Summary: A good race for first-timers or those looking for a faster time, the Umstead 100 Ultra is a 100 mile endurance run through the William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC. The course is along a running, biking, and horse trail and the width varies between 8 and 15 feet and the footing is excellent. There is no single track trail on the course. There’s also a 50 mile option, which runs 4 of the 12.5 mile “loops”, whereas the 100 mile race runs 8 loops. Both races happen simultaneously.

Race Details

The course is essentially a 12.5-mile lap in Umstead Park that you repeat eight times to reach 100 miles and 4 times to reach 50 miles. In that 12.5 mile lap, there are two spurs and then one bigger loop from miles 3.5-10.5, giving runners a chance to see those ahead and behind them for some of the spur miles.
The entire course is very runnable. On the vehicle access road portion of the course leading into Camp Lapihio/Race Headquarters (.4 mile), there is larger crushed gravel that is typical for automotive traffic.
The course is rolling hills with a total of 8,000 feet of climb over the 100 miles (1,000 feet per loop). The entire course is runnable with nicely spaced hills.

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

Don’t start out too fast
Pacers are definitely helpful, and helpful to switch out at each lap
Lap by lap goals are good
While crew isn’t necessary, it’s certainly helpful, especially for a mental boost each lap
The course warms up quickly if it’s a sunny day, as a lot of it is exposed, so enjoy that first cooler lap and be ready to deal with the heat through laps 2-4, at the least.
Being a lap course, this is a big mental challenge as much as physical
The park is open to other users, so be aware of other users like runners, walkers, and cyclists while on course

Elevation

Total gain/loss: 8,000/8,000ft (4,000/4,000 for the 50), which equates to 1,000 feet of gain per lap

Total climbs: Lots of rollers of 50-150 feet

Link to Course Profile: http://www.umstead100.org/profile.html

Link to Course Map: http://www.umstead100.org/course.html#lap

Aid stations

Total aid stations: 6 (2 Full Aid and 7 Water) per loop

Furthest distance apart: ~2 miles

Locations: miles 0 (which is also 12.5, the start/finish) 0.6, 2.1, 3.4, 5.6, 7 (Full), 8.7, 10.6, 11.9, and 12.5 (Full).

What’s available: Typical full aid station fare at start finish and mile 7 of each lap. Water only at all others. The 3.4/10.6 mile point, Water Point #1, will also have Gatorade and a food box with a limited number of items such as cookies, trail mix, candy bars and pretzels.

Crew access

Crew instructions/directions: Only allowed at Start/Finish (mile 12.5 of each loop)

Drop bags: Drop bags allowed at the Start/Finish and AS#2.

Pacers

One crew member at a time is allowed on the course to pace their runner either after 6 pm, Saturday, or at the start of lap 5, if started earlier than 6pm, or as expressly permitted by the Race Director or Aid Station Captain.

Race reports

Umstead Trail Marathon – Erin Hunt

Race: Umstead Trail Marathon Runner: Erin Hunt Race Date: 03/07/2020 Location: Umstead State Park-Raleigh, NC Results: 3rd Place female-3:54:41 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/3163117112 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? The low key, ultramarathon vibe Each year the mascot of the race is a ...

Umstead 100 Race Report – Matt Urbanski

Race: Umstead 100 Runner: Matt Urbanski Date: 4/07/2018 Location: Raleigh, NC Results: 3rd OA, 15:26 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1496682914 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? The course is runnable. Literally every step of the course can be run. There are some hills that are ...

Umstead 50 Race Report – Emily M

Race: Umstead 50 Runner: Emily M Date: 04/07/2018 Location: Raleigh, NC Results: 12:32:42 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? It was a 12.5mi looped course The volunteers were outstanding! Mainly gravel path Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for ...

Umstead 100 – Jeff U

Race: Umstead 100 Runner: Jeff U Date: 4/1/17 Location: Raleigh, NC Results - 18:33:00, 8th place 3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most I loved how the course was super smooth and easily runable. It was all wide clean trail with no technical sections, ...