Opportunities for U.S. Trail, Mountain and Ultra Runners Abound in 2015

News Release / 05.01.2015

At USATF’s annual meeting in Anaheim, CA, earlier this month, the mountain ultra-trail council awarded several championships for 2015, which will join previously announced championship events.

Races cover a broad spectrum in terms of distance, terrain, and venues with the first championship event to be held next month and the final to be staged in November. Eight states are represented in the 11 championships covering distances from eight kilometers to 100 miles, as well as an event staged over a 24-hour period.

First up is the USA 100km Trail Championships in Bandera, TX, on January 10, followed by the USA 100 Mile Trail Championships at Rocky Raccoon in Huntsville, TX, on January 31. Both are organized by Joe Prusaitis whose Tejas Trails events are a popular staple for trail runners nationwide. The courses are challenging and the scenery is guaranteed to inspire.

Just in time for the spring thaw, the USA 50km Road Championships will be held on March 1, in Lloyd Harbor, NY. This year marks the ninth consecutive time the Greater Long Island Running Club will host the 50km championships at Caumsett Park. To attract runners who are wanting a shorter tune-up event, there will also be a 25km event held in conjunction with the 50km.

The next event on the schedule will be the USA 100km Road Championships on April 11 in Madison, WI. Like the event in Caumsett Park, the Mad City 100km will offer additional distances including a 50-kilometer solo event and a 50-kilometer relay.

The following month, Cayuga Trails 50 will host the USA 50Mile Trail Championships on May 31, in Ithaca, NY. This course promises an amazing experience as the route threads in and out of gorges, passes numerous waterfalls, challenges the runners to negotiate creek crossings, and climbs roughly 10,000 feet over variable terrain.

The shortest distance, although not the easiest by any definition is the USA Mountain Running Championships at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, OR. Not only will the event serve as the championships, it will also serve as the sole U.S. Mountain Running Team selection race where the top six men and the top four women will earn automatic berths on the team (provided they are U.S. citizens and current USATF members). Additionally, the second annual Collegiate Mountain Running Championships will be contested at the event.

The men’s course is comprised of three loops totaling 12 kilometers, while the women will run approximately eight kilometers, or two loops. There will also be a citizen’s race over a shorter route, although all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in the longer championships course.

Staying out west, but moving south to California, is the next event on the schedule – the USA 50km Trail Championships. The event will be hosted by Tamalpa Headlands 50km in Muir Beach, CA, on August 29. Competitors will enjoy Marin County’s iconic trails – Coastal, Miwok, Steep Ravine and the Dipsea – on this classic, single-loop course boasting over 7,300 feet of elevation change.

Back to the Midwest on September 19-20, for the USA 24 Hours Championships hosted in Cleveland, OH, at the North Coast 24 Hour Endurance Run. The certified course consists of a 0.90075-mile loop on the all-purpose asphalt path at Edgewater Park and is almost perfectly flat.

The Lake Padden Half Marathon returns for the second consecutive year to host the USA Half Marathon Trail Championships in Bellingham, WA, on October 17. Organizers plan to include more single track in this year’s edition, and may also offer a partner 10 kilometer race, or shorter “teaser” race.

It will be back to Wisconsin on October 24, for the USA 50 Mile Road Championships.  Held in Green Bay, the Fall 50 also offers a team relay (3-5 runners per team), and a pairs relay (2 runners per team) on the program. The course route hugs the scenic western shoreline of the Door Peninsula and is asphalt in its entirety.

The final event on the schedule is the USA Marathon Trail Championships held in Moab, UT, on November 7.  Runners can expect 3500 feet of climbing on this truly pristine route in the Canyonlands of Utah. Companion events of five kilometers, half marathon, as well as a kids’ kilometer run will inspire families to make this a destination event.

Championship medals will be up for grabs as well as a combined prize purse of over $30,000 to be distributed among top finishers in the open and masters’ divisions. Prize money varies from race to race with additional bonuses for course records at some of the events.

For complete results visit the individual websites listed above as well as the USATF website at this link.

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