The Ultra Experience

Technically, an ultra is any race longer than a marathon but, that’s where the similarity ends. An ultra can be anything from the iconic Western States Endurance Run to a local 12-hour running event on a closed loop in a park. The terrain could be a rocky and challenging trail on a mountain or it could a soft and flat dirt trail in coastal forest. Regardless of the similarities and differences one thing is for sure— the marathon is no longer the ultimate challenge. We picked a variety of some potentially new ultimate challenges for you to check out!

Jordan Lake 12-Hour Challenge

April 22 // Jordan Lake Educational State Forest, Chapel Hill NC

Options: 6-Hour, 12-Hour, and 12-Hour Team

How much distance can you cover in 6 or 12 hours? Find out on the Jordan Lake Challenge’s new flatter and faster course at Jordan Lake. This 1.35-mile loop is on old road bed and trail and is USATF Certified. It is a flatter course than before which means more miles for you! Or, you could multiply the fun and find two friends to make a 3-person team for the 12-hour race. There will be an aid station located at a picnic shelter featuring a variety of food and drinks and volunteers cheering you on. Near the picnic shelter there are plenty of uncovered picnic tables where you can set up your own aid. There will be pizza in the late afternoon, too! Restrooms and/or portable toilets will be available nearby.

For more information, please visit http://chathamkids.org/events/12-hour/

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The Black Mountain Monster Ultra

May 6 // Black Mountain, NC

Options: 6-Hour, 12-Hour, 24-Hour (Teams and Individual)

That Black Mountain Monster Ultra is a festival-like endurance event that has teams and individuals competing for 6, 12 and 24 hours through the wooded trails of Montreat College’s White Oak Estate nestled in Black Mountain, NC. This is a certified 5K course that is a combination of wide grassy trails, narrow and wide wooded single track, asphalt (about 1/2 mile), 2 fields, 3 wooden bridge crossings and an occasional dirt road. It is very dynamic and fun course. The path is firm, flat ground in most sections with roots covering much of the wooded single track. Most of the course is flat with soft rolling hills. There are two distinct uphill climbs (dirt road and wide wooded trail) and one distinct downhill (pavement). There will be two aid stations. One is located in tent city next to the starting/finishing line. The second one is located in the middle of the course— approximately 1.6 miles in. Additionally, the course runs around a large beautiful field dubbed “tent city” where there is plenty of room for everyone to camp out right next to the course. This is right next to the start/finish line.

For more information, please visit https://www.relentlessrunning.com/black-mountain-monster

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Hell Hole Hundred

June 3 // Bethera, SC

Options: 211.9 Miles, 140.6 Miles, 100-Mile 5-Person Relay, 100 Miles, 100K, 60K, 16.3 Miles

While each distance of the 4th Annual Hell Hole Hundred uses the same section of trail, each event offers up its own little slice of misery and adventure! All participants get an event pint glass. If you finish your distance, without dropping to a lesser distance, you will get a custom shirt mailed to you. All participants will have a place to camp Thursday night, Friday and Saturday night and have access to restroom facilities, but there are no shower facilities. New this year is the 211.9-Mile event, the “Devil’s Doorknob” as well as a 16.3-Mile and a 60K night run (Friday night) and a 16.3-Mile run on Saturday. The start of the 16.3 Mile/60K/100K/100 Mile events is bright and early, Saturday at 7 a.m. The punishing Devil’s Doorknob starts Thursday, June 1st at 6 p.m. El Diablo, the 140.6-Mile beast starts Friday, June 2nd at 6 p.m.

Participants of the Devil’s Doorknob are required to have a crew of 2-3 people to assist the runner during the

entire event or until the runner drops out. It takes 13 times around Jericho Horse Trail to complete the 211.9 Miles. El Diablo participants are required to do 2 loops around Jericho Horse Trail prior to 7 a.m. on Saturday. Devil’s Doorknob and El Diablo participants will be required to wear a SPOT Gen 3 GPS Tracker to ensure you are on course and not lost. This will be provided to you prior to the event. This piece of gear is required to be on you at all times. It must be visible and not covered up. If you run into trouble, you can contact the race director via the SPOT Gen 3 with preset messages to request assistance. You crew can also help you out during the event. BUT at no time can they DRIVE you down the dirt roads. Once you get into a vehicle and move, you are disqualified from the event.

For the first 36 hours, Devil’s Doorknob is a self-supported event. There will be water on the course, but no food until Saturday. El Diablo participants are self-supported for the first 12 hours of the event. It is not required that you have a crew, but you are encouraged you to have people that can assist you.

For more very important information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Hell-Hole-Hundred-1039769539373229/

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Bad Rock 720

June 3 // Uwharrie National Forest, Troy NC

12-Hour Night Race

Love running at night? How about 720 minutes of technical, single track trails in the dark? Bad Rock is a 12-Hour night race on a 4.5 mile loop trail. The start and finish area is at Badin Lake Group Campground in Uwharrie National Forest. The race starts at 8pm Saturday, June 3rd and ends Sunday, June 4th. The majority of the trails are along the shore line of Badin Lake. You can run one lap or as many as possible in the 12-Hour time frame. Parking and camping are included in the race entry fee. There are showers and restrooms at the campground.

For more information, please visit http://ehfcapital.com/www.ncars.info/races/2017-BadinRock720–UltraRun.html

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Eastern Divide Ultra and 8-Miler

June 17 // Cascades Recreation Area Jefferson National Forest, Pembroke VA

Options: 50K and 8 Miler

The Eastern Divide is a point-to-point race that starts on the Cascades Trail and climbs towards the water falls. Racers will drop down to the falls and climb back to the top of Butt Mountain. After 4 miles racers leave the single track and turn left on the Butt Mountain. fire road which is the location of Aid Station 1. Last year there were rumors of bacon and eggs! The climb isn’t done there as racers need to make it to the tippy top of the mountain. The next several miles are rarely used forest roads that are the home to many migratory birds and tall ferns. Aid Station 2 is at the cross roads of Butt Mt. fire road at Bailey Gap. The Appalachian Trail passes close by and is a great section to run on another day. After AS2 runners travel down hill to Rocky Mountain Road which meanders along the back side of the mountains towards wind rock. This section offers great views towards West Virginia and beyond. Aid Station 3 is towards the end of this road before you begin the climb to Wind Rock. After AS3 it is approximately 3.5 miles to the next aid station and the top of Wind Rock. The climb is two miles long and is very runnable after which you’ll have 4 fast miles to the single track of Mountain Lake. Aid Station 5 is heavily stocked with friendly faces and food and marks the beginning of ups and downs, rocks and roots, and fern lined single track. Just after a long section through a large mountain top meadow, you will reach Aid Station 6. There is one last aid station, AS7, that will root you on the final 1.5 miles. Don’t let the amount of fire road alarm you. These roads are lightly traveled and are in the middle of nowhere. Most of the roads are lined with ferns and boulders with large Hemlocks looming above.

For more information, please visit http://www.easterndivideultra.com

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High Bridge Ultra 50K

October 7 // High Bridge Trail State Park, Pamplin VA

The High Bridge Trail is 31 miles long and runs through the towns of Burkeville, Farmville, Pamplin City, Prospect, and Rice. The course is flat and fast on a former railroad bed, making it ideal for running! Along the way runners will pass through forests in full Fall colors, over streams and creeks and across the famous High Bridge, for which the trail is named! There will be six Aid Stations, averaging 4.4 miles apart, with the longest span being 5.5 and the shortest 3.5. Crewing will be allowed at Aid Station 2 and 5. Drop Bags will be available at Aid Station 3 in Farmville.