SATURDAY IS RACE DAY: ULTRA EVENTS

Topographic map of Andorra February 2008 By Eric Gaba. User:Goldsztajn [GFDL http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU HAD THE 'RIGHT STUFF' TO COMPETE in an ultramarathon? ‘Ultras’’ are races longer than a marathon’s 26.2 miles (42.1K), and often are 50K (31.1miles), 50 miles, sometimes 100 miles or more in distance. The most famous (or infamous) are held in venues with extreme environmental conditions. Like the Andorra Ultra Trail Vallnord, a mountain challenge race in Europe’s 6th smallest country, with 44,000 feet of elevation gain and loss, highlighted in a Competitor.com article by Allison Pattillo.
 
However, did you know that some ultras will hold races of lesser distances in a ‘festival’ type of event, like 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races will be run on the same day/weekend as a marathon. In addition to the Andorra Trail Vallnord 100-mile event, there are 70- mile, 50-mile, and marathon races, and a 10K!!! Beware, the Solidaritrail 10K it not a piece of cake; it has 2,500 feet of climbing! The event was recently held in July 2016, so there’s time to plan your trip and train for 2017 (date not yet posted on the website).
Below is a list of other ultra events featured in a 2008 Runner’s World article with upcoming race dates substituted for those originally published.
 
Ice Age Trail 50
La Grange WI May 13, 2017 http://www.iceagetrail50.com/
 
Farm to Farm Ultra Run
Freeport, ME October 9, 2016 http://farmtofarm.weebly.com/about.html
 
The North Face Endurance Challenge
Eagle WI Sept 17-18, 2016 and Park City UT Sept 24-25, 2016
https://www.thenorthface.com/get-outdoors/endurance-challenge.html
 
Chicago Lakefront 50/50 Ultra
Chicago IL October 29, 2016 http://www.chicagoultra.org/
 
Kansas Ultrarunners Society
November 12, 2016
http://www.ksultrarunners.org/
 
JFK 50
Boonsboro MD November 19, 2016
http://www.jfk50mile.org/
 
OTHTC High Desert 50K and 30K Ultra
Ridgecrest CA December 4, 2016
http://www.othtc.com/ultra/index.htm
 
Tejas Trails (multiple races)
Huntsville TX  throughout the year
http://www.tejastrails.com/challenge/
 
Mississippi 50 Trail Run ( also 20K, 50K races)
Laurel MS March 4, 2017
http://www.ms50.com/
 
RUN HAPPY!
 
http://running.competitor.com/2016/07/photos/photos-2016-andorra-ultra-trail-vallnord_153363?
http://www.andorraultratrail.com/index.php?lang=ca)
http://www.runnersworld.com/ultramarathons/ultra-races-you-should-do