Race: Bear 100 Endurance Run
Runner: Team RunRun Coach Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott
Race Date: 09/26/2025
Location: Logan, UT
Result: 31 hours, 12 minutes, and 28 seconds; 126th overall, 4th female
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.
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.
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.
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.