, but manageable.
Then the pain sharpens into something much worse. It feels like someone is stabbing a knife into my stomach over and over. I’m praying for it to stop but it doesn’t.
I look down at my watch and do the math. There’s no way I can run for another four hours in this amount of pain. Not a chance.
Then, before I can process what’s happening, I begin throwing up.
For a moment, I’m relieved. The pain eases.
But relief is quickly replaced by fear. Losing so much of my nutrition this early in the run is not ideal… Still, I start moving again, putting one foot in front of the other.
Puke and Rally. Rinse and Repeat.
Twenty kilometres later, I have a familiar, but unwelcome feeling. That sharp, stabbing pain is back. And again I throw up, this time with my tears in the mix. I desperately want to stop running. To make the pain go away.
This won’t be the last time my stomach revolts today.
Elaina Raponi throwing up mid run along the Cataraqui Trail.
The friend I’m running with at the time looks at me and smiles. Then he says something I’ll never forget.
“In ultra marathons, your mind will go to some low and dark places. It doesn’t mean you’re done. It means you have to claw your way back.”
With those words hanging in the air, I keep pushing forward along the trail.
By the 80-kilometre mark, my right calf begins cramping from the lack of fuel in my body.
I look at my watch. Two hours of running still to go.
Left foot. Right foot. Repeat.
The End is in Sight
104 kilometers and 8 hours, 28 minutes, and 58 seconds later, I finished what I started.
I’m in pain, out of breath, and on the edge of throwing up for the seventh time. I bury my head in my hands, crying.
When I finally lift my head and look at my watch, I try to make sense of the numbers staring back at me. I had just broken the women’s fastest known time (FKT) for the 104 kilometers along the Cataraqui Trail by over two and a half hours, and the men’s record by 42 minutes.
Performance is Mental, Not Just Physical
As a mental performance coach, I spend a lot of time teaching my athletes how to stay composed, adaptable, and resilient.
Today, I had to practice what I preach.
I had plenty of reasons to stop. Plenty of opportunities to quit when things got hard. But adversity has a way of revealing what’s underneath.
This run, 104 kilometers along the Cataraqui Trail, became a powerful reminder of the skills I try to teach: patience, problem-solving, staying present, taking things one step at a time.
As an athlete, it was one of my hardest days. And easily one of my proudest finishes.
Elaina Raponi is a coach with Team RunRun based in Kingston, Ontario. Elaina loves helping athletes of all abilities and experiences achieve their goals, while finding confidence and joy in the process!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Crowd and spectators: It was truly amazing! I almost never run without my audiobook, but it was so loud and so enthusiastic that I felt that I should immerse myself in the experience and enjoy it.
Course: It’s truly iconic as it winds through the 5 boroughs; the bridges are brutal but pretty.
Field size and growth: I’m sure there are differing opinions on this, but I’m glad they’re expanding the field. I believe this year was one of the largest ever at around 71,000 starters. At my pace, I wouldn’t ever qualify for a race like this. I’m also grateful for the second-chance lottery system that got me an entry to this race: thank you NYRR!
Start village organization: For a race with so many people, it was a good size and relatively well organized. Physical signage could have been better within the village. Audio announcements were great.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Not really complaints or dislikes, but things to look out for:
1. New York City Marathon course difficulty
The course is brutally hard – and deceptively so. For someone from hilly Seattle, even the Verrazano Narrows and Queensboro Bridge seemed like nothing: about 150 and 110 feet elevation change about about 0.75 miles. But most of the course has rolling terrain, and if you don’t hold back or haven’t trained appropriately, you’ll destroy your calves and quads, like I did, and then fall apart at the end. For me, I was cruising through mile 19 before falling apart quite abruptly and struggling to the finish. While I would’ve been happy with my finishing time at the start of the race, given how well I was rolling and the time I was on track for before my demise, I was ultimately somewhat disappointed.
The 2025 New York City Marathon course.
2. Later starts mean warmer temperatures
Because of the expanded field, the slower runners start very late in the day. I crossed the start line about 8 minutes past by designated 11:30 am start time. Given that I had to travel east for the race, and the 2025 New York City Marathon fell on the day the clocks go back, I was happy to be able to sleep in and start the race fresh; I slept a shocking 9 hours before the race, whereas I had slept 3 restless hours before the Chicago Marathon’s 7 am start 4 years ago! However, the late start resulted in warmer temperatures and, in the end, an extremely long day.
3. Getting to the race start
The point to point nature of the New York City Marathon course, means runners must travel a long way to get to the start on Staten Island (see course map to the right). I took the ferry and then a bus on Staten Island. Other runners who took the bus all the way from Manhattan had a far longer total travel time..
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
The elevation and course profile. While the Seattle marathon has about 1500 feet of elevation in a typical year, I’d argue that the 950-1000 feet of the New York City Marathon is much harder because of the rolling nature of the terrain.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
For a glorious 19 miles, I was having an amazing time and was extremely optimistic about getting close to a PR. While the crash was rough after that, and my eventual time was disappointing, I came away with optimism that I could run considerably faster with better pacing and better planning for the course, plus some conditioning for quads, calves, and probably other muscle groups.
Even though it eventually hurt me, I felt like I did a great job of running by feel and effort… for the first 19 miles at least!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Unfortunately, I had not seen this before the race, but in retrospect, I would research any course that I wasn’t familiar with or didn’t have a very straightforward profile, like the person in this reddit post did:
I honestly think that if I had done this sort of research myself or had found this, I would have saved about 10 minutes and not had such a bad last 7 miles.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Plan for the course, and hold back if/ when appropriate.
This was my first race in running in the Nike Alphafly’s, though I had done about a 100 miles of training in them. They helped me go fast, but they had the exact problem that I was concerned they would: they substantially exacerbate any calf weakness late in the race. I think for my next marathon I’ll go with the Asics Superblast. I also liked these a lot in training, and found them much more stable and gentle, yet still fairly fast.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
(Hills!! See above)
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Quite pretty. However, I don’t think I paid much attention after 15 miles or so, as I was just bearing down mentally and trying to focus.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I’d say so! The constantly rolling hills really add up (see elevation map below). And if you’ve read this far, I think you already know the answer to this question!
The 2025 New York City Marathon elevation map.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Fairly well oiled, especially for a race of this size!
There were a few areas in Brooklyn where the crowd ignored the tape barriers, creating a path barely about 10 feet wide for runners to go through, which felt dangerous and badly managed in terms of crowd control.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Headlined by marathon GOAT, Eliud Kipchoge, and legendary distance runner, Kenneisa Bekele, need I say more…? While Kipchoge and Bekele enjoyed their retirement tour, finishing 17th and DNF-ing respectively, the elite men’s field wasn’t short of talent. 1st and 2nd place finishers, Abdi Nageeye and Evans Chebet, returned, in a field that included 8 men who have run under 2:05:00. Americans Joe Klecker, Charles Hicks, and Hillary Bor ran their marathon debut, alongside Britain’s Patrick Dever, who ended up a second off the podium. Other notable men included: Americans Reed Fischer, Joel Reichow, and Biya Simbassa, alongside 2:02:00-marathon runners, Benson Kipruto and Deresa Geleta.
On the women’s side, the last 3 New York City Marathon finishers returned to battle it out with Olympic Champion, Sifan Hassan. Akin to the 2025 Boston Marathon, it ended up being a match race between Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi, with Obiri ultimately prevailing victorious. Other notable women included: Americans Fiona O’Keefe, Molly Seidel, Stephanie Bruce, and Sara Hall, Britain’s Jessica Warner Judd, and Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack.
2025 New York City Marathon elite men, featuring Eliud Kipchoge. PC: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
It’s very hard to get into the New York City Marathon! There are various different ways to enter, including qualifying standards for faster runners, charity places, and lottery picks. I got in through a second-chance lottery that randomly picks people who miss the main lottery. If you get a phone call with caller-id ‘NYRR’ pick up!
Hotels are expensive, yeah – though I don’t think it’s particularly necessary to stay in Manhattan, so you could definitely save some money by staying elsewhere.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Aid stations were pretty good: Gatorade and water every mile starting at 3, which is pretty good. They had some Maurten 100 gels available at miles 12 and 18, but I didn’t want to try something new on race day and I had plenty of fuel with me. Also, they had bananas at mile 21, which seemed odd to have just one point with them. Apparently had biofreeze was available at some of the later medical stations; in retrospect, I should have made use of that to deal with some of the discomfort in my legs.
A small complaint I have is that some aid stations couldn’t keep up with the number of runners coming through, because the volunteers seemed to be untrained and not able to keep pace. This resulted in multiple instances of runners waiting longer than ideal, and small backlogs forming. At aid stations and just after, definitely watch your step, be careful not to slip, and watch out for people crossing lanes aggressively.
TRR athlete, Phil Shin, finishing the 2023 New York City Marathon.
Weather and typical race conditions
Typically cold and dry. Occasionally rains because it’s early November: Thursday and early Friday of this year’s race week had been extremely wet.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I definitely would recommend a good headlamp, as it can get super dark.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes and no. It’s a great experience as a runner, and I’d imagine as part of the cheering crowd as well. There are lots of points with great music – notably Brooklyn, Harlem, and the Bronx. However, with so many people trying to get around the city to cheer runners on at multiple points, the subway system gets pretty overwhelmed. My wife met me at 3, 8, 18, and after the finish. Even though I’m a slower runner, she just barely made it to these stops!
How’s the Swag?
The New York City Marathon 2025 t-shirt was solid, though I prefer short-sleeved shirts: thin long-sleeved shirts are just a bit of a waste for me. There’s a ton of branded apparel for sale at the expo, but I don’t typically buy that sort of thing. The medal was nice, very solid (and hard earned)!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
The New York City Marathon definitely gets 5 stars! While I don’t think I would do it again for a long time, it’s an outstanding experience. I highly recommend it to others.
For more New York City Marathon insight and coaching tips, we put together this New York City Marathon 101 race guide.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Festive: Halloween themed
Timed race: I did the 30-hour version of the Ghost Train Rail Trail Race, removing any time cut-off pressure. Given the race directors knew how long runners would be on course, alongside the looped course, aid station snacks were refreshed throughout.
Looped course: This allowed for the start/finish to be the central hub for all runners/volunteers/pacers/tents, and was easily accessible.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Loop length: the 15-mile laps made it difficult to make any adjustments on-course.
Night temperature: while fine for running, the low temperatures were chilly for camping overnight and anyone not running.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
There were a lot of Ghost Train Rail Trail Race runners dressed in Halloween costumes!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
After struggling with GI issues and blisters after the second lap (miles 15 to 30), I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue on for a third lap at night. I did a full reset and rested for a while before heading back out. This was my first time running into the night, and handled it with no caffeine and limited calories due to my stomach issues. Overall, I’m happy I did persevere! The result: setting a new distance PR during this race!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
A few tips for runners considering this race:
October nights in New England can get VERY cold; therefore, it’s important to pack enough layers for running AND sleeping!
Even in lower temperatures, hydration is still very important to stay on top of. Don’t be fooled by the lack of sweat!
Talk to other runners. The looped course is conducive to chatting to other runners, and this makes the time go by very quickly.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
1. Stay on top of hydration. 2. Take care of feet early!
There’s no going back on these two things: once they start to go south, they’ll more than likely keeping going south.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
1. The Ghost Train Rail Trail Race course is mostly hard-packed, rail-trail type terrain with a little bit of New England trail running mixed in. 2. The 4 mile aid station and 7 mile turnaround aid station are fully stocked with bathrooms.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
The race takes place in the fall, with some beautiful foliage and fun decorations throughout!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
No, it is a relatively flat and very well marked course.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well run! From the race director to each volunteer, everyone involved in the Ghost Train Rail Trail Race were amazing!
Competition was not the main point of focus of Ghost Train Rail Trail Races, especially in the 30-hour event. The focus is more on completion.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Registration was VERY competitive. For example, the 30-hour Ghost Train Rail Trail Race sold out in about 2 minutes! Fortunately, there are several different Ghost Train Rail Trail Race distance options.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Aid stations had plenty of snacks and sodas, with Tailwind as the endurance fuel option. The halfway aid station had a lot of homemade goodies and plenty of hot food!
Halloween-themed fun along the Ghost Train Rail Trail Race course.
Weather and typical race conditions
The Ghost Train Rail Trail Race happens during fall in New England, so can vary drastically. This year, it got quite cold during the night. Be prepared for everything, especially the worst!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I definitely would recommend a good headlamp, as it can get super dark.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Friends are able to hang out at the start/finish area, and pacers are allowed during the night portion.
How’s the Swag?
There is a wooden train ornament for finishers, as well as a PR star.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
I would DEFINITELY recommend any of the Ghost Train Rail Trail Race events to others!!! It’s festive and fun, great weather (at least in 2025 there was!), a lot of aid station food and bathrooms, and very well run. Above all, it’s a great format to go for distance PR’s and to chat with other runners.
Allie Smith is a coach with Team RunRun based in Gloucester, MA. She enjoys helping the everyday athlete have fun, build confidence, and fall in love with running!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Terrain and scenery: If you have not spent much time in the western part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it should definitely be on the top of your vacation / race list. The colors were about to turn, and mother nature provided great weather. This race is timed to coincide with peak fall colors!
Crewed by my wife: This was the first race my wife crewed for me. Typically, I run my races with support from drop bags and aid stations, but this time, my wife was there to crew me the entire race. I enjoyed sharing the experience with her.
Community: The Marji Gesick 100 is self- / community-supported race, and it was fun and exciting to interact with all the other runner crews. They always offered water, food, or any assistance, really highlighting one of the aspects that makes trail and ultra such a special community.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
There really is not too much I don’t like or love about this race. The mountain bike race, which starts 24 hours after the run, is on the same trails, so depending on your pace and time, you may need to step aside or navigate the bikers as they pass. It is not all bad though. Based on my 2023 experience, every bike rider cheered and encouraged me along the route. The inconvenience of stepping off the trail was balanced out by the support from the bikes.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Everything about this race is weird and unconventional! Marji Gesick really is a 365 day event. Registration sells out in minutes, there is not waitlist, and the intentional misinformation, confusion, and tom foolery from the race organizers and fellow participants is nonstop to race day. Check out “Marji Geski Talks” on Facebook, and you will understand. The 100 mile run starts with a 0.5 to 0.75 mile bike ride. Yes, you need to bring a bike to a running race! There are no aid stations. You bring your own crew, or you rely on the community. Full stop. It is up to you to prepare. The course map is available only a couple days before the race, and to prove you ran all 100 miles, you need to collect “tokens” from plastic pumpkin buckets along the course. The tokens could be “Dum Dum” suckers, random objects, or wooden tokens. Trust me, if something is in a bucket, you need to bring it to the finish line. This year, I collected 2 suckers and 3 wooden tokens. Oh, and just for fun, there are even more “fake” buckets that are completely empty!
The mountain bike start to the Marji Gesick 100 Mile, an ultramarathon running race!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
This race for me was what the Marji community calls #unfinishedbusiness. I completed the Marji Gesick 100 in 2023 in a little over 39 hours. Yes, it was my first 100 mile race, but I knew I had much more potential. My training was less than I wanted, I didn’t know how to fuel, and I was only a couple years into my running rebirth. Add to that, I slept terribly the week and days before (my dad was suffering from cancer at the time, and I got a call around mile 40 that he fell unconscious and wouldn’t wake up. He passed away less that 2 days after I finished).
OK, sorry for the bummer start. But, this time, I was able to train very well heading into the race, and my nutrition and hydration were dialed. I ran way more of this race than I have in other 100 milers, and I finished in time to earn my belt buckle, awarded to runners under 28 hours.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
A few tips for runners considering this race:
Do your homework. There is no race packet or step by step instructions for the race. You need to go out and dig up the information. It is worth getting onto the Marji Gesick Facebook pages, and yes, if you do not have a Facebook account, it might be worth creating one.
Plan your crew. This is pretty much the same for every race that allows crew, but remember, there are no aid stations to fall back on. Coming up with a detailed crew plan is a must.
Be ready for sudden changes in weather. The race happens on the shore of Lake Superior, it can go from 70 and sunny to 40 and rain in minutes.
Positive split pacing. Last, the back half of the race is more technical and harder to run. I recommend banking some time in the first 60 miles, if possible, but don’t over do it.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I think I would add more crew stops. We planned on about every 10 miles, and during the afternoon, I was running out of water between stops and had to slow down a bit. I noticed runners with more stops were moving a bit better and faster during the warmer part of the day. I also would try to limit my stop time a little more. We had a hard cap of 10 minutes max at any stop. I think in the future I would try to limit that to 5 minutes. Also, a waist light is a must. I did have a waist light, but I didn’t plan a better way to attach it to my belt. I could have moved better at night if I had better lighting.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Make sure you are keeping your head up and don’t miss the pumpkins! Don’t worry, they are not hidden like the books in the Barkley Marathons, but as the race goes on, you could miss one in a sleep deprived state. Also, be ready for the punchy and rocky climbs that come after mile 60. The first half of the race has pretty good flow to it, however, after mile 60, there are a lot of technical trails with short, but very punchy climbs. Don’t forget, the race will probably be somewhere between 100 and 110 miles, so don’t get discouraged when you cross 100 miles on your watch and there is still and hour or two left to go in the race.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
The race is beautiful. You spend most of the time running through the forest just as the leaves start to change. You are treated to views of lakes, and you run along rivers: there are few better places to suffer.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
The course is harder than the elevation profile will show. The course is much more like an east coast trail: rocks, roots, and punchy climbs. No climb is terribly long, but they just keep coming. Be ready for a tough go at the end of race. This years Marji Gesick 100 race was closer to 110 miles with over 13,000 feet of elevation!
Marji Gesick 100 Mile course map and elevation profile.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Despite it’s unconventional nature, the Marji Gesick 100 is very well run. Remember, this is intentionally difficult to get information, but the race itself is run very well and smoothly. The after party is work sticking around for, cheering on the other race distances between the runners and bikers.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
This year had one of the stronger fields. There were a record number of runners and bikers earning buckles, finishing under 28 and 12 hours respectively. 2025 also saw the first 3 women earn buckles for mountain biking! The biking field is very strong, with a number of sponsored riders, but the run is more regionally competitive.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
The registration for the run is on BikeReg, which might seem odd. Also, there is no waitlist, and the race sells out in less than a minute for the bike races and within five minutes for the runs. Even though there is no waitlist, if you stay connected to the Facebook pages you likely will be able to find a bib transfer or win a random race entry for playing along with the random games.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There are NO AID STATIONS! On Saturday afternoon, the community does come out and create some aid stations, but those are often not there during the run. However, as the run has gained popularity, each year sees more community members coming out to set up aid for the runners. Make sure you come with a well planned out crew support plan.
Weather and typical race conditions
This is early fall in Michigan’s UP. Every year the weather has been different, from 80 degrees and sun, to 40 degrees and rain. This year, the temperature was in mid 60s to low 70s, with sun during the day for the run. Saturday afternoon and evening, rainstorms came in and soaked many runners and bikers still on course. Make sure you crew has clothes for you for all weather.
Marji Gesick 100 Mile belt buckle.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I did not bring anything special. The Marji Gesick 100 is not a mountain race, but I did find my poles to be helpful. Also, a secure waist light is a game changer on the technical trails.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Because it is crew supported, friends and family can see their runner very often during the race. There are very few limitations to where crew and spectators can access. Only rule – no pacers!
How’s the Swag?
This is a non profit organization, so all race swag is for purchase only. Personally, I like this idea. I have too many shirts, medals, and other race swag just collecting dust and it feels wasteful. I do not mind deferring any additional cost from registration to “free” swag vs purchasing on my own. Also, you do get to keep your tokens as an award. Note that this is also a buckle or bust race: if you don’t buckle (finish under 28 hours), there is no finisher medal.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
9 out of 10 starts. This is a 365 day event, and the community is awesome. Once the community comes out to the run like they do for the bike, I will rate the Marji Gesick 100 10 out of 10 stars!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Autumn: This race is timed to coincide with peak fall colors!
State-to-state traverse: It’s pretty unique for a 100-mile course to take runners across state borders.
Porcupine sighting: During the night, a porcupine ran in front of me on the trail for a few seconds before moving off to the side. And no, I was not hallucinating!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
I can’t think of anything. I suppose it would have been nice to have some more cloud cover midday, but that’s not something the RDs can control!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Nothing weird. A unique factor is different buckles for various finish times: –Black Bear Buckle: 30-36 hours –Grizzly Bear Buckle: 24-30 hours –Wolverine Buckle: under 24 hours
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Pre-race mindset and expectations
My only goal for the Bear 100 Endurance Run was to focus only on the process of running 100 miles. This would be an internal journey to rediscover my “why”, which had become blurred. After almost two years of non-stop competing and tune up performance-based events, I wanted to go back to my roots and simply endure. I needed the Bear 100 to purely be about working with the terrain to get from Utah to Idaho. I wasn’t completely certain what focusing only on “the process” would look like in action when I toed the line, but I felt confident the best methodology would reveal itself.
Once we began the first climb, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was carrying a massive amount of cumulative physical fatigue from racing Hardrock 100 earlier this summer. I also identified that I did not have the mental capacity yet to go back into the pain cave and embrace suffering like I did during the second day of Hardrock 100. My approach became clear in that moment: I would run the Bear 100 at a chill and causal pace. My goal was to be intentional, but not urgent. It didn’t matter how long it took me or where I placed.
Day 1
I was surprised at how easy it was for me to commit to this plan. I never once felt compelled to reel runners in or calculate a finish time based on my pace. Shockingly, I probably only checked the clock three times during the entire 31-hour event! Instead, I focused on moving efficiently through the course and proactive self-care.
During early portions of the first day, I pushed a bit harder uphill, drawing from my Hardrock training. Then I chilled on downhills to preserve my quads. Carbohydrates, electrolytes, and fluids were consumed regularly, and I maintained steady energy. By afternoon, the sun exposure became powerful in short sections and my focus switched to active cooling. I backed off on my intensity through these portions, stopping at creeks to throw water on myself whenever possible.
Dandelion running through fall foliage during the Bear 100. PC: Bethany Draper
Moving into the evening, I upped my consumption of solid hot foods at aid stations. I wasn’t going to be blasting through the climbs ahead and knew the reduced bouncing made GI distress unlikely. Hot foods (and drinks) would help me maintain a warm core, which would be essential to get through the night. The early hours of darkness were warm, so I stayed with light layers to reduce sweat; any moisture build up would cause me to freeze later. Later, when the temperature plummeted in the basins, every layer went on, plus hand warmers.
Running into the night
While I was never warm throughout the night, I wasn’t cold either. I stopped a bit longer at two aid stations to reset my internal temperature near the fire. I never got too close though, as I didn’t want to get overly warm and have the sudden cold suck the life out of me when I went back onto the trail! The miles clicked by as the long night wore on and I kept moving forward.
Warmth did not return upon sunrise. I continued eating hot food as I moved in and out of aid stations. I didn’t rush, but I also never lingered at aid stations throughout the event. After the final aid station at mile 91.8, I climbed the final hill. This is a notorious climb in the race because, although short, it’s mercilessly steep. I remember feeling indifferent about it, falling naturally into the mountaineer’s rest step. Unhurried, but efficient.
Day 2 to the finish
At the top of the ascent, it was finally warm enough to remove what remained of my nighttime layers. By no means did my body feel fresh! It was apparent that I had done something significant. Transitioning from hiking to running was bit awkward, but after a minute my body would adjust to the gait. Reading rocky terrain took a bit more mental effort, but I wasn’t tripping. My quads were sensitive, but not blown, so I could still maintain a gentle trot downhill. All things considered, physically and mentally, everything was still functioning well and my energy remained even. It stayed that way until I crossed the finish line in the afternoon on the shore of Bear Lake.
It sounds ridiculous to say that I ran a very casual and chill 100 miles, but that is honestly the best way I can describe this race. I truly stuck to my plan of running 100 miles for the sake of running 100 miles. I would not describe the experience as easy, but I cannot identify a moment of struggle either. The process felt familiar and intuitive to me. For the first time in a while I didn’t feel plagued by imposter syndrome. The Bear reminded me that I know how to run long distances through the mountains. Did I drain the tank? Absolutely not… but that wasn’t the point of completing The Bear 100. I was searching for something more internal.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Cattle on the course! This is standard issue on many trails in the “Square States”, but folks less familiar may find loose livestock intimidating. There is no need to be afraid, and the bovines will move off the trail with gentle encouragement. Living in the ‘cowboy state’, I meet cattle all summer on training runs and have never had a negative encounter.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
My biggest lesson was very internal. Not every event needs to be a competition or even have a performance goal. So much joy can be found by simply running the course with no plan beyond being efficient and proactive with the process while appreciating the journey. Executing an event in this style helped me to reset my mental state so I can take on the challenge of competition again next season.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The Bear takes place during “Indian Summer.” This is the time of year in the Rockies where temperatures can swing wildly. Heat exhaustion can be a real danger during the day, while at night hypothermia can become a reality. Prepare with gear to avoid both dangers.
Many of the earlier aid stations are 8-10 miles apart, which is long for most 100 milers. It’s not problematic, but nutrition and hydration need to be planned accordingly.
The Bear 100 course map.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes! Think red maples, yellow aspens, golden grasses. The Bear 100 is timed when fall colors are peaking, and the sweeping mountain vistas are a ablaze with an autumn palette. It is a spectacular course!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
The Bear 100 is a proper Hardrock 100 qualifier. It has about 22,000 feet of vert in a mountainous environment, and covers a good amount of technical rocky terrain. However, many of the climbs are not aggressive (simply long), so a great deal of the course can be run if the athlete desires.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Cody and Bethany Draper are excellent RDs and have everything dialed. If anything went wrong during the event, I never found out about it.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes! Elite athletes show up to this event regularly, and stellar times were put up this season on both the male and female podiums.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
This year (2025) was the final year The Bear 100 was available for first come first served registration. Moving forward it will be a lottery due to huge demand (it filled in about 8 minutes after opening in 2025!). Runners can also gain entry by acquiring a Bear Tag through winning a partner race. Further details can be found at https://bear100.com/lottery/.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
The aid stations featured traditional fare: chips, soda, goldfish, broth, granola bars, quesadillas, trail mix, pickles, PB&J, etc. Gnarly and Gu sponsored the event, so their products were offered as the main engineered tech nutrition option. Later aid stations offered some special options like pizza, French toast sticks, hashbrowns, eggs, soup, tater tots, avocado sandwiches and perogies; a nice, wide range of options!
Weather and typical race conditions
Late September in the Rockies can be fickle. As was the case in 2025, this race usually has “Indian Summer” mild conditions: warm temperatures during the day, and colder nights. However, there have also been years with extremely hot daytime temperatures and bitterly frigid nights. Snow is also possible. In fact, the week after the 2024 edition it snowed a few inches on the course. Rain and electric storms are also possible. In general, anything and everything can happen this time of year in the mountains, so be prepared!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I brought my standard mountain 100-mile race kit. My biggest recommendation is to be ready for a cold night. It drops into the 20s or 30s (degrees Fahrenheit) most years. During the day, I only carried a very light jacket. Leading into evening, I picked up an alpha fleece, hard-shell jacket, gloves, buff, long sleeved shirt, and hand warmers from a drop bag. I used every single item. The layers made the temperature tolerable while I was in motion, but I would not say I felt toasty warm.
The different buckles on offer for finishing the Bear 100 based on finish time.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
As I did not have crew, I cannot comment much on the logistics of getting to aid stations. However, Right Hand Fork and Temple Fork aid stations have limited space, so runners must pick between one of the two locations to meet their crew at (a pass is provided). The start is certainly easy for speculators to get to as it is in the city of Logan, Utah. The finish line in Fish Haven, Idaho, is on the beach of Bear Lake: a beautiful set up for folks to hang out all day and enjoy watching runners complete their journey.
How’s the Swag?
The Bear 100 had plenty of pleasantly affordable swag available to buy at the pre-race check in. Additionally, all athletes received a shirt and socks in a nice tote bag. Finishers were awarded with a unique buckle and wood plaque.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10/10. If you love a classic Rocky Mountain ultra set against the colorful tones of autumn, do this event!
Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott is a multisport outdoor athlete, ultra-runner and certified coach. She is passionate about collaborating with driven athletes who love to explore, train and play outside.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
1. Course difficulty: It’s simply a super tough course, and the 60% DNF rate will attest to that! 184km/ 120 miles with 7000m/ 23,000 feet through all 13 Valleys of the Lake District National Park is no joke!
2. Scenery: The Lake District scenery is stunning, not much more to say.
3. Race feel: There’s a great mix of big race logistics and atmosphere, yet small enough not to feel too commercial.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
1. Drop bags: You only have access to a drop back once, 75 miles in, which makes it difficult logistically.
2. Required gear and pack size: There is a large required kit list, adding up to quite a lot to carry. I needed a 20L pack for all my gear.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
David Taylor running into the night during the 13 Valleys race.
It’s at the end of the Summer season in the Lake District, so the chances of bad weather are much higher. There’s also a lot more darkness – a solid 12 hours per night – so running with a head torch is a key skill, along with navigation for the first 130km, until you pick up the way-marked 5 Valleys route.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Just how hard it was! Even with a lot of training, it’s super challenging, but what this race does is force you to tap into your mindset and willpower as much as your muscles, especially when the rain and cold hammer you early on!
My highlight was the run back through Keswick at the end. As I ran, I basically receiving a standing ovation from everyone out shopping and sitting outside the pubs!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
1) Use the drop bag well: have a full change of clothes, including shoes and waterproofs. This might be just enough to get you through the race if/when the weather changes; lots of people dropped out at this aid station because of this.
2) Get comfortable running, navigating, and working in mountains in the dark while carrying a fairly large pack.
3) If possible, check out the route ahead of time. Some of the trails are un-runnable, so being prepared for what’s to come, and knowing how to move efficiently across the boulder fields, is really useful.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
1) Plenty of hill training: being able to move efficiently up the hills, and not haven them destroy your legs, will help you get to the end.
2) Being used to using poor weather kit and waterproofs: it’s quite likely that you will need them! Too many people DNF’d because of weather-related issues.
13 Valleys course map and elevation chart.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Nothing beats being able to recce the route ahead of race day. While the course profile is hard, it’s as much the terrain that makes this race difficult: bog, boulders, and large rocks make up a lot of the paths, which just makes progress super slow.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
One of the major draws of the lakes is the stunning scenery! And when it wasn’t dark, it was simply awe inspiring.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
With a completion rate of around 40%, this is very much so a difficult race! The high attrition rate has been consistent, even after increasing the numbers in the race. This year, 240 registered, 195 started, and only 78 finished. The course is as beautiful as it is brutal.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Despite this only being the third year of the 13 Valleys race, it is already top notch in terms of organization and feel. Everything form the event village to the aid stations is dialed.
David Taylor smiling through the incredibly challenging 13 Valleys ultra.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
It’s tough to say as there weren’t any ‘big’ names, but some of the best have ran this in the past and, as the event grows, I’m sure more will be attracted to it.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
No, at the moment it is first come first served, with entries for the following year open before the race starts at special, super early bird prices as well.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There are 12 aid stations along the course, that have a mix of basic and enhanced fare. The “menus” are available pre-race to allow people to plan and test out the on-course options ahead of time. The longest gap between aid stations was a half marathon, so they were well spaced out. The volunteers were all excellent.
David Taylor braving a rain storm mid-race.
Weather and typical race conditions
13 Valleys takes places at the end of summer in the Lake District, so expect variable weather and race conditions. During my race, it was around 10oC to start, going down to around 1-2oC at tops of the climbs. There was heavy rain and gusts on the first night – some of the paths were in effect turned into rivers. It rained for half the night, 5 or 6 hours, and then brightened up during the day. It was very cold during the second night, probably just above freezing, especially with wind chill (and fatigue).
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
There is a fairly large kit list which you can see online here. I ended up using a 20L pack – the normal 12L one that I use was just too tight. A 20L pack has enough room for you to get things in and out without too much of a squeeze.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
There are certain parts where spectators are allowed. This is clear in the instructions, but crewing isn’t allowed for the 13 Valleys to try and prevent too much erosion on the paths
How’s the Swag?
Fairly basic. Runners get a slate medal that doubles as a coaster and a patch, but I would’ve liked an event t-shirt. There’s plenty of merch available to buy in the event village.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
If you are up for a VERY tough challenge then a good, solid 9/10 from me. There are other versions of the race: 7 Valleys (110K), 5 Valleys (58K), and 2 Valleys (21K) that could be better options to get a feel for this event.
David Taylor is a coach with Team RunRun based in Glasgow, UK. He specializes in trails and ultras for both beginner and intermediate runners, whether you’re just bumping up in distance or looking to improve your next trail race.
TRR Coach Jennifer Kozak running the Golden Ultra 60K race. PC: Jonathan McLeod
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The Golden Ultra is a three-day stage race or a one-day ultra running race in Golden, BC, Canada. I chose the one-day, 60K ultra option.
1. Volunteers/Aid stations: This was by far the highlight of the race for me! The aid station volunteers went so above and beyond, it felt like I had crew! I would arrive, and immediately one person was helping me find my drop bag, while two other people were filling my bottles, and a fourth was holding my poles. They put ice in my hat, dumped water down my back, offered me tater tots, bacon, and quesadillas, all while telling me how good I looked, ha! As we approached the summit for the day, we were greeted with a team of dancing men dressed as fairies encouraging us up to the top. All of these amazing people meant I had a smile on my face for most of the day.
2. Flagging: The course was very well marked for the day. The few instances where I was worried that I had taken a wrong turn, I simply had to wait one minute, and the next flag would appear. Any turn was either manned or flagged so well that you knew exactly where to go. Despite some hesitancy that I missed something when I ultimately would zone out for a while, not a single turn was missed.
3. Course: The mountainous course is beautiful and challenging, and you get a little bit of everything: flowy single track through the forest, a technical, steep ridge climb to the top of the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Gondola, and some quad busting descents.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
1. Timing: From a participant perspective, it seemed like something went awry with the timing. When crossing the finish line, the zone4.ca updated your time automatically based on the chip you are wearing. Then, later in the day, all of the times had between 45 seconds to a couple minutes added to them. We were informed that this was an adjustment for gun time. This would seem fine, except for the fact that even with video evidence of crossing under the timing clock at a certain time, it was still off by nearly a minute. While it might not seem like a big deal, as it did not affect placements, for those of us who were aiming for a certain time and thrilled to squeak in just under, it was frustrating to not have that time be ‘official’. Why did we wear those bulky chips around our ankles then?!
2. Medal mishaps: They forgot to hand out medals for the 60K/30K racers. Oops! They have offered to mail them out though if we want it!
3. No watermelon? All I wanted was watermelon at the aid stations!
4. Drop bags: They only had drop bags available at one aid station (though runners visited it twice), which was at 7.5 miles (11 km) and 29 miles (47 km) into the race. I did utilize it, but it seemed too early/late in the race to need much. I would have preferred one 21 miles (34 km) into the race, at Aid Station 3, especially if I had no crew/supporters on course to help bring things.
Golden Ultra 60K Stage 2 course profile.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Overall pacing: The Golden Ultra 60K was my first ultra, so I wasn’t too sure how exactly to pace for a longer race. In hindsight, I feel like I did go out a bit hot, but felt soooo so good up until the last 12k, when the temps hit 27oC (81oF) and the quads had had enough.
Fueling: I am very happy with how fueling went for the most part. I had practiced hard for this, and it paid off!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Bring a headlamp! The 6 am start isn’t too early, but it is dark at this time of year until around 7 am. You’ll need a headlamp to feel confident on the forest trails. The headlamp can be dropped at the first aid station if you’ve got a drop bag there.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
If I could go back and do it again, I would have slowed down for the first 6 miles. That said, it is very challenging to be on single track, with a group of people behind you, and not push a little more than you intend.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
I think the most challenging part of the Golden Ultra 60K course is the final 12 km (6-7 miles). There are lots of little punchy climbs and descents that feel so challenging after pushing on the main climb/descent earlier on in the race. If you can manage your effort, or build your durability to withstand the last 12 km, you’ll be golden (I had to)!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Beautiful! Unfortunately, some wild fire smoke had entered the area for the weekend. That said, it wasn’t too bad as we ascended into the alpine, and it gave the mountains a very moody feel (see picture below). The smoke cleared later in the day, and we were treated to some epic views at the top of the gondola. Running through the lower trails was also really enjoyable.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes! The Golden Ultra 60K is ~59 km with 2500 m (or around 8200 feet) of vertical gain. The course progresses from rolling trails into one giant climb, followed by one giant descent, and then more rolling trails to the finish. There are a few sections that also require careful footing, such as the approach the aid station at the top of the gondola, and when descending the first section of the ski resort.
Jennifer Kozak descending a steep climb during the Golden Ultra 60K. PC: Jonathan McLeod
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Everything (aside from the timing) seemed like a well-oiled machine. Package pick up/drop bag drop off was super smooth. Helpfully, race information was shared quite a few times leading up to the race via email or on the Golden Ultra Facebook forum. As mentioned above, the aid stations were incredible.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes, there are some very strong runners in this race! People travel from all over to attend, but you’ll find the majority from in and around BC/Alberta.
A moody, early morning shot of the major course climbs. PC: Jonathan McLeod
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
They usually have tiered pricing for the Golden Ultra event, so, if you are the first to register, you’ll get a cheaper price than if you book a month after registration opens. Because of this, they had a lot of traffic the first day of registration and it caused a few glitches. They worked hard to remedy this, and fixed any issues people had with their registration. The race itself did not seem to sell out though until a month or two before the actual race start. Accommodation was trickier as the town is quite small. If you stay at the resort (where a lot of the vacation rentals are), be prepared to be trained getting to the start line!
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
As mentioned above, these were the best aid stations! This was more so for the people than the food itself (which I barely ate any of). They had Xact Bars as their sponsored nutrition and F2C as their electrolyte. I knew neither of these would work for me, so I didn’t partake. And despite their lack of watermelon, they had seemingly everything else: oranges, grapes, cookies, candy, chips, pretzels, tater tots, bacon, quesadillas, and more.
Weather and typical race conditions
Last year, the weather was colder and quite socked in (perfect running temps)! This year, it was hot with a bit of smoke in the air. With it being a higher alpine environment, the weather can change very quickly: expect every type of weather from blazing sun to snow.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Jennifer Kozak finishing her first ultramarathon. PC: Jonathan McLeod
They have a required gear list for the Golden Ultra 60K: jacket, gloves, toque/beanie, and emergency blanket. Bear spray is optional. Personally, I liked having poles for the major climb and tucked them away for the rest of the race after that. While it’s not on the required list, a headlamp is 100% needed for the first hour or so.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes, there are quite a few spots to view. The first spot would be at the first aid station (I believe you can walk/drive in). The most popular spot would be at the top of the gondola. Spectators would need to buy a sightseeing gondola pass for the day from the resort, and make it up there to see your runner (and the views)! I was able to see my family at the top of the gondola (where they provided aid), at the bottom of the long descent down the ski hill, and again at the finish line.
How’s the Swag?
I loved it! Runners received a T-shirt (non-technical) and a metal cup branded with Golden Ultra at check in. Before the race start, the race director was handing out collapsible cups for use at aid stations during the race (which is great because I had forgotten mine). At the finish, a hard-earned medal (pending…see above) and pint glass await.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4.5/5! I loved the Golden Ultra 60K and would 100% run it again! My little annoyances of the race pale in comparison to the overall event and weekend, which was nothing but enjoyable. I would highly recommend any runner coming to BC to try one of these events!
Jennifer Kozak is a coach with Team RunRun who knows how to balance training with family, on both the roads and the trails. Jenn works with athlete of all abilities, from those dipping their toes in trail races or tackling new goals on the roads, from the 5k up to the marathon.
I liked that the Grindstone 100 is mostly on single track trails. Also, the 6pm start means everyone has to run through at least one full night, and this adds another challenge to the race.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The downside to all the single track was that some parts were pretty overgrown, making it harder to stay on pace.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
The final miles are very smooth and runnable – a nice “treat” after 90+ miles of technical single track! It felt very good to drop the pace and finish the race strong. (Certainly not something you feel at the end of most 100 milers!)
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Above all, take the climbs easy! They are gnarly and long, so you need to measure your energy and effort appropriately.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The lollipop section (miles 53-66) of the Grindstone 100 course is very gnarly and tough to get through. Oh, and it’s 105.1 miles, not 100.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes! The course is mostly on single track trails, providing continuous variety that keeps you motivated. And the upside to the gnarly climbs are the beautiful views you’re treated to at the top.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes, undoubtedly so!!! Those climbs are tough, and the technical terrain makes it even harder! Plus, you gain 21,000 feet over the 105-mile course! Grindstone 100 is one of the most difficult 100-mile races in the US.
Grindstone 100 elevation map with aid stations and time cutoffs labelled.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Yes! It’s a UTMB race, so it’s very well organized.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes! Again, with it being a UTMB race, it will always attract a strong field of athletes trying to qualify for the UTMB finals in France.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
No major logistical hurdles, simply go to the website and sign up!
Lukas and his pacer at the finish line.
Note UTMB’s trail stewardship policy: all the Grindstone 100 racers are required to complete 8 hours of trail work prior to race day, which they submit via a Trail Work Form.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There are 15 aid stations throughout the Grindstone 100, 1 about every 6-8 miles, and you can have crew and/or drop bags at 5 of them. The offerings are standard, and Naak is the on-course nutrition and hydration brand. That said, the North River Gap aid station (which is also a crewable aid station) was the best, thanks to the variety of food options available!
Weather and typical race conditions
It was pretty hot and humid on race day this year! Therefore, I’d recommend asking your crew to have ice available at aid stations to stay cool.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
There is a mandatory gear list but, as far as UTMB races are concerned, it doesn’t list anything you shouldn’t already think to carry.
My #1 recommendation is poles! Bring poles, you won’t regret it!!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
There are a good number of crewed aid stations, meaning crew, friends, and spectators can see and support the runners more often than in a lot of 100-milers. However, trail ultramarathons are never the most spectator-friendly! There is a whole festival setup at the finish line area, perfect for spectators to await finishers.
How’s the Swag?
You get a nice 100-mile finishers belt buckle, race t-shirt, and picture from the park!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5/5! I would recommend the Grindstone 100 to anyone looking to gain some milestones for UTMB who likes technical and gnarly races.
Lukas Burrer is a coach with Team RunRun originally from Germany, but now based in Atlanta, Georgia. He specializes in trail and ultrarunning, and loves helping athletes take on big challenges!
I just love the racing environment of UTMB. They organize it so well, the energy is amazing, and the setting is absolutely epic. I have run this race three times, and I want to keep coming back!!
I also love that after having been in the trail running community for so many years, I can go to this race and see so many people I know from all around the world!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The start. I’m just outside of the “elite” category so I don’t get a spot near the front of the race. Two years ago when I raced, I got there more than an hour before the start and sat out in the sun waiting. This year, I got there 30 minutes before and was in the middle of the crowd. It took me 2 minutes to push/get pushed to the start line, and then we walked out of town. I wasn’t feeling super competitive this year, but walking slowly amid tons of runners with selfie-sticks, rather than running this nice flat part of the course was frustrating. I think they need to have corrals based on bib numbers (which are based on UTMB Index ranking).
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
I’m still a bit in awe at all the deli meat and cheese available at the aid stations. They don’t have gels, and the overall food selection is noticeably different from US ultras. I basically lived on Naak waffles and Naak sports drink for 30 hours!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Matt at the finish line of UTMB, greeted by TRR athlete and star crew, Jose Medina!
I got out of trouble. I made a really big error on the climb to Col du Bonhomme: I didn’t layer up for the weather. It was raining, and I had on my rain jacket and rain mitts, but I didn’t put on more layers. By the time it was windy and snowing up high (at 2am!), and I knew I needed to get warm fast, my hands were too cold to function. I couldn’t get my vest off, let alone get it open, in order to get more warm layers out. Thankfully, they had a warming hut open at the top. It looked brutal in there with people shivering, crying, and just in total disarray – I was one of them, shaking violently for 30+ minutes.
I am proud that I eventually regrouped, got warm enough, got my gear on properly, and carried on to finish the race. But there was a brief period before that warming hut (which I didn’t know would be open to us!) where I was scared for my life, more than any other running event I’ve ever been in. But I got out of trouble and UTMB!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Get good at downhill running. There is so much downhill! Get good at running fast on steep long descents. That is a huge advantage.
Be fit. The stronger a runner you are, the better you’ll do on the climbs and the various runnable sections.
Know your gear. There’s a big required gear list, and while you might think it’s overkill, I needed all (well, almost all!) of it this year. Practice with it, know where it is in your pack, and be quick to use it! In training, simply practicing running with the weight of it all will be a big benefit, even if you never need to get into it!
Relax and smile. It’s a really long race, and it’s really easy to get caught up early in the competition. Slap hands in St. Gervais and Les Contamines, soak in that crazy tunnel of people at the start of the big Col du Bonhomme climb. And then stay focused: it’s a long, long race!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
In future, I’ll be way quicker to get my cold gear on at any race where it might be getting cold!
It’s way more fun to be fit! I didn’t train well for UTMB this year. I was able to get by with good power hiking on the long climbs, and good descending skills. But it’s just a better race when you’re well prepared.
UTMB 108.1-mile race course map.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The last big section from Col des Montets to La Flégère is tough! You’re met with steep, big rocks, an up-and-down and then another long up, before you finally get to the last big up, which is a ski slope. It’s plain tough at this point in the race, so be ready for it!
Also, to me, that climb out of Trient is just a beast! So steep for so long!
Lastly, the rocky climb once you’re out of Champex-Lac is a pain. There are so many big rocks that it’s tough to find a rhythm (plus, I had my own special suffering going on through that section which didn’t help!).
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
UTMB is one of the prettiest courses I know of. I just LOVE racing in Chamonix!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes! With a 46.5-hour cutoff to cover 108 miles and over 32,000 feet of vert, it’s an awesomely difficult race!
UTMB elevation chart with the main climbs labelled.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
YES! The best in the world. While the buses and the start still need work, UTMB is the best run race out there.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
YES! Again, the best!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Matt meeting his crew at an aid station to refuel during UTMB.
Know the game with the UTMB stones and the qualifying system. It’s not that tough to get into (as of 2025) – certainly not as hard as some people make it out to be! I got in with 4 stones via the lottery in my first attempt.
Lodging is expensive in Chamonix now. Be ready to pay up. But it’s such a great town and we love visiting each year!
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
If you like Euro-style aid stations, you’re good to go. Meat, cheese, bread… But for me (vegan), there isn’t much. I had gels ready at the 5 crew stops, along with Skratch carbohydrate and electrolyte drink. Otherwise, I relied on Naak waffles (cut into 1/4s – I grabbed 4-6 of them each at aid station) and Naak sports drink. I picked up some veggie broth a couple times too, but it was so hot that it took forever to drink, so I didn’t stick with that.
The hype and energy of the aid stations is awesome though!
Be warned: Les Contamines’ aid station is an absolute shit show! It’s so busy and so crazy with people because the race hasn’t spread out yet. It’s hard to find your crew, and they won’t even be allowed into the tent area until they know you’re close. Be ready for chaos there!
Weather and typical race conditions
It can be hot, it can snow, it can be everything in between. They have a hot weather required kit and a cold weather one – I’ve had both activated during my 3 times running this race. Be ready for anything!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
There is a HUGE required gear list for UTMB. I know it’s expensive, but it’s worth spending time and money to get high quality stuff. Once you have the good gear, make sure you know how to use it! Practice running with the gear in training too. Take the required gear list seriously: they do check it at couple aid stations throughout the race. This year, I had to show my 3 upper layers (cold weather year) and my emergency blanket.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes and no. There are tons of spectators on course and it’s awesome! But it’s tough to get around as a spectator. All crew and spectators had to buy bus passes by early July this year (I didn’t do that!). Fortunately, I was able to secure passes for my crew in the final days before the race, but only for them, no one else. It’s a bit pricey for bus passes too, but my crew had a blast with it all. Summary: there are tons of people on course, but it’s also tough to get around, so plan ahead.
Runners on course during UTMB. PC: Pascal Tournaire/UTMB
How’s the Swag?
It’s lean: finisher vest only, no medals. People come for the race, not the swag. The t-shirt was sized large this year. The men’s small was too big for me. 🙁
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10 out of 10! I love UTMB, and I will want to do it again (even though I said – multiple times – I was done with ultras mid-race!)!!
Matt Urbanski is the founder of Team RunRun, as well as a coach. He enjoys coaching self-motivated runners to optimize training time, push limits, transition to ultras, podium, BQ, and other big challenges!
This year, Team RunRunner Jason completed his epic goal of running the Hood to Coast Relay in 34 hours! As a part of a small team, Jason ran a total of 9 legs and 50 miles over the two day event. The 2025 Hood to Coast will be remembered for being the hottest edition to date being the hottest one to date, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Following the event, he wrote up this wonderful race recap, and shared this: “There’s no way I would have been able to do this, and recover as quickly as I did, without the gradual build up in mileage that TRR Coach Brian Comer has had me doing in preparation for a sub 3-hour marathon. At over 50 years old, I have more endurance now than ever before in my life!”
On the Springwater Trail
I heard a pop, almost like a whistle, before my right foot felt like it was getting pricked every time I ran a step. For sure, I thought I had stepped on a nail. I kept on running anyway, which didn’t work; the nail kept pricking at my foot. I knew I’d have to stop. Sort this out. The problem was that I was running the Hood to Coast Relay and the temperature in Happy Valley, Oregon, was over 100 degrees. I was on the Springwater Corridor, a remote section of the blackest asphalt, and it felt like running on the sun. The last thing I wanted to do was stop and prolong this experience–with no shade. No access for cars. My team couldn’t help. And I was all out of water.
Jason finishing one of his Hood to Coast Relay legs.
Oh, and I had about 44 miles to go in the next few days–because I was running the “The Mother of All Relays” in a team of only three people. I had just run Leg 9 and was now three miles or so into Leg 10, which was essentially the start of the relay for me.
Back to reality…
I already felt laid out.
So I sat down beside the trail, on the dead dry grass, and took off my shoe. I inspected the bottom. It wasn’t a nail. It was a stout little wooden sliver, almost an inch long. No blood. It didn’t pierce my skin, which was nice. Except I couldn’t quite pinch it out of the bottom of my shoe with my finger nails, either. This was a big problem. I tried to bite it out with my teeth, before I realized how this looks to other runners: some shirtless, half-naked man with his short-shorts on, eating his own shoe. They’d think the heat really got to me.
Eventually, after about 20 minutes of fiddling with it, I slowly but surely pushed and wiggled the sliver out. When I stood back up, I almost passed out. I now had 3 miles to go to the next exchange, if I didn’t die.
Heat exhaustion (if not death) was a real concern.
This is certainly an issue when the ambient temperature is over 100 degrees and you are running on asphalt, which absorbs the heat and cooks your feet and body from below. Even my water bottle ended up scalding to my own touch. I could tell how close I was getting to the next exchange from the ambulance sirens getting louder and louder.
Our Hood to Coast (H2C) Team: The Running Yeti Its
H2C teams have a long tradition of creative names and we were the “Running Yeti Its.” I was the main Yeti It (which sounds like “idiot”) because I had decided to run nine legs in what turned out to be the hottest Hood to Coast since the race’s inception in 1982.
Normally, runners ran three legs each for a total of 14-17 miles each over two days, Friday and Saturday. This time, I didn’t want to spend so much time in a van. Since the only other option was running, and someone had dropped out with a broken toe, I was “runners” 4 in Van One, as well as 9 and 10 in Van Two, for a total of close to 50 miles. This meant that I would transfer vans at each major exchange, leaving very little time for sleep. I thought this would be fun and exciting, and it was–until the sun fully came out and I was marooned on the hot asphalt trail eating my own shoe.
We had eight people on our team for a relay that took us 196 miles from almost the top of Mount Hood to the city of Seaside, Oregon. See the picture to the right for us in front of our Air Dancer Yeti It mascot before the event.
From left to right in the picture:
Casey “Who’s Going to Carry the Boats” Carroll
Jessica Bailey, our superstar HR event organizer and Team Captain, my sister, and pregnant but doing this anyway
Aaron Schoknecht, Jessie’s husband, who was tall enough to be an alt Yeti It mascot by throwing up his hands at exchanges so we could always find our people
Jason Hagen (me)
Stephanie Hagen, my other sister and Van Two “mom” with 25 years of experience as an EMT, which made us feel safer
Adria Biasi, our physical therapist who kept Jessica and I running, overcoming niggles and injuries. We couldn’t have done this without her. And her ultramarathon friends (and our new friends) from Seattle:
Jocelyn O’Donnell who had run 80 miles to be the overall winner of the One Step Closer 18 hour ultra in Seattle, WA, the weekend before H2C and had the severe blisters to prove it
Walter Hicks, finisher of the Cascade Crest 100
In the above picture, on my red tank top, it said:
Let’s Wake Up Really Early and Run Super Far.– Psychopaths
Luckily, we could get away with 8 people instead of the recommended 12 because we had three people running 6 legs or more: Adria, Jocelyn, Walter and I (Jason). The four of us made up Van One, while myself and Adria ran in both Van One and Van Two.
Our Hood to Coast Relay team plan, with boxes and the check marks for completed legs.
Running Yeti Its’ Team Strategy
My family has been doing H2C yearly since 2023, and I had run as two people the year before. This time, I wanted to bridge the vans as a runner in both Van One and Van Two. Adria was willing to try this as well. Jocelyn and Walter represented two runners (six legs each) and remained in Van One with us.
Two things changed the game this year when bridging vans: basically no sleep, and then the heat. When you bridge vans, you do not have much time to sleep because you are always just finished running or preparing to run again throughout the day and night. With the heat, you need to slow down to avoid heat exhaustion. This makes pacing, hydration, and calories key to feeling okay (or maybe just blazay) throughout the relay.
Running Multiple Hood to Coast Relay Legs: My Pacing Plan
For pacing, I tried to keep my heart rate below 130 bpm as a general guideline. A simple rule of thumb for estimating your maximum heart rate is to subtract your age from 220. As a 50-year-old man, my estimated max would be roughly 170 beats per minute. I wanted to remain at a solid “zone 1” or “zone 2” pace, staying well below my max effort.
After I was through Friday’s heat wave, however, I had discussed with my awesome Team RunRun Coach, Brian Comer, how it would be all right to pick up the pace on Saturday. So, on Saturday night at around 2am, on some nice downhills with my heart rate hovering around 120 bpm at a pace of around 9-9:30 minutes per mile with a cool breeze, I decided to “send it,” to speed up, to get up and GO–but I didn’t. Physically, I couldn’t. This was odd. My brain and legs struggled to understand each other.
My Brain: Let’s go! Let’s do this. Come on!
My Legs: Go to hell.
My Brain: There’s plenty of bpm room here to speed up and Brian said I could.
My Legs: No. You don’t know me. I know me.
My Brain: Come on, you pussies!
My Legs: You need to run H2C again in a matter of hours, another 16 miles, you idiot.
My Brain: Oh, yeah.
My Legs: Dude. Stop reasoning. I got this.
Fueling The Hood to Coast Relay
I ate like a toddler or an elderly man on hospice (pick your analogy on either side of that spectrum). Immediately after each run, I drank an Ensure Plus for 350 calories after each run. This was usually followed up with grapes, bananas, Pedialyte, and a lot of water, constantly sipping. I still ended up dehydrated.
Solid foods were minimal, mostly consisting of what I called “Yeti It Pizza”: peanut butter, banana slices, and crushed M&Ms sandwiched inside of two tortillas, cut like pizza. The only ‘super solid food’ I ate were bagels with cream cheese that Adria thankfully made for me. While I had to keep the solid food light to keep my stomach in check, I knew the importance of fueling. In order to consume adequate carbohydrates and protein, I set nutrition targets for every hour or two. For protein, I targeted 20-30 grams every two hours. Ultimately, this proved challenging when combined with constantly drinking water and getting in enough total calories
For fueling while running, on shorter legs, I downed a GU, or the equivalent gel, for about 100 calories every 20 minutes. On my longer legs (or when stacking two relay legs back-to-back), I carried a bottle of ice cold Pedialyte and targeted 100 calories every mile, via either GU or Clif Bloks. Additionally, I would meet my team at the exchanges midway throughout the legs for refills of water or Pedialyte.
Back on the Springwater Trail…
When I finally stood up, having removed the splinter from my shoe, fought off the strong inclination to pass out from the sudden head rush of hot blood, I stumbled into a slow jog. I looked off into the distance and saw that most of the runners had been reduced to a slow walk. I could hear ambulance sirens popping off all over Gresham or Sandy or wherever the hell I was.
I reminded myself that my sisters and friends were waiting for me with a cold wash rag, hugs, and congratulations–if I could just make it through this leg without hurting myself. So I played it safe. When my heart rate hit 150 bpm or above, I walked. This happened about every 0.10 miles. I would walk for a minute to lower my bpm to about 130 (which was, alarmingly, as low as it would go) before plodding along again.
1 Mile to Go!
Finally, with about a mile to go, I witnessed a reprieve in the form of a volunteer or some guardian angel neighbor with a water station, handing out cold water bottles–and hoped this wasn’t a mirage. The station saved some lives out there, I’m sure of it. I took three bottles. I downed one on the spot, used another to refill my own water bottle, and used one more to cool off my head and lower my core body temperature.
This enabled me to finish the leg and hand off to our epic family physical therapist, Adria. She proceeded to throw down an unbelievable pace to the next major exchange. Despite her Camelbak vest not working for the water and having only a hand-held bottle, she steamrolled all the way to OMSI and beyond, down the waterfront and through the city of Portland. By her own normal standards, she paced it easy and played it safe, but we’ve never seen anything like it. Although she felt like a “beotchy” hot mess by the end, she was in good form in no time, if only a little more stiff for the rest of the relay.
Our entire team completed all of our legs safely and without incident in a year when many teams ended up not finishing legs due to the heat. Additionally, many teams were asked to skip legs in order to finish on time. So, we’re pretty proud of our little family of Yeti Its.
Team Running Yeti Its at the finish of the Hood to Coast Relay.
Finishing the 2025 Hood to Coast Relay
We finished in 34 hours. Our Team Captain, Jessica, led us through the finish line where we could finally grab our medals, go home, eat cheeseburgers or pizza or whatever we wanted, and finally take some showers!
And then, of course, there was a wonderful welcome waiting for us at our family beach house. See the picture to the left for proof!
For a thoughtful, more detailed write-up of Dandelion’s Hardrock 100 Mile race experience, from start to finish, check out “Hardrock 100: TRR Coach Dandelion’s Race Rundown“. You’ll read how her mental and physical strength allowed her to endure a myriad of challenges and still finish smiling!
TRR Coach Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott finishing the Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run. PC: Andrew Podbielski
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Extreme mountain environment: With a high point of 14,048 feet and an average elevation of 11,000 feet, the Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run course is the definition of a high alpine setting. As an athlete who lives in the Wyoming Rockies and trains high, I am fascinated by altitude. I am also highly drawn to races with rough and rugged terrain. One of my favorite puzzles to solve is how to adapt and move with these kinds of mountain environments.
The lure: There is something captivating and pleasantly intimidating about running a race that less than 2,000 people have completed in its 30 runnings!
Handies Peak: Ascending to the summit of a 14’er (a mountain with a peak above 14,000-foot) in the middle of a 100-mile race is so uniquely special!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Nothing!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Kissing “the rock” at the finish is likely the most delightfully weird quirk of Hardrock! Another unique factor is that the race alternates between going clockwise and counter-clockwise each year. You’re not a “True Hardrocker” unless you have gone both directions.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
One of the biggest highlights of Hardrock for me was how strong and smooth the first half felt. I was hitting my paces, my fueling was spot on, and I was genuinely enjoying myself out there. Climbing Handies Peak with a couple of other runners was probably my favorite moment—we worked together really well, and being on top of a 14er mid-race with that view was just unforgettable.
Dandelion kissing the infamous rock at the finish line. PC: Travis McWhorter
What made this race extra special, though, was how much I actually took it in. Usually in races I’m so focused on execution that I barely notice what’s around me. But during Hardrock, I made sure to stop for a second here and there to really appreciate the San Juans—the wildflowers, the ridgelines, the stillness. It felt like I was part of something much bigger.
I also feel proud of how I handled the second half when things got rough. My nutrition fell apart, and the heat and altitude started hitting hard. I had a moment where I broke down crying, but I didn’t let it derail me. My pacers were incredible, and once I got it out of my system, I reset, dug deep, and just kept going. That emotional turnaround—choosing to keep moving forward when it got really hard—is something I’ll carry with me for a long time.
More than anything, I loved the connection I felt: with the mountains, my crew, and even with myself. It was one of those experiences that shifts something inside you.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Don’t think of each alpine running variable individually (exposure, weather, intensity, attitude, technical terrain, etc.). Instead consider how they might compound. For example, I live at altitude and sleep in an altitude tent, but I still struggled at elevation later in the event because of how the elements combined.
I also recommend working with a team of professionals while training for a rare opportunity event like the Hardrock 100 Mile. I believe that having a coach, in addition to a running specific physical therapist and sports chiropractor, allowed me to stay healthy and endure the massive training load this event required.
Finally, if you are running supported, choose crew and pacers you can 10,000% trust with the right mix of personalities. After I gave my team a pre-race orientation, I never thought about it again. I knew with absolutely certainly that they would carry out my plan and also make the appropriate changes when necessary. You don’t want to wonder if your team will have the right drink mixed for you upon your arrival while you’re climbing Handies!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Be prepared to troubleshoot things that have never happened to you before. I never get GI distress… and yet I did big time at Hardrock!
Hardrock 100 course map.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
A lot of focus is on the 33,000ft of uphill…. but you also have to descend the same amount! Practice your downhill technique and train for the eccentric loading.
Views of the beautiful Hardrock 100 Mile course.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Imagine rugged, snowcapped mountains towering into the sky. Majestic sunsets/rises. Unique and colorful geology. Florescent wildflower meadows. Cascading waterfalls. Shimmering alpine lakes… yep it was pretty!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
YES! It was indeed both wild and tough, in addition to being hard and rocky! The terrain, exposure, elements, steep grades, and vert/descent are all huge undertakings on their own! It’s not the individual difficulties, but how they compound throughout 100 miles.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run is a tremendously well-oiled machine! The care and attention to detail to ensure this event is a unique and remarkable experience for every runner present was unmatched. The check in process was seamless. Trail marking was exceptional. And, most of all, the volunteers at every aid station were knowledgeable, full of energy, and went above and beyond the call of duty. One thing that stands out is when I arrived at Sherman, I was directed to a volunteer who already had my drop bag items laid out on a table. She then proceeded to take care of anything I needed. My own personal volunteer! I’ve never encountered anything like it before. Mind blowing!
Competition – Is there a strong field?
YES! One of the strongest fields I have ever had the pleasure to race with!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
The Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run is a lottery race and you must run a qualifying race every 2 years to be considered. I was lucky enough to get into the race after only 2 years of applying, but there are folks who wait 10+ years! The process is nuanced, and more in-depth information can be found here.
Dandelion pre-race holding her Hardrock 100 bib. PC: Travis McWhorter
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
The aid stations have the standard fare like PB&J, quesadillas, fruit, chips, cookies, broth, candy, etc. This year, engineered nutrition/hydration was provided by Tailwind and Maurten. Most aid stations also have a “special offering” that is unique to them: pizza, homemade rice krispies, perogies, etc.
Weather and typical race conditions
This is the San Juans! Anything and everything can happen. This year, there was smoke during the beginning of the race that cleared. Then it was hot during the day (70-85F) and mildly chilly at night (40-50F), which was unusual. Most years see some kind of electric event along with rain, hail or snow …or all of it! It is also common to experience very hot days followed by nights below freezing.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Poles and backup poles. I would not want to do this race without them! Extra electrolytes come to mind as well, because at altitude you need so much more! Also, sun protection, rain and cold weather gear.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
The course passes though the towns of Silverton, Ouray and Telluride which are all very accessible for spectators. Other aid stations require a 4×4 or ATV.
How’s the Swag?
So much swag! I left check in with three shirts! Additionally, there were tables filled with items for purchase. And, of course, there’s the awesome Hardrock 100 Mile finishers’ buckle!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10,000 out of 10! This race is custom made for high alpine mountain runners who want to challenge themselves like never before and witness surreal beauty.
Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott is a multisport outdoor athlete, ultra-runner and certified coach. She is passionate about collaborating with driven athletes who love to explore, train and play outside.
Team RunRun Coach Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott finished the 2025 Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run in 47 hours, 3 minutes, and 41 seconds, less than 1 hour under the 48-hour time limit. Far from the 33-hour finish she’d trained for, Dandelion’s mental and physical strength allowed her to endure a myriad of challenges and still finish smiling. Alongside her traditional race recap, which can be found here, Dandelion details her race experience beautifully below.
“It Was The Best of Times; It Was The Worst of Times”
Dandelion at the finish of the Hardrock 100. PC: Andrew Podbielski.
The quote from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities perfectly sums up my Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run experience: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” But let’s start from the beginning.
Lottery Luck: I’m Racing the Hardrock 100!
On December 1, 2024, I returned from a long desert run to a flood of congratulatory texts. I couldn’t fathom what I’d done to earn so much praise—until I opened my inbox and saw the UltraSignUp receipt. Against all odds, I’d gotten into the Hardrock 100 with only two tickets! In an instant, my 2025 plans were rearranged, and training for high-level mountain running became my mission. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the preparation involved copious amounts of blood, sweat and tears! The volume of running, hiking, strength work, vert, cross-training, and corrective exercises was massive. Countless talks with my coach, visits to my chiropractor, and physical therapy sessions kept me on track and my body tuned for the intense workload. And then, abruptly, it was time to taper.
The Final Countdown
By the time I arrived in Silverton, Colorado, I felt like a caged tiger—I just wanted to GO! Thankfully, my team kept me in check: easy shakeout run, race check-in, gear review, nutrition planning, crew meeting, bedtime.
Surprisingly, I slept well the night before the race. There was a palpable sense of calm and tranquility. I trusted my crew, my training, and my experience with the distance. Yet I also recognized I was stepping into the great unknown—part of what made it so exhilarating—and I deeply respected the course. I felt confident I had done everything I could to prepare. Now it was time to execute the plan, adapt to the inevitable problems, and see what unfolded.
Dandelion pre-race holding her Hardrock 100 bib with her pacers. PC: Travis McWhorter
I trained not just to finish but to perform. I wasn’t under any illusion I’d outrun the elite-level runners on the start list, but if everything went well, I believed I could finish in 33–35 hours. On race morning, Dale Garland called us to the corral, and I found myself lining up right next to legends Katie Schide and Zach Miller, two of the best runners in the world. It was surreal! The countdown began—and we were off, galloping down the road toward the mountains.
And We’re Off on the Hardrock 100!
As expected, everyone shot out hot. We were running Hardrock! I settled into my pacing strategy as the wide streets of Silverton gave way to trails, letting the field spread out. This was not the time to race—this was time to chase, savor the moment, and practice restraint. Meanwhile, smoke from wildfires drifted in overnight, and the air smelled of ash. Thankfully, as we climbed higher, the smoke thinned and finally disappeared, revealing astoundingly beautiful 360-degree views.
At the Cunningham Aid Station, my husband met me and guided me to Luke and Andrew. Vest swap. Food. Protein shake. NASCAR pit crew style—I was out of there. I wouldn’t see my team again for about 50K. (You can better understand the names and layout along the course of the aid stations here.)
50 Miles to Remember (Positively)
Running ultras without crew support is my norm, so the solo 50K felt comfortable. The section to Burrows Aid Station included steep climbs and the most “rolly” terrain of the course. I trotted along, cooling off in creeks and snow patches as midday heat rose, bouncing in and out of a bubble of runners. Sometimes we chatted, other times we ran in shared silence, awestruck by vast wildflower meadows and stunning vistas. In most races, I barely notice scenery, absorbed in execution, but here I made sure to soak in the San Juans before returning to my race strategy. My fueling, salt, and hydration were on point. Everything was going to plan, and I was having a blast playing in the mountains.
After Burrows, the main objective loomed: Handies Peak—the course’s high point at 14,048 feet. I teamed up with two athletes on the ascent, and together we made efficient work of the climb. Between the great company and tagging a 14er summit mid-race, this was easily my favorite section. Nothing compares to standing atop a 14er during Hardrock!
TRR Coach Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott enjoying the beautiful trails and scenery. PC: Travis McWhorter
Steep ascents are followed by steep descents, and this one felt endless but offered incredible scenery. At sunset, I rolled into Animas Forks Aid, reuniting with my crew. Toenail blister lanced, shoes swapped. I tried eating solid food but struggled to swallow—it all felt like sandpaper. Still, I could handle gels and liquids, so I didn’t overthink it.
Night #1: The Unravelling
Luke joined me for pacing duty, and we climbed toward Engineer Pass. Though we were moving efficiently, I observed that my breathing was getting more labored compared to earlier in the day. Then, at the next aid station, I realized solid food was no longer an option, and gels were becoming repulsive. Luke insisted on consistent gel consumption, monitoring each one to ensure I finished it. I was doing my best to keep calories coming in, but I knew I was starting to fall behind. The gorge descending into Ouray was electrifying at night! A narrow and technical trail beside a dark drop-off into nothing. Luckily, my background as an alpinist helped me feel comfortable with the mystery exposure!
Andrew took over pacing from Ouray. The climb out of town—up a dull, washboard road—was my least favorite section. Without Andrew’s engaging stories, those miles would’ve been excruciatingly monotonous. Higher up, the nearly full moon illuminated the craggy peaks, transforming the environment into something magical. By then, I couldn’t eat gels while walking anymore—the simple multitasking spiked my heart rate. Hilariously, consuming one now involved soft whimpers. Even in the moment, I saw the humor in it! Yet, despite everything, I kept drinking fluids (including liquid calories) and electrolytes never feeling dehydrated.
Hardrock Survival Tools: Consistent Training, Muscle Memory, and 5* Crew/Pacers!
Dandelion on course and still smiling during the Hardrock 100. PC: Travis McWhorter
As dawn broke, we climbed steep singletrack. Andrew watched carefully for signs of me sleepwalking off the trail. Though utterly exhausted, I stayed sure-footed. Nearing Kroger’s Canteen aid station, we climbed a 50-degree icy snow slope with a handline for good measure—like boot-packing a glacier with a full backcountry ski pack. Using the “rest step” from mountaineering, I reached Hardrock’s most remote aid station. Andrew remarked how impressed he was that my technical skills were intact after so many miles—a testament to years of ingrained muscle memory, even if I was moving slowly.
A brief stop at Kroger’s brought a few pierogis and broth—solid food was finally tolerable again! We descended into sun-drenched talus, making our way to Telluride. The sun felt revitalizing, but the night had taken a heavy toll. In Telluride, my legs were massaged, and I devoured solid calories, feeling almost normal again.
Andrew, continuing his marathon-long, 10,000 feet-vert pacing shift, set out with me for a remote 10-mile stretch. The first 1,000 feet of climbing went well, but then my body stopped responding. Whether from heat, steepness, or both, my pace collapsed. Concerned about heat illness, Andrew had me pause in the shade regularly and dunk my hat in cold streams. I continued forcing down revolting gels under Andrew’s watchful eye.
A Plan is Great… Until You Get Punched in the (Metaphorical) Face
The low calories overnight had triggered a cascade I couldn’t reverse. Hardrock is unforgiving: without sufficient calories, my body couldn’t regulate itself or cope with heat and altitude as I had the day before. Even though I live and train at altitude, slept in an altitude tent, and did a sauna protocol pre-race, the single issue of being unable to consume fuel overnight dominated. The early wildfire smoke may have also contributed, but it likely wasn’t the main issue.
Negative thoughts crept in, swirling with imposter syndrome. I knew I was slipping behind, and I questioned if I belonged here. When we paused at yet another creek, I burst into tears.
Dandelion moving through an aid station. PC: Travis McWhorter
Andrew calmly put his arm around me and asked, “Are you going to finish this?” “Yes,” I replied through tears.
And just like that, the pity party ended. I needed the emotional release, capped with self-affirmation. I started back up the hill so fast I knocked the wind out of myself—Andrew had to grab my vest to slow me down! Though I couldn’t push hard, my mood soared and determination set in.
Pacer Swap and Into Night #2
After an eternity of climbing, we reached a blustery ridge, then descended a steep talus slope. The San Juans were relentless. At Chapman aid station, I reunited with my crew and serendipitously crossed paths with Kat, a friend from Wy’east Wonder 50M. I ate, got a brief massage, and took a five-minute nap before following Luke up the next wooded trail.
At first, I felt decent, but soon a vague calf tightness escalated into searing pain. Luke, patient but firm, reminded me I had to maintain at least 2 mph on flats and descents to finish. Inside, I thought, Are you crazy? The downs are harder than the ups—and I can’t believe I’m heading into a second night! But I didn’t argue. He was right, and I willed myself to move.
Emerging from the forest, we slogged up ever-steepening talus and scree. I was zoning in and out of consciousness but recognized Grand Swamp Pass—infamously difficult and something I’d looked forward to. I broke the remaining miles into smaller goals: “Just get to the top.” Despite calf pain, I kept moving methodically, drawing on mountaineering experience.
To DNF or Not To DNF the Hardrock 100?
We topped Grand Swamp Pass at sunset, catching the course’s most iconic panorama. One landmark down, next goal: KT Aid Station. I don’t remember much of the descent. At KT, Luke asked what I wanted to do, saying he believed I could finish but would support any choice. The aid station volunteers kindly insisted I still had time. I wasn’t worried about cutoffs—I was evaluating my calf. My personal rule is never to quit because it’s hard or performance isn’t as hoped, but I won’t risk injury that sidelines me for weeks or puts me in danger.
Dandelion kissing the infamous rock at the Hardrock 100 finish line. PC: Travis McWhorter
I recalled my husband mentioning a knot during the earlier leg massage, which reassured me. “Let’s go one more mile,” I said—classic!
We got up and headed out. I knew Luke wouldn’t hesitate to be a drill sergeant, so I decided to not give him a chance to bark orders! Each step was agony and every rock I stubbed a toe on felt like a knife. I didn’t try to push the pain aside anymore. Instead, I embraced it. A mile went by… then another. My calf didn’t get worse so I settled on it being a wicked knot and kept trudging. The truth is, when I left KT Aid Station I had completely committed to making it to the finish. I just couldn’t mentally handle thinking about that monumental task yet. One mile seemed much more attainable.
The Final 5 Miles: Putnam to Kissing the [Hard]Rock!
False summits revealed more headlamps, but I accepted there’d be no reprieve until Silverton and pressed on. At the final aid station, Putnam, we quickly refilled bottles before heading into the last six miles. Normally, I follow my pacer, but in this instance, Luke stayed behind, gently herding me down the trail. Moving urgently, but knowing I’d make it within the time cutoff, we even managed some casual conversation, lightening the mood. The final miles flew by: crossing the river, traversing the hillside, climbing up the road, descending into Silverton, through the chute—and finally, I kissed the rock.
Hardrock 100 Post-Race Reflections
Did the race unfold as I’d hoped? Nope, not at all! But oddly, I’m not upset. It’s almost comical: my best 50 miles ever were in the same event as my worst 50 miles—endless comedic value! More importantly, races that don’t go to plan teach the greatest lessons. The grit, determination, and resilience I needed to finish were unmatched in any event I’ve done—including Cocodona 250. I’ll carry what I learned at Hardrock 100 into every future race and adventure. That holds far more value to me than a podium finish. Performance goals push me beyond perceived limits, but what I truly seek is self-discovery on the wilderness path of endurance—adapting and moving with the environment, building grit, remaining a student of the sport, and having a life-changing adventure. Hardrock delivered all that and more.
Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott is a multisport outdoor athlete, ultra-runner and certified coach. She is passionate about collaborating with driven athletes who love to explore, train and play outside.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Outstanding race organization
Supportive spectators and crew
Beautiful and challenging course
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The whole race is at an elevation above 10,000 feet, and this was definitely a factor. Coming from Charlotte, North Carolina (basically sea level), it took about 10–12 miles before my heart rate settled into a manageable rhythm. Even after a few training runs in Colorado in the days leading up to the Silver Rush 50, there were still moments where the thin air made it tough to breathe.
Fueling was also bit tricky (which is common at high altitude). It was warm, and I didn’t feel very hungry during the race. I relied mostly on liquid calories, which worked fine until around mile 40 when I started feeling a little lightheaded. Looking back, I would have worked on eating more solid foods earlier on to help keep things balanced.
The climbs were no joke. Some sections had over 4 miles of steady uphill grades that tested the legs. If I were to do it again, I’d target more specific training spots to better simulate those long, sustained climbs.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
The Leadville Silver Rush 50 Run kicks off at the base of a snow tubing hill in downtown Leadville. As the starting gun fires, runners begin with a steep uphill climb. One of the most exciting aspects of this race is that the first male and female to reach the top earn a coveted Leadville 100 Run lottery coin, gaining them entry into that race!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
The breathtaking views. Running through the mountains at over 10,000 feet offered some of the most stunning scenery I’ve ever experienced. The views around Leadville were truly surreal—there were moments I had to pinch myself to believe it was real. Leadville holds a special place in the ultra-running world, and I felt incredibly fortunate just to be out there running.
My crew—made up of my parents, aunt, and best friend—meant everything to me. They’re my anchor during these long endurance events, and I love sharing the energy, excitement, and sense of accomplishment with them. Being part of a community like this, with their support, is something I’ll never take for granted.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Advice from a sea-level runner:
Coming from close to sea level, my biggest piece of advice for anyone considering the Silver Rush 50 Run is to train for elevation. If possible, spend time in Colorado—or another high-elevation area—and get in a few long runs to help your body adjust. If that’s not an option, try to arrive a few days before the race to give yourself time to acclimate.
Another important tip: be mindful of your hydration and nutrition. Hyponatremia can be a real issue out there. Not taking in enough calories or overhydrating without proper electrolytes can seriously impact your race—and cost you that strong finish you’ve trained for. Be conscious of what you’re putting into your body and make a fueling plan that works for you. Always practice with your fuel before you race to ensure it sits right in your stomach!
Leadville Silver Rush 50 Run course elevation profile.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The Silver Rush 50 course features mostly rocky roads rather than single-track trails, with plenty of climbing and power hiking. I recommend training specifically for steep uphill climbs to prepare your body for this event. Prepare to be shocked by the stunning views as well!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
This course is absolutely stunning! Throughout the race, you’ll pass through historic mining areas—especially as you near the turnaround point—and be treated to breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains from nearly every angle. The course winds past several majestic 14,000-foot peaks, with vibrant wildflowers lining the trail. You’ll even cross a few small streams, which are perfect for cooling off by dunking your hat when the heat kicks in. I’d give the views a solid 10/10! For many, this might just be the most beautiful course they’ve ever run.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
The Silver Rush 50 presents a unique challenge for runners. The trail is scattered with rocks, making footing tricky for anyone who isn’t paying close attention. It’s easy to see how one wrong step could lead to a twisted ankle. Both the climbs and descents are tough and relentless, demanding not just physical stamina but serious mental grit. Because the race is an out-and-back, it can be difficult to stay in the moment—you know exactly what’s waiting for you on the return trip. Mental strength is key here. The best approach is to focus on one mile at a time and stay locked into the present.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Life Time put on outstanding events. Their strong reputation for top-notch race organization really shines throughout the entire day. From the well-stocked aid stations and energetic volunteers, to the smooth award ceremony and exciting LT100 lottery drawing, every detail reflects their passion and dedication. The course is marked with signs and ribbons on the trees, leaving no guesswork for runners. Life Time truly capture the spirit of the trail running community, uplifting the Leadville area, and leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.
TRR Coach Tanner Amrhien during the Leadville Silver Rush 50 Run. PC: Marathon FOTO
Competition – Is there a strong field?
The Silver Rush 50 Run boasts an exceptionally competitive and stacked field across all categories, including male, female, and non-binary participants. Any Leadville 100 qualifier race will be competitive!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Since there aren’t commercial flights into Leadville, most people fly into Denver and then rent a car for the roughly 2 hour and 15 minute drive to the Leadville area. While Leadville has some smaller hotels and motels, my crew and I chose an Airbnb in Twin Lakes, about 23 minutes away. Leadville offers a variety of dining options, but we decided to pick up groceries at a local store and prepare our own meals at the Airbnb. Race registration opens in January, right after the LT100 Run lottery results are announced. I recommend signing up as soon as registration opens, since the race tends to sell out quickly as summer approaches. Likewise, booking your lodging early is a good idea because accommodations fill up fast. The 2025 registration fee was $125: a great value for a top notch 50-mile race.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
The aid stations were well-stocked with classic favorites like bananas, M&Ms, and pretzels. They also offered a variety of Skratch Labs carbohydrate mixes, Neversecond C30 gels, and Skratch Labs chews. These options were especially helpful for runners who hadn’t been able to bring all their own nutrition for the race.
Weather and typical race conditions
This year, 2025, the race started at 6 am with a crisp temperature of around 47°F. As the day went on, it warmed up to the low 70s under bright sunshine—pretty typical for Leadville this time of year. Also, it’s not uncommon to have a brief late morning/afternoon rain shower. It does not last very long and will probably feel good if you’re hot!
One key tip: don’t forget your sunscreen. At this high elevation, the sun’s intensity is stronger, so make sure to use a sunscreen that suits your skin and helps keep you cool while you run . Another thing to keep in mind is to bring ice for your crew to give you. You can pat your neck or face with it to help control your body temperature. Personally, I preferred going without a hat throughout the afternoon. I felt extremely hot wearing my hat from miles 31 to 45. If you’re determined to wear a hat the whole time, I recommend investing in a lightweight spandex hat that still provides UV protection and keeps you cool.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I highly recommend using poles for the long uphill sections of this race, especially the climb between Stumptown and Printer Boy aid stations. That stretch features several miles of steady uphill, and poles can really help save your legs.
A runner racing on the Leadville trails with beautiful scenery in the background. PC: Life Time
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
The aid stations were staffed with high-energy crews who were incredibly encouraging to all runners. There are shuttles available to transport your crew to the aid stations, which can be helpful, but they don’t always guarantee your crew will arrive before you do. According to my crew, getting to the Stumptown aid station (the turnaround point) was a bit tricky, so I’d recommend giving yourself (as crew or spectators) plenty of time to make that drive.
How’s the Swag?
Runners receive a high quality Leadville Silver Rush 50 Run shirt, some snacks, and a set of rubber stretch bands. All finishers are awarded a custom finisher medal and a copper cup engraved with “Leadville Finisher.”
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10/10! I thoroughly enjoyed every part of the Leadville Silver Rush 50 Run—from the infectious positive energy of the runners, event staff, crews, and spectators, to the challenging yet manageable course. I’d highly recommend signing up for this, or another Life Time event!
Tanner Amrhien is a coach with Team RunRun based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes improve performance through thoughtful training, science-based nutrition guidance, and injury prevention strategies.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Well-organized
Festivities and race atmosphere: The BOLDERBoulder 10K takes place on Memorial Day, and the entire event is a party!!
Something for everyone: Choose your own race experience. You can make it as competitive as you want, or ‘fun run’ it and enjoy all the on course entertainment!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
I always arrive early (~6 am), so this wasn’t an issue for me, but I have heard that parking can be difficult. So I’d recommend arriving early!
Also, you can submit to move up to a higher wave (which is a good thing), but your ‘official’ time won’t appear for WEEKS and doesn’t show up on live tracking. So, depending on how far back you’re placed, it could be worth staying put if real-time results are important to you.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
I don’t know if this is a “weird” thing, but the race doesn’t offer finisher’s medals. While that doesn’t bother me personally, I know that’s an expectation for many.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Party vibes on the race course.
A unique highlight of the BOLDERBoulder 10K is the way the organizers start it; for a race this large (over 2300 finishers!), the waves are very small. This allows you to race it without a lot of human traffic to weave through! The waves are released about 90 seconds apart, and every wave gets its own gun and trumpet start. Very fun!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
I always arrive early (~6 am), so this wasn’t an issue for me, but I have heard that traffic and parking can be difficult, especially if you get there after 7 am. So I’d recommend arriving early! If you have a later wave, have some coffee, warm up, take in the atmosphere, but DON’T WAIT to get there!
If you’re coming from out of town, remember that Boulder is at an altitude of 5,430 feet. This is not considered “high elevation” but will require you to slow down a bit. Your sea-level 10K race pace will feel harder here, especially on the hilly course, so focusing on 10K effort rather than pace is the way to go!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I’ve run this a few times and have it pretty dialed in. As mentioned above, try to avoid parking and traffic issues by arriving early.
The start of the BOLDERBoulder 10K.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
It’s Boulder so… expect hills. The course is over mostly rolling hills, nothing too extreme but pretty consistent. The most significant inclines are halfway in so, on one hand, don’t be afraid to go out a little fast; however, it’s also beneficial to conserve some energy for the middle.
You’re better off racing this one on effort. Once you hit mile 5, it’s a nice downhill to flat… until you hit the big hill into the stadium at the end. The stadium finish is awesome!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
While you are definitely surrounded by beauty, it isn’t as “pretty” as the surrounding trails, given that the course runs through towns and neighborhoods. Spend any time in Boulder, though, and you’ll see plenty of beautiful scenery!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
With rolling hills and elevation, it’s far from the fastest course. However, it’s not impossible to PR (many runners do!) but you definitely have to prepare for the hills (and if from out of town, the altitude!)
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The BOLDERBoulder 10K is impressively organized and well run. As one of the biggest road races in the world and 2nd largest 10K in the US, it would be easy for BOLDERBoulder to feel messy: it doesn’t. It’s one of *the* most well-oiled races you’ll ever experience.
BOLDERBoulder Men’s Pro Race, led by Conner Mantz (bib 1).
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes, the earlier start waves and professional races are always stacked! BOLDERBoulder has a history of deep, international competition, and this year, Olympian and American Record holder Connor Mantz showed up to win it for the 3rd year in a row! A cool feature of this event is that (unlike most races) the elites have a later start time, so all of us “regular” runners can sit in the stadium and watch them finish. It’s a lot of fun!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Runners taking a mid-race slip n’ slide!
No special handshake, but BOLDERBoulder is unique in that you can submit a qualifying time that the race uses for seeding into waves. These waves run from ~6:50 am until after 9 am. If you don’t submit a time, you’ll get placed in the mass start (ie, party wave!) after 9 am.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
They have the standard aid station fare of water and Gatorade. BUT, the fun stuff is what the local residents and on course spectators provide. Since it’s on Memorial Day, the community comes out in force! There’s all kinds of food (including bacon at mile 3!) and booze if you want it.
Weather and typical race conditions
It’s Colorado, so you never know what you’ll get! It could be 80 degrees and sunny, or cold and raining (which it did this year). Prepare for anything!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
No.
A runner bouncing on a trampoline during the BOLDERBoulder 10K!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Very much so!!! The course and stadium are lined with spectators cheering everyone on and creating a great race atmosphere!
How’s the Swag?
The race shirts are great! They offer different styles, which you can choose from when you register. While they don’t have finisher medals, they DO offer various prizes, like key chains for the top 15 in each age group, and other cool incentives. If you finish under 40 minutes, you’ll be rewarded with a t-shirt for the “Sub-40” club. And if you run faster than your age in minutes, you’ll receive an “Ageless Wonder” certificate.
After the race, you receive a BOLDERBoulder lunch sack with lots of snacks and a beer from Avery Brewing!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 out of 5 stars! I love this race and would recommend it for anyone — whether you want to run it competitively or just for fun! Check out the race website here.
Nicole Thome is a coach with Team RunRun based in Denver, Colorado. She specializes in road races up to the marathon, with a focus on first-time marathoners, female athletes over 40, athletes looking to get into trail running or set new PRs, and runners who have plateaued and need a jumpstart.
This is part 4 of a multipart blog series about one Team RunRunner’s, Vincent Rossi, cancer-filled ultramarathon. Catch up on part 1, part 2, and part 3.
Beyond Me: Running for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN)
Vincent running the Rocky 50 ultramarathon.
Throughout my cancer journey, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) has been a great resource; in particular, their message boards allowed me to connect with other bladder cancer patients and receive valuable advice. As I learned and gained experience, I tried my best to help others facing a new cancer diagnosis too. I made strong connections with patients through BCAN’s resources, some of whom have become real and meaningful friends. So before the race, I contacted the team at BCAN to set up a “DIY fundraising page”, which I began sharing with friends and family.
While I was thankful to see donations come in before the race, this also made me nervous. I wanted to do my part and finish this race—not just to support BCAN, but to achieve this crazy bucket list goal for myself, and to show my family and children what determination and strength look like. In many ways, the cancer community felt a lot like the ultrarunning community, where friendships and strong bonds formed quickly.
The Final Three Miles: Snakes, Surprises, Strength
With three miles to go, my wife and I reached a stretch of flat, open trail from where we could hear music from the finish area. I could not believe it. “Am I really going to do this?” I thought. I was ecstatic, though also delirious.
It was fully dark now. My wife kept the pace while my eyes stayed fixed on the reflective strips on the back of her running shoes, lit by my headlamp. At one point, my focus glued to her feet moving down the trail, I saw her step on something. “A snake!” I yelled. She looked back, before marching on as if this was normal. Still delirious, I later told her that she had stepped on a venomous copperhead. In hindsight, this felt symbolic—my wife leading me through a dark forest, stepping on threats, driving me to the ER, holding my hand as I woke from a surgery that carried, on average, a 10 percent mortality rate. Together, my wife and I have shared this cancer-filled ultramarathon, and the end wasn’t in sight yet. We kept pushing forward.
Amazingly, we passed at least eight runners in the last three miles, each one a source of energy and motivation to keep going. Many were much younger than me, a 51-year old man holding on tightly; I felt both surprised and proud. The finish line was in sight. This was it, the last part. “Holy shit, we are going to do it!” I thought. As we neared the finish line, despite my delirium and exhaustion, I raised my hand, and my wife high-fived me. It was 9:00 pm and, despite the fact that I was among the final finishers, music was blaring, people were cheering, and the finish line vibes were high!
Vincent’s Rocky 50 ultramarathon finisher medal.
I Am An Ultramarathoner! (…and my body knows it!)
I crossed the finish line and high-fived the race director. Humorously, a kind volunteer reminded me to stop my watch: the Strava gods rejoiced! I was presented with a Rocky 50 finisher medal and put it around my neck. I just could not believe it: I had finished, I was an ultramarathoner. Then, with all the energy I could muster, I walked to our crew blanket and collapsed.
My wife, a superhero, packed our rental car with coolers, food, and race supplies as I laid on the ground totally exhausted. We picked up our drop bags and drove back to the hotel. Getting out of the car and limping to our hotel room felt like another ultramarathon, this one rewarded with a long, hot bath.
Post Race Reflections
That night, in the bathtub, I thought about the day’s events. I thought about the last four years of this difficult journey. I was filled with gratitude for my wife, the rock of our family, who kept me going. She made sure dinners were ready while I recovered from chemo, surgery, the difficult treatments, and the side effects of cancer.
The phrase “run the mile that you are in” became a deep understanding. Beyond what I had done during the race, it was what I had done through my entire cancer journey. It was what my wife was doing every day, coping with the constant stress of this horrible disease. It was what all my cancer friends were doing. Despite tough and awful situations, each of us was running the mile we were in: that was all any of us can do when facing seemingly impossible challenges. Over time, the miles–literally and metaphorically–carve a path through the dark forest of doubt and hopelessness. Tears ran down my face as I lay in the tub with sore and bleeding legs, this deep understanding washing over me.
Waffles at the hotel post race.
Our Cancer-Filled Ultramarathon
On Sunday, waiting for our flight back to D.C., I wrote a race report thanking everyone who donated to my Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network fundraiser. I was incredibly grateful for both their donations to BCAN, and the encouragement and belief they showed me. When the race seemed impossible, I persevered through the heat, pain, and endless miles to reach the finish line, fueled by their support.
I was also very thankful for this new ultrarunning community I found. From the aid station crews who encouraged me and opened my Skratch electrolyte packets when my fingers were too swollen, to Chris’s kindness in traveling to Huntsville to meet a stranger and race with him, and of course, my wife, who paced me. I know I would not have finished if she had not been there.
Final Thoughts and Transferable Takeaways
As I get ready for my next surgery and the continuation of my cancer-filled ultramarathon, I will remember this mantra. I will remember the support from the ultramarathon community and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network. And I suggest that when things get hard, when they feel impossible and you cannot take another step, you do your best, put one foot in front of the other, and run the mile you are in.
About Vincent
Vincent Rossi is a father, husband, cancer survivor, and newly minted ultramarathoner! Check out Vincent’s website and Instagram @gnocchi_dinner. He continues to fundraise for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN). Take a look at Vincent’s BCAN fundraising page here.
This is part 3 of a multipart blog series about one Team RunRunner’s, Vincent Rossi, cancer-filled ultramarathon. Catch up on part 1 and part 2.
The physical startline of Vincent’s cancer-filled ultramarathon at the Rocky 50. PC: Let’s Wander Photography
The First Lap: A Challenge From Step One
Right from the start, this race was hard. My training leading up to the Rocky 50 had been entirely on the flat streets of Washington, D.C., and I had almost no trail running experience. Running with Chris the first five miles was invaluable. He taught me the power hike method for hills that I had read about, but never practiced.
Immediately, the hills took their toll, as did the heat. As a total newcomer to trail running, the most challenging part was the uneven ground and the tree roots. Oh, the tree roots. The Rocky Raccoon races are known for large pine tree roots on the trail: traps for tired runners. About 10 miles in, I tripped on a root and landed hard. The wind was knocked out of me. “Holy shit,” I thought. “Ok, my first fall.” I told myself iIt was part of the race, and then got up, brushed myself off, and started running again. It must have looked bad because runners around me stopped to check on me. “I’m good!” I yelled, stunned but not hurt.
Blood, Sweat, and Pee
Later in loop one, I stopped to pee and saw I was already peeing blood. It was a lot—my urine was dark red and thick. This blood was not from running; it began before the race: a sign that the cancer had spread to my kidneys. This, plus my abbreviated training build to this race, made understanding my fluid losses and hydration needs impossible. My right kidney ached: my cancer-filled ultramarathon continued. That was the area surgeons would soon inspect, and then possibly remove. I put thoughts of cancer aside and kept running.
Runner navigating lots of tree roots on the Rocky 50 ultramarathon course.
At the end of the first loop, I had run 16.7 miles. In training, 16 miles was normal for me. I had been running about 50 miles per week. But this was different. The heat, hills, and uneven ground left me completely exhausted. “Oh fuck,” I thought. Finishing felt impossible after that first lap. I had promised myself I would not quit. I would push myself as far as possible, no matter what.
Before the race, Chris, who seemed worried he had gotten me into a dangerous situation, said, “Hey man, if you feel like you are hurting yourself, it’s just not worth it.” With my cancer history and new diagnosis, I knew today was my only chance. My future was uncertain, so I would push hard. I thought, “Hell, to die during an ultra would be more badass than dying on fentanyl in a hospital bed.” I smiled at Chris and said, “I think I am ready to do hard things.” Chris smiled nervously back. Two more 16.7-mile loops to go.
Lap Two: “Run the Mile You Are In”
Lap two was brutal. I had told my coach I wanted to suffer, and there’s no doubt my wish was granted! Despite refilling my ice bandana at each aid station, the Texas heat meant it quickly became a wet rag. I fell two more times, each time so suddenly and hard I did not even catch myself. One moment I was running, the next I was on the ground.
I chose not to show my mileage on my running watch; ultramarathon math would not help me right now! I feared that constantly seeing how much distance was left—like 40, 30, or 20 miles to go—would make me lose the mental battle, which I knew was key to staying in the race.
On the flight to Texas, I listened to an ultrarunning audiobook. The author warned about the dangers of ultrarunning math, instead advising runners to simply “run the mile that you are in.” Thinking about running another 30 miles could have broken me easily. During the second lap, this advice came to mind and became my race mantra. I felt a large blister on my right foot from sand in my shoe, but I was too tired to stop and empty it. “Run the mile that you are in,” I thought. My quad muscles began to shake with intense pain. For a moment, I thought, “How can I keep going for another 30 miles?” The mantra returned: “Run the mile you are in.”
Cancer, Caution, and Crew Stations
By the end of the second lap, I reached my crew station where my wife had my race vest ready and waiting. She had packed it with gels, trail mix, salt tablets, and hydration powder for my final lap. The first two laps were so hot that I had opted to run with a belt instead of a vest.
As I approached, my wife immediately saw I was in trouble. Due to cancer treatments, I had lost the ability to sweat and control my body temperature. For me, 83 degrees Fahrenheit felt like 120! I walked up to the five-gallon ice bucket my wife had also prepared, and put my arms in the ice water, trying to recover from near heat stroke. Chris was there and decided to stop after two laps and about 55 miles, since his main race, the Umstead 100, was coming up. Wisely, he did not want to hurt his performance.
Rocky 50 ultramarathon aid station.
I was a zombie. Chris talked to me and gave advice, but I do not think I heard anything he said. I struggled to stand. From what I had read about ultras, I knew sitting down was not a good idea. Finishing the second lap meant I had officially run an ultramarathon–beyond the 26.2 mile (42K) marathon distance. But my goal was 50 miles, not 33.4.
As if Rocky 50 wasn’t already challenging enough, then the nausea hit. I removed a handful of gels from my vest, knowing that if I ate one more, I would throw up. From then on, I would only drink water. I managed to give Chris what might have looked like a smile, unable to speak, and a fist bump on my way out.
Rocky 50 race bibs: “43” for Vincent, “pacer” for his wife.
The Final Lap
The third lap started. I had no idea how I would get through the next 16.7 miles. As we began, some of the 50K finishers clapped as I went back on the course. Race rules allowed a pacer for the last lap, and my wife joined me—she was my savior. She did the ultramarathon math for me and tried her best to keep me moving at a pace to finish. Before the race, our plan was for me to speed up on the last lap, maybe run a 9:30-minute mile. Now in real time, the thought of running that fast would have been funny if I was not so scared. My wife ran far ahead, then looked back to see me limping. “Oh man, I am in trouble,” I thought.
At one point, I sat to tie my shoe. An abdominal muscle cramped so badly the pain was unbearable. I screamed, surprising myself. My wife looked at me, very worried, but I got up and kept going. She knew the plan: keep me moving no matter what. “Run the mile that you are in,” I thought again.
It’s Me Against the Clock
Near the end of the last lap, with four miles to go, I started to believe I could finish this cancer-filled ultramarathon. But I did not want to get too confident. If my pace slowed or I fell again, I could miss the cutoff time. As we walked up a steep hill, my wife checked her watch. She turned to me and said, “Okay, we need to pick it up now.” Her tone scared me, though not as much as the thought of a DNF (did not finish). I had come so far, endured so much: it was now or never.
I dug deep, trying my best to keep up with my wife. She was jogging at a slow 12-minute mile pace, but for me, it felt like a sprint. My legs were completely raw, and both my feet were bleeding. But for a moment, the thought of crossing that finish line gave me goosebumps. Despite the pain, I felt a fleeting giddiness. I smiled through this new kind of pain.
About Vincent
Vincent Rossi is a father, husband, cancer survivor, and newly minted ultramarathoner! Check out Vincent’s website and Instagram @gnocchi_dinner. He continues to fundraise for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN). Take a look at Vincent’s BCAN fundraising page here.
Part 4 of My Cancer-Filled Ultramarathon will be released soon.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The Slay the Dragon 25K race, put on by Bush Babes Trail Running, is a trail race on Silver Star Mountain Resort just outside of Vernon, British Columbia. You can choose from a 50K, 25K, 13.6K distance, or an epic Slay the Baby Dragon Kids Race. The second day also features a Dragon King/Queen Vertical Climb.
Organization and information: The Bush Babes Trail Running company does a fantastic job of putting on events! From the informational emails leading up to the race, to a well written event guide, smooth waiver signing and package pick up, to logistics of race day, everything seemed to go relatively smoothly from a participant standpoint! The race director even went through a thorough play by play of what to expect on each route on social media a week before race day. It was much appreciated.
On course flagging/volunteers: If you look at the route map, you’ll notice what looks like a spaghetti network of trails all intersecting! I was a little concerned about getting lost or taking a wrong turn. I didn’t need to be worried. Everything was very well marked and volunteers out on course had us going in the correct direction.
Runnability: This might not seem like a big deal, but trail races in BC can be quite gnarly with lots of vertical gain and descent. With snow still lingering in the alpine, it can be hard to train for these bigger races early in the year. I appreciated having a faster trail race somewhat close to home to start the season.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The only thing I could have done without is the colder temperatures! It started at 37 Fahrenheit/ 3 Celsius and was moody and drizzly for the majority of the run. As one friend running said “at least I don’t have to be distracted by nice views”.
TRR Coach Jenn Kozak during the Slay the Dragon 25K race. PC: Vanessa Garrison Photography
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
I’m not sure this is actually weird, but they had massage students giving out free massages to runners post-run to get some hands massage training hours. It seems like a great idea to me!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I really enjoyed the Slay the Dragon 25K; you got a little bit of everything. From starting on a paved path, to flowing single track, to a very runnable climb, and a moderately technical descent, it seemed to have it all. A highlight of my race personally was managing my energy (and fueling/hydration) well so that I did not fade super hard at the end of the race.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
1. It is very easy to go out hot on this course as it is a paved road. Save some juice for the undulating trails in the last miles of the race! 2. Book accommodations early if you plan on staying at the resort. 3. Think about what you want to eat the night before and plan on if you’ll be heading the 30 mins into town or not. The food options were limited (no pasta anywhere!) at the resort and I ended up eating something unplanned for dinner. 4. Line up early for the post race burger! The line got long, and the wait was substantial, but the burgers were delicious. 5. Race photographers! Keep your eyes out for them. I was so focused and they were hiding around corners so I don’t remember seeing any of them at all. No smiling photos from me!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Next time I will NOT put my hydration vest OVER my jacket. After the first two miles, despite the rain and cold, I got very very warm and had to pull aside on the single track to remove the vest and jacket before continuing on. While not always the best advice, we have a saying that would certainly have been appropriate today: be bold, start cold!
Slay the Dragon 25K elevation profile chart.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
I would recommend knowing where the big climb and big descent are during your race (the timing of them is different for the 50K course) so that you can manage your energy for the final miles. The last half mile is one fairly punchy climb back up to the finish line! Also, this is fairly high in elevation for BC. The race starts at around 5200 ft and gets up over 6000 ft before coming back down. It’s certainly something to be aware of if you’re coming from sea level.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
I imagine on clear day the views would have been lovely. From the top of the resort you can see down to Kal Lake (I’ve heard). Today, the course was pretty in the sense that you were running through moody forest which, at certain points, seemed quite dense. The course itself is fully run on a ski resort and is a mix of cat tracks and mountain biking trails.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
No, this is not a tough course. If you were new to trail running, you might find some of the descent technical due to rock slabs that make up “stairs” here and there, but otherwise it was mostly fast and flowy. Much of the climb was actually done on a cat track/dirt road.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The Slay the Dragon 25K (and all the races) were very well organized and well run. As I mentioned above, I really appreciated all of the information that was provided without prompting ahead of time. Bush Babes runs a tight ship!
Slay the Dragon 25K race course map.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
There are always very strong people that come out of the woodwork for local races in BC! So, yes, the competition is tough, though perhaps not on the global scale.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
It was very easy to register for the Slay the Dragon 25K. They did end up selling out about a week before the race, but opened up a few more spots in the final week. The only thing that made it slightly difficult was that the race itself is done on a resort about 30 minutes away from the city of Vernon. There are hotels at the resort, but they are few unless you are looking for a fancier lodge or a longer stay.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
I did not stop to ponder the wares at the aid stations for too long. They did seem to have all the usual aid station goods: watermelon, chips, gels, Tailwind nutrition and hydration, water, Coca Cola, candy, potatoes, cookies, and more. I certainly wasn’t left wanting!
Jenn facing sub-optimal weather conditions while running this trail race. PC: Vanessa Garrison Photography
Weather and typical race conditions
The weather can be unpredictable. BC had just finished a heat wave the week before the race that saw temperatures in the 90’s F/30’s C. The temperatures then plummeted somewhat unexpectedly for race day. A few days out, there was snow in the forecast. Luckily, this changed to light rain and a lot of fog for race day. The bottom line, expect any and all weather conditions!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
This is a very runnable course. For the Slay the Dragon 25K distance, I did not feel that poles were necessary at any point, and might even be more of a hindrance when entering the final miles on flowy single track with close trees all around you. All you really needed was nutrition, hydration, appropriate clothes for the weather, and definitely trail shoes.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
The start and finish line are in the same location, making it easy for spectators to see people off and then climb their way back to the finish line. There are locations along the course if you’re willing to hike/bike in, or buy a ticket to go up the gondola. With the weather being so abysmal on race day, the only spectators we saw were volunteers.
How’s the Swag?
Great for a smaller local race! In the welcome bag we got a locally made chocolate bar, bar of soap, and some coupons. We also received a casual T-shirt, and, of course, a finishers medal.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
8 out of 10!! I have nothing bad to say about the race organization, and, as mentioned, it was nice to have a fast, runnable course close to home (2 hours away – things are spread far and wide in BC). I would dock a star or two as the course is a bit uninspiring, being done on a ski hill with cat track and MTB trails. Then again, maybe I just couldn’t see anything through the fog.
Jennifer Kozak is a coach with Team RunRun who knows how to balance training with family, on both the roads and the trails. Jenn works with athlete of all abilities, from those dipping their toes in trail races or tackling new goals on the roads, from the 5k up to the marathon.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Super smooth, runnable trails: A wide variety of runnable trails, all with tons of views: in and out of pines, burn scar, mountain bike rollers and more.
Location: It’s not too far from the Front Range. It took 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive from Boulder on race morning.
Scenery: Wildflowers were popping along the trails!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Well, I did run an extra eight miles because the out-and-back wasn’t marked very well. About a dozen of us missed the turn, and proceeded to run about 4 past the turnaround before realizing our mistake. Only 4 of us actually went back and completed the course. So, we got 8 bonus miles for free!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
The aforementioned out-and-back was kind of weird, because then you had to run “back” to the previous aid station and then “back” again past the out-and-back point. In previous years, they marked bibs and color-coded the signs to make this clearer, but not this year. The takeaway… don’t be like me! Instead, remember to study the North Fork 50 course map before race day!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I really enjoyed the running trails. With only ~6500 feet of climbing in the standard 50-mile route, you can get into a good groove and practice chugging along. Also, I’m proud of my mindset when I realized I’d run off course. I chose to focus on the positives: logging more miles on great trails, getting better value for my race entry fee, and finishing 1st in what I termed the North Fork XL!
TRR Coach Kyle Fulmer at the start of the North Fork 50. PC: Liberty Pro Imaging
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions. It can get hot, though you reach pretty high elevations, above 8000 feet at points, so that makes it a bit cooler. We did get hailed on pretty good, and had a brief but intense thunderstorm. Also, remember to study the map and know when to expect the out-and-back!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I now know where the confusing out-and-back is, and the right way to navigate the course!
North Fork 50 mile course map with the out-and-back at Rolling Creek Aid.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
You’ve guessed it: the darn out-and-back!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
The North Fork 50 is a very pretty course! You can expect stunning views of the surrounding mountains, snow-capped peaks, tons of wildflowers and aspen sections. You could see all the way to Pikes Peak and beyond!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Not especially tough, but the runnable trails will test your running fitness!
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The North Fork 50 is organized by Aravaipa Running, one of the best trail race organizers out there, so you can trust it will be well-run. This race was no exception: it was dialed, especially the aid stations. And with free burgers at the finish line, Aravaipa did well!
TRR Coach Kyle Fulmer crossing the finish line. PC: Liberty Pro Imaging
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Any race in Colorado is always going to have strong local runners in the field. This year, the men’s and women’s champions were particularly strong, both setting new course records!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Very easy logistically. The North Fork 50 was easy to enter and didn’t sell out. Parking at the start was also hassle free.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Kyle running the North Fork 50 mile race. PC: Silke Koester
Really good aid stations, 8 in total. You were allowed crew at 4 of the aid stations, but crew wasn’t necessary. There were great offerings at the aid stations, including avocado and bean burritos, which I loved!
Weather and typical race conditions
As noted above, be prepared for anything! It can get toasty, but a sizable thunderstorm also rolled in on us!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Not really. It was a little cold at the start at 6:00am, but warmed up quickly, so avoid overdressing.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Average for a trail race. There were 4 aid stations with spectators and crew access.
How’s the Swag?
Solid. We got a pint glass and a casual t-shirt.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
8.5 out of 10!! I would rate the North Fork 50 higher except for the course marking issue. My bad, but still a little more detail there would have been appreciated. Instead, I finished first in the “North Fork XL” (almost 100K)!
Kyle Fulmer is a coach with Team RunRun and our social media manager extraordinaire. He is an experienced trail and ultra coach and athlete based in Boulder, Colorado.
