For American path runners and ultrarunners, particularly those that are a fan of the 100-mile distance, the month of September is a month like no different.
That includes eight excellent, old skool 100 milers, lots of which offer qualification to enter the draw for the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, UTMB, or all three, that is THE month. After all of the hoopla of Western States, Hardrock, and UTMB have died down, these eight low-key 100 milers take heart stage and so they all supply one thing particular to everybody concerned.
Wasatch Entrance 100 Mile — Utah
Held yearly on the primary Friday after Labor Day, the Wasatch Entrance 100 Mile is a beast of a race. Billed as “100 miles of heaven and hell,” Wasatch actually delivers with tons of vertical acquire, technical trails, and the all the time difficult hot-during-the-day-cold-at-night conundrum for runners.
John Grobben, the one race director the race has ever had, makes no concessions for elite runners as his well-known punch line on the pre-race assembly signifies: “We all know that there are plenty of well-known runners operating this race and we’re not gonna’ introduce any of them. Good luck tomorrow!”
The beginning of the 2023 Wasatch Entrance 100 Mile. Photograph: www.macklambertmedia.com
Pine to Palm 100 Mile — Oregon
The brainchild of Rogue Valley Runners founder and proprietor, and legendary ultrarunner, Hal Koerner, this point-to-point 100 miler — additionally held on the primary weekend after Labor Day yearly — showcases the great range and issue of the paths of Southern Oregon.
A real grassroots neighborhood occasion, the Pine to Palm 100 Mile is a kind of pure 100 milers that deserves to be on any ultrarunner’s bucket checklist.
The beginning of the 2012 Pine to Palm 100. Photograph: Michael Lebowitz
Mogollon Monster 100 Mile — Arizona
Based by Aravaipa Working’s proprietor, Jamil Coury, and at the moment directed by Noah Dougherty, the Mogollon Monster 100 Mile additionally takes place on the primary weekend after Labor Day. Held within the “Rim Nation” of Arizona, the “Mog,” because it’s referred to as domestically, is hard in 3 ways. One, it’s sizzling; two, it’s technical; and three, it’s lengthy — ultimately depend, at the very least 106 miles and a few would say a bit longer.
Briefly, it’s as elusive because the monster that provides the race its identify.
Veronica Rudolphi, 2016 Mogollon Monster 100 Mile Champion, together with her monster trophy. Photograph: Mogoll0n Monster 100 Mile
Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile — Colorado
This iconic race, which for years was a traditional 50 miler on the autumn calendar, was expanded to incorporate the 100-mile distance a couple of dozen years in the past, by long-time race director Fred Abramowitz.
Recognized for its giant prize purse, completely different begin occasions for “hares” and “tortoises,” and a merely beautiful course within the mountains round Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile is a kind of races that acts larger than it’s. A enjoyable occasion, with every kind of issues happening across the race on this endurance mecca, it appears to wrap collectively the previous with the brand new fairly properly.
Tara Dower on her strategy to profitable the 2023 Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile. Photograph: Paul Nelson
IMTUF 100 Mile — Idaho
Jeremy Humphrey is a badass ultrarunner. Embracing old skool values and his ardour for the game, a number of years again he created the IMTUF 100 Mile in his beloved Idaho mountains.
Whereas the official identify of the race is the Idaho Mountain Path Extremely Pageant, everybody just about calls it IMTUF. And, good lordy, is it robust! Combining technical singletrack, traditional Idaho scree scrambles, and the same old provide of PUDS (pointless ups and downs), Jeremy has created a course, and an occasion, that may absolutely stand the check of time.
Drew Petersen throughout the 2021 ITMUF 100 Mile. Photograph: Grant Petersen
Grindstone 100 Mile by UTMB — Virginia
Many heads have been turned, mine included, when information broke just a few months in the past that the Grindstone 100 Mile was changing into a UTMB World Sequence occasion.
Nonetheless, I had religion that race director, race founder, and good good friend Clark Zealand would have the ability to stroll the road and keep the old fashioned vibe that has characterised this race for nearly 20 years, whereas additionally embracing the expansion and innovation that Ironman is bringing to the game. From studies on the bottom, final weekend, this primary 12 months did simply that. This occasion within the rugged mountains of Central Appalachia is one that may maintain you sincere, and make you’re employed.
Mike McMonagle, the 2023 Grindstone by UTMB 100 Mile winner. Photograph: Grindstone by UTMB
Yeti 100 Mile — Virginia
Jason Inexperienced, the Grand Poobah of the Yeti Path Runners, has created an accessible, enjoyable, and delightful 100 miler in his place of origin of Southwest Virginia. Carried out fully on the Virginia Creeper Path, this occasion, held on the final weekend of September, is as a lot a celebration as it’s a race.
Characterised by over-the-top assist stations, great neighborhood assist, and a race director who’s there to hug each finisher from first to final, the Yeti 100 Mile is a real embodiment of the spirit of ultrarunning.
An indication on the route of the 2018 Yeti 100 Mile. Photograph: Yeti 100 Mile
Bear 100 Mile — Utah and Idaho
The Bear 100 Mile, based over 20 years in the past by veteran ultrarunner, Leland Barker, and at the moment presided over by the passionate Cody Draper, is to me one of many traditional boutique ultras on the circuit.
Held within the prime time of leaf season in northern Utah and southern Idaho, and boasting 22,000 toes of vert, the Bear isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. And but the organizers and the longtime runners proceed to make it really feel accessible, homespun, and simply a kind of races you’re feeling like you could do earlier than you select to hold it up.
Autumnal colours on the route of the Bear 100 Mile in 2014. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
And there you may have it! Eight traditional 100 milers unfold throughout the U.S. by means of September. What a good time to be an ultrarunner!
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Caldera Brewery Firm in Ashland, Oregon. Caldera’s Pilot Rock Porter is a candy and nutty tackle this traditional selection. Easy and simple ingesting, Pilot Rock is a kind of Porters that makes you look twice and marvel if that is actually as darkish because it seems to be!
Name for Feedback
- Have you ever attended any of those races? Which of them, and inform us about them!
- What are your different fall favorites?
