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Flattest 100 milers

vmclach
vmclach Posts: 670 Member
in Social Groups
I've been looking into the idea of the 100 miler for awhile now.. I don't have a ton of ultra experience. Just been averaging about a marathon/50k every 8 weeks for the past year & a half... I have my first 50 miler this year.. I've been searching around just taking a look at the 100 miler races in the usa... They all look ridicously challenging terrain wise... I would feel more comfortable doing one with less than a 5,000 foot climb over 100 miles. I know that's like "nothing"... I haven't ran across any even close to that flat..

JJ javalina junhundred is like 8,000 ft and that's "flat".. The ones near me are like 20k+ feet climb..

Anyone know any?!?

Replies

  • lizsmith1976
    lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
    You want flat? Come to Texas :)

    http://www.brazosbend100.com/
    Just about 3,000 feet of gain - described as "flat and fast"

    http://www.tejastrails.com/Rocky.html
    It's actually 5,375ft elevation gain (unofficial), but as you said, not much over 100 miles.

    There's also a crazy (very crazy) day in December called the Houston running festival where you run loops around one of our parks with running trails as long as you want to. It's a 2 mile loop and some people do a half, a full, a 50K, a 50 mile, 100K, or 100 mile. I think 50 loops of the same scenery sounds a little nutty, but... It's almost all flat. Really, really flat. Probably less than 1,000 feet elevation gain even if you do the 100.
  • NorthCountryDreamer
    NorthCountryDreamer Posts: 115 Member
    Wisconsin has the Ice Age trail that I believe is not as technical as Superior. Just run Superior 100 this fall.
  • KateRunsColorado
    KateRunsColorado Posts: 407 Member
    Are you opposed to doing multiple laps/loops?

    Those are the only ones around me that I know of that are somewhat "flat".
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    http://www.leanhorse100.com/
  • trail_rnr
    trail_rnr Posts: 337 Member
    Salt Flats 100 in Utah. Beautiful and evil.

    http://saltflats100.com/course/

    Beware. Sometimes hills are a really good thing.
  • Carrieendar
    Carrieendar Posts: 493 Member
    The only one here is lots of loops of 1000 ft climb for total of about 8000 climb, though the hills are well spaced. I run there for marathon training regularly...could be something to consider if you don't find another course..

    http://www.umstead100.org/raceinfo.html
  • davemunger
    davemunger Posts: 1,139 Member
    Beast of Burden along the Erie canal is about as flat as it gets, short of running on a track.
  • DavidMartinez2
    DavidMartinez2 Posts: 840 Member
    I would suggest one of the shorter (3-5 mile) loop courses for your first time out; there are plenty of those you can find that are flat and if things go sideways you aren't stuck in the wilderness somewhere.
  • tappae
    tappae Posts: 568 Member
    Haven't done it yet, but I'd imagine the graveyard 100 would have to be mostly flat:

    http://www.graveyard100.com/GY100.html
  • sarahc001
    sarahc001 Posts: 477 Member
    Keys 100, salt flats, C&O 100 (near me in April if you're looking for a pacer- I paced a guy there this year for his first 100.) The only issue is the climb up to the manidokan campground. Course is two loops on the canal (super flat) but you literally climb up (ropes in place to hold into) to the campground just after halfway and again at the end.

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