[iRunFar has previously and will continue to provide extensive Western States coverage, so check out our Western States 100 Index for all the latest iRunFar articles on the race.]

The WSER is rich in history (a complete history of the Western States Trail, the Trail Ride, and the run can be found in the History section of the WSER website). In 1955, Wendell T. Robie and five horsemen rode the Western States Trail from Squaw Valley to Auburn, proving that horses could cover 100 miles in a single day. Robie later founded the Western States Trail Foundation and organized the annual Western States Trail Ride (a/k/a the Tevis Cup). In 1974, Tevis Cup veteran Gordy Ainsleigh decided to join the horses participating in the Western States Trail Ride to see if he could complete the course on foot, and arrived in Auburn 23:42 after the start. The following year Ron Kelley attempted the 100 miles on foot, but dropped two miles from the finish.

The first official WSER took place in 1977 and included 14 runners, only 3 of which (Andy Gonzales in 22:57, and Peter Mattei and Ralph Paffenbarger, both in 28:36) finished the race. It was the 1977 event that gave birth to the 30-hour time award. The Board of Directors for the Western States Endurance Run was formed as part of the Western States Trail Foundation in the fall of 1977. An increase in interest and participation in the WSER quickly followed. Soon, the race grew to include 21 aid stations and 6 medical checks. 63 runner participated in 1978, including the first woman, Pat Smythe, who finished in 29:34. 143 runners participated in 1979, and the event has since reached its full entrance quota.

From 1999 to 2005 the men’s event was dominated by Scott Jurek, including his course record 15:36:27 in 2004. Graham Cooper took the men’s title in 2006, and Hal Koerner in 2007 and 2009. On the women’s side, the great Ann Trason was virtually unstoppable from 1989 to 2003, winning 10 straight and 14 out of 15 (her only non-win occurring in 1999), and setting the women’s course record of 17:37:51 in 1994. Since 2003, the women’s event has been won 3 times by Nikki Kimball (2004, 2006 and 2007) and once by Annette Bednosky (2005).  2009′s edition was won by Anita Ortiz.

Related posts:

1. This Week In Running : Special Western States 100 Edition
2. Andy Jones-Wilkins Pre-2010 Western States 100 Interview
3. Western States 100 Index

The 2010 Merrell Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Run, an arduous trail run in the Little Bighorn-Tongue River areas of the Bighorn National Forest, kicks off at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 18. Runners must be prepared for potential extreme temperature variation and weather conditions with possible temps exceeding 100 degrees during the day in the canyons, and below freezing at night in the mountains. This wild and scenic course traverses territory inhabited by elk, deer, moose, bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes. The course is an out-and-back consisting of 76 miles of single-track trail, 16 miles of rugged double-track jeep trail, and 8 miles of gravel road with approximately 17,500 feet of climbing and 18,000 feet of descent. (Runners continue a bit further downhill past the start to the finish.)

The 2009 edition of this event was won by Karl Meltzer (19:15:26, a good 2+ hours ahead of 2nd place finisher Nick Clark) and Ashley Nordell (24:51:36, ahead of 2nd place finisher Gwen Scott in 26:16:04). Course records (traditional course) are held by Meltzer (19:15:26; 2009) and Darcy Africa (23:22:21; 2007). Meltzer is not returning to Bighorn in 2010, while Nordell is.

Pacific Coast Trail Runs is back at it again with the Angel Island Trail Run (50k, 25k, 16k and 8k) on Saturday, June 19 in Ayala Cove, Angel Island State Park, California. Angel Island is a hilly, grass-and-forest-covered island that provides spectacular views of Marin County, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate. Trails and roads circle the entire island and climb Mount Livermore. The 50k race is stocked with 4,070 feet of elevation gain. David Welsh (3:51:24 in 2005) and Jessica Tranchina (4:32:21 in 2004) hold the 50k course records.

To wrap things up we have the Sun Mountain 50 Mile Trail Race (Sunday, June 20 on the Sun Mountain Trail System in Winthrop, Washington). Options also include a 50k, 25k and free kids 1k race. All of the courses are on the trails on Sun Mountain, but the 50-miler also runs on the Twisp River Trail, some dirt forest service roads and about 3 miles of pavement. For the most part, the trails are well-maintained, not too technical and fast (most of the climbs are gradual). The 50-miler has about 6,000 feet of elevation gain.

That will do it for this week. Of course, feel free to let us know what events you may be at this weekend by leaving a comment, and, of course, check back during the next two weeks for some exciting posts about the 2010 Western States Endurance Run!

Related posts:

1. This Week In Running (Week of 6/20 & 6/21)
2. This Week In Running (Week of 10/4 – 10/5)
3. This Week In Running (Week of 2/27 and 2/28)

There was some great running at the Pineland Farms 50 Mile Trail Race on Sunday. Brian Rusiecki defended his overall title with a stellar 6:06:32 performance, besting Ben Nephew (6:19:36). A new course record was set on the women’s side by Aliza Lapierre (6:48:07 and 3rd overall!).

[Trail Goat Note: Off the trail and onto the road, the Comrades Marathon was last weekend. We previously covered how Americans fared at Comrades and interviewed the race's top American, Michael Wardian, in the days before the event.]

This week we welcome back a few 100-milers, and will give you a sneak peak at 4 events taking place on the weekend of Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6, starting with, of course, the 100-milers. So, pull a chair up, sit back, and get those reading glasses out ’cause off we go….

A pair of out-and-back legs make up the Kettle Moraine 100 Mile Trail Run taking place on Saturday in LaGrange, Wisconsin. The first leg starts at the Nordic loop and turns around at the Scuppernong campground for a round trip distance of 62.9 miles. Leg #2 heads out to Rice Lake for a 37.3 mile out-and-back. The course is run entirely on trails (save a couple hundred feet of road crossings) and traverses the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The trail is about 80% wooded terrain, with the rest meandering through gentle prairie or marsh areas. Part of the course is a roller coaster of hills, with small rocks and roots scattered about. Other sections are gently rolling with fairly smooth surfaces. Total altitude gain is approximately 12,000 feet. Zach Gingerich won the 2009 event in 15:17:32, over two hours ahead of second place finisher Scott Klopfenstein (17:34:19). Jenny Chow took top honors for the women with a time of 20:26:55. The course records are held by Gingerich (15:17:32 in 2009) and Donna Perkins (18:12:30 in 1998).

Significant climbs and 14,000 feet of elevation gain await the runners in the Old Dominion 100 Mile Cross Country Run on Saturday in the Massanutten Mountains and the Massanutten-ensconced Fort Valley, Virginia. With a bright and early 4 a.m. start at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, the race is a measured loop trail through the Massanutten Mountains and is planned as a fair test of endurance running. The course has a 28-hour time limit, with sub-24-hour finishers earning the Old Dominion sterling silver buckle. The 2009 event had 22 finishers, 12 earning the silver buckle. Jason Lantz took first place (18:35) over Brad Hinton (19:39) and Scott Brockmeier (19:52). Liz Bauer (22:44) won the women’s race.

The 14th annual Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run takes place at 5:00 AM on Saturday in Provo, Utah. The course is “a very challenging, difficult scenic loop course through the Wasatch Mountains above Provo, Utah,” consisting of dirt trails (43%), dirt roads (38%) and some paved roads (19%). Over 10,000+ feet of elevation gain and loss, with 5 major climbs varying from 1,100 feet to nearly 3,000 feet will certainly test your legs. Scott Jamie (8:05:32) prevailed in 2009 besting Kevin Shilling (8:07:50), while Darcie Gorman took first female (9:50:10).

Lastly, the Mid-Atlantic Regional of The North Face Endurance Challenge will take place in Washington, DC this weekend, returning to Algonkian Regional Park, Great Falls Park and the Potomac Heritage Trail. The courses ever-changing terrain consists of 50% single-track trail, 30% dirt or gravel double-track, 10% gravel carriage road, and 10% paved road. The Great Falls sections are highlighted by hills with steep but run-able climbs of up to 300 feet. The River Trail covers up to three miles of tip-toeing and hopping along bluffs high above the Potomac River – a tedious, but scenic adventure.

As usual, feel free to add all the details of some of the other events that you may be participating in this weekend in our comment section!

Related posts:

1. This Week in Running (Week of 6/19 – 6/20)
2. This Week In Running (Week of March 6 and 7)
3. This Week In Running (Week of 11/1 & 11/2)

“We’ll begin, with a spin, traveling in the world of my creation, what we’ll see will defy explanation”…what is this, Nanny Goat’s 12/24 Hour Trail Race with 100 Mile (28 hour option) in Riverside, California. Originally crafted as a 24-hour trail race, by special request they have added a 100-mile option (in the form of a time limit extension of 4 hours) for solo runners who wish to continue beyond the 24 hour time limit with a goal of hitting 100 miles. The race takes place on a one mile dirt loop on a private horse ranch. The course is flat, wide and, depending on the weather, footing is good. In the 2009 edition of the 24-hour event, Christian Burke took first place, recording 111 miles – 7 miles ahead of second place finisher Greg Hardesty. The 2009 12-hour race was won by Chris Martinez (67 miles), one mile better than second place finisher Charles Bauknecht (66 miles).

The Pocatello 50 Mile Trail Run (Saturday, May 29 in Pocatello, Idaho) will take competitors on a challenging tour of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and can be run solo or in a relay category (2 or 3 teammates). For the truly “hardcore” runner, the race is a serious test of endurance with approximately 13,700 feet of  vertical gain. It is a large loop course, starting and finishing at the Mink Creek Group Site Campground Pavilion. From super-steep uphill climbs, to quad ripping downhills, the race course “has it all…and everything in between”. Most of the race is either on single-track, ATV trails or dirt roads. The high point (elevation-wise) is a bit over 8,600 feet. Only 80% of 2009 starters finished the race, with Dave James (9:16), Kevin Shilling (9:24) and Sean Meissner (9:59) finishing 1, 2 and 3. On the women’s side in 2009, Krissy Moehl (10:13) bested Darla Askew (10:58) and Mandy Hosford (11:29). iRunFar’s Bryon Powell has written a profile on the Pocatello 50, where he dropped out last year.

For those looking for a little drama, Montrail runners (and good friends) Sean Meissner and Matt Hart are finishing off a two race competition versus one another at Pocatello. Hart has a 23 minute lead after the first showdown at the Orcas Island 50k. Take a look at this video of the pair talking smack on Orcas Island. Oh, and there’ll be lots of others joining Matt and Sean, too… on the men’s side, Karl Meltzer, Scott Jaime, Andy Jones-Wilkins, Luke Nelson, Ty Draney and others. The women’s race will be a showdown featuring Joelle Vaught, Amy Sportson, and Mandy Hosford.

We keep things short this week and wrap it up with the Pineland Farms Trail Challenge 50 Mile (Sunday, May 30 in New Gloucester, Maine). This is a true, weekend-long event, with a slew of other race options – 5k, 10k, Barefoot 5k, 5k Canicross, 25k, 50k and 50 miles over the course of Saturday and Sunday. The 50-mile is a loop course, with runners first completing a 3.5 mile loop, followed by 3 laps of the 25k course. It is an “off-road roller coaster on well-maintained XC trails that twist, turn, and roll their way through forests and across pastoral, working farmland.” The trails are level, wide, and non-technical with no roots or rocks. Although there are no major climbs, the rolling terrain is unrelenting. The surface of the trails is mainly grass and dirt sprinkled with pine needles, pine cones, twigs, and small stones. From time to time runners will be directed off the main trail system and into fields, where the course will follow a path cut by local farmers using their haying equipment. The grass is rough and can vary in height in different places.

The Pineland Farms 50-mile course records are held by Brian Rusiecki (6:02:54 in 2009) and Amy Lane (7:24:42 in 2009). Both Rusiecki and Lane are returning for this year’s 50 miler where they’ll be respectively challenged by stand out New Englanders, Leigh Schmitt and Aliza LaPierre.

What events are you running/attending this weekend. Leave us a comment and fill us in on all the details!

[Trail Goat Note: The 85th Comrades Marathon will be run in South Africa this weekend. It's the world's largest ultra (23,000+ runners) and will feature top Americans this year, including Michael Wardian, Kami Semick, Nikki Kimball, and Josh Cox. We interviewed Wardian in the days before the race.]

Related posts:

1. This Week In Running (Week of 6/5 – 6/6)
2. This Week In Running (Week of 11/22 & 11/23)
3. This Week In Running (Week of 4/10 and 4/11)

[Trail Goat Note: If you're interested in following the championships live, you're in luck. The American team is already posting updates on the AmericanUltra website and will be providing in-race coverage. For a more international perspective on the race, follow the International Association of Ultrarunner's coverage and results live feed. Here's a list of all the competitors (pdf), if you're interested. On a sad note, the race director passed away just five days before this race!

Until race time, feel free to give a shout out to your favorite competitors or predict how they'll fare. Cheer 'em on in the comments once the race get's started. You know what we'll be watching!]

American Women
Last year, the American women took home second place at the 24-hour world championships in Italy. Here’s the squad that will look to improve on that result with a world championship. Good luck, girls!

The American women after winning silver at the 2009 24-hour world championships. (l-r, Jen Van Allen, Annette Bednosky, Deb Horn, Carilyn Johnson, Jamie Donaldson) Photo courtesy of AmericanUltra.org.

Forty-five year old, mother of three Suzanna Bon first broke into ultrarunning in 2003, and since then she has collected plenty of victories and course records, ranking among the top 10 American female ultrarunners (according to Ultrarunning Magazine) in the last 3 years. Suzanna earned a spot on Team USA with her 134.7 mile victory at the San Francisco One Day in 2009. Other recent performances of note, 1st place female at the 2010 Ruth Anderson 100k (9:38:31), 1st place female at the 2009 San Diego 100 (19:32:19), and 1st place female at the 2008 Cascade Crest 100 (23:06:13).

There are few ultrarunners as accomplished as 35-year old, two-time Badwater Ultramarathon champion Jamie Donaldson. A middle school math teacher from Littleton, Colorado, Jamie has been the top American female finisher at the 24-Hour World Championship for the past two years (including a fourth place, 136.83 mile performance in 2009). She was runner-up to Kami Semick for Ultrarunning Magazine’s Ultrarunner of the Year twice, and is the 200km American track record holder (21:01:28). (Teammate Jill Perry holds the overall American 200k record in 20:57:42.) 2010 had already been a stellar year for Donaldson with 2nd place finishes at the Ghost Town 39 Mile (6:13:12) and Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile (16:54:14), and first place overall wins at Lost 118 Mile Endurance Run (18:36:15) and the Philadelphia 100 Mile (14:58:23).

Debra Horn, a 50-year old attorney from Cleveland, Ohio, is the American women’s 50-54 age-group 12-hour record holder (72.96 miles), and this will be her fourth consecutive appearance on the National 24-Hour Team. Horn isn’t just a runner, she is also a curler and member of the Mayfield Curling Club’s national championship team. She knocked out 128+ miles at the NorthCoast 24-Hour run in 2009.

If you haven’t heard about Amy Palmiero-Winters, the 37-year old from Hicksville, New York who became the first amputee ever to be named to a USA National Team, then you’ve missed several articles that have appeared in national papers of note, including USA Today and the New York Times. Amy finished first overall in the 2009 24-Hour Run to the Future, covering 130.04 miles. She also took first overall honors at the Ultracentric 100 Mile (24:42:52) and first female in the 2009 Heartland 100 Mile (18:54:13). A single mother who works as a youth fitness director, coach and motivational speaker, Amy had her left leg amputated below the knee following a 1997 motor cycle accident and 27 surgeries. Since then, she has become a single-leg below-the-knee amputee world record holder in over a dozen events (including the marathon and Ironman distance triathlon), and the AAU Sullivan Award winner as the outstanding American amateur athlete for 2009.

She may be considered a “new-comer” to the world of ultrarunning, but 39-year old Manlius, New York resident Jill Perry is no stranger to endurance events. Jill balances running her own coaching service for running mothers and her ultrarunning career with raising five, yes, five young children. Winner of the 2009 USA 24-Hour National Championship (logging 136.3 miles), Jill is also the course record holder at the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run (15:58:16).

Last, and certainly not least, is 37-year old Anna Piskorska of Blandon, Pennsylvania. A native of Gdansk, Poland, Piskorska emigrated to the US in 1992 and became a US citizen in 2006. She took up running only 4 years ago, notching her first marathon victory at the 2008 Triple Crown Marathon. Two years after getting into running, Anna moved up to ultra distances. She logged 132.6 miles at the 2009 USA 24-Hour National Championship.

American Men
Moving on to the men’s team, we start with Scott Jurek. What can you say about Jurek’s accomplishments that hasn’t already been said? The 36-year old from Seattle, Washington is regarded by some as the preeminent American male ultrarunner of the past decade. He is a physical therapist and running coach who is best known for his unprecedented seven consecutive victories at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Scott is also a two-time winner of the Badwater Ultramarathon. Scott has won numerous ultrarunning events, including Spartathlon (2006, 2007, 2008), Hardrock (2007), and Miwok 100k (2002, 2003 and 2004). His ultrarunning resume is stacked with outstanding performances and awards.

[Trail Goat Note: Jurek has previously spoken about going for the American 24-hour record (Mark Godale, 162.46 miles) and seeing how close he could come to Yiannis Kouros's incredible world record of 180.33 miles. Here's what Jurek had to say about racing 24-hours before starting his first such race at Ultracentric in late 2008.]

Serge Arbona of Baltimore, Maryland has been winning ultras for almost a decade. At the 2009 20-in-24 24-Hour Race he logged 146.28 miles to take first overall. The 45-year old is also no stranger to 100-mile victories, winning the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

John Geesler, 51 from Johnsville, New York is a 3-time USA 24-Hour National Champion, and a 5-time national team member. He is returning to the team as an athlete after a one-year stint as team manager. A maintenance supervisor at a textile mill, John is the current 48-hour American road record holder (248 miles).

At one time, 40-year old Michael Henze weighed over 300 pounds. Not any more. Henze, a resident of Neenah, Wisconsin, took up running and dropped over half of his body weight. In 2009, he won and broke the course record at the FANS 24-Hour race (147.41 miles).

Phil McCarthy, 41 of New York City, is on the American 24-hour team for the fourth straight year and with good reason. He won the 2009 US 24-hour national championship with a run of 151 miles and has a personal best of 154 miles from back in 2007. McCarthy, originally from Nebraska, has also covered more than 235 miles in a 48-hour race. At least year’s Pioneer Trek 100 mile, he ran a blazing fast 13:28:26!

Dan Rose took up running following cancer treatment. Just over 5 years later, he’s made the American 24-hour team for the first time following a third place finish at last year’s 24-hour national championships where he logged 139.22 miles. At only 33 years old, Rose could make the 24-hour team for decades to come (see John Geesler).

Related posts:

1. Michael Wardian Sets US 50k Road Championship Record
2. Vasque Trailrunning Team Arise!
3. 2010 Marathon des Sables Preview

Krissy Moehl rocking a Patagonia skirt at UTMB.

Skorts and running skirts generally inspire great passion. There are those like Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, authors of the recently released book Run Like a Mother, who suggest a running skirt as your must have, best finish photo ever, race attire. Yet other women make argument for skorts being debasing, sexist and making a mockery out of female athletes. They happen to be flattering to most figures and take fit and function beyond the standard, somewhat androgynous running short. And while most men will agree they are easy on the eyes, just as many will balk at being “passed by a skirt”.

Call me shallow, but I know I perform better when I feel good about myself, and I feel better about myself when I am confident in what I’m wearing. I wore my first running skirt, an early loin-cloth version of the Skirt Sports Race Belt Skirt, at a half IM tri in 2005. I had just made the turn on the out-and-back run course and was thinking of all the things I’d rather be doing at that exact moment, when I heard, “Hey you…in the skirt.” A lady approaching the turn-around got in my face, and said, “If you have the guts to dress like that, shouldn’t you be running a little faster?” She had a point. I refocused, motored to the finish line and relished in my negative split time. I then waited for my tough love angel to appear and handed her my stinky, sweat-drenched skirt. She accepted it with post-race endorphin rush, tearful appreciation. In retrospect it was rather gross, but we were happy!

From personal observations, the swish of a running skirt adds a spring to your step, while gracefully glossing over most women’s perceived trouble spots (before you eviscerate me, I’m not suggesting anyone has actual trouble spots, but an inordinate number of females will complain about their bellies—me—hips, thighs and/or butts). If you are a hater, that’s your prerogative. But I dare you to test out one of these running ready models, or wrap one up for a female runner in your life, and see for yourself!

For the sake of comparison, all models I tested featured boy short liners, which make chafing a thing of the past, and were 14” long, but can look longer if you wear them on your hips or shorter if you wear them on your waist. That’s up to you!

Brooks Epiphany Skort – $40
This sassy number has a wide, comfortable waistband to keep it where you want it, the outer fabric has a bit of stretch which moves with you and resists snags and the boy short liner did not ride up into the discomfort zone. The skort also has a zip rear pocket, a side slit and a vented side panel for breathability. Comfort and functionality at a great price point.

GoLite Tilly Jane Run Skirt – $60
The Tilly Jane wore shorter than its length and was short enough to illicit the stink-eye from other car pool moms, but I felt adequately covered while being able to feign naive naughtiness. That’s enough to make me order one in every color! It features a belly flattering, V-cut, wide waistband, a little extra fabric for thigh coverage, a zip pocket and reflective logo. The shorts liner is made from Minerale fabric which dries fast and is soft against your skin, yet it rode up a bit on me—what can I say, I have really skinny legs!

Mountain Hardwear Pacer Run Skort – $55
The Pacer Run Skort has all the advantages of the Pacer Run Shorts (iRF Pacer Run Shorts review) in a fun, functional, trail-ready skort package. It features a wide and soft, low profile, rear-yoke waistband with a drawstring for personalized fit, an internal key pocket and rear zip pocket, UPF 30 sun protection and a high visibility safety logo. The fabric wicks sweat, dries fast and stretches to move with you. Plus, I never noticed the liner shorts—they were that comfortable.

Moving Comfort Sprint Skort – $44
This piece is a confidence booster for those nervous about a running skirt! Heavy-duty Aerosilver skirt material lays flat and flattering over the compression boy short liner and a wide, smooth-knit waistband with internal drawstring provides a “no ride” fit. An internal key pocket, two external pockets, reflective detailing on the front and back and two mesh side panels for breathability will make a running skirt convert out of the biggest skeptic!

Skirt Sports Gym Girl Ultra – $60
While you may not be as fast as Nicole DeBoom, the well thought out details in the Gym Girl Ultra will ensure you are just as comfortable. For starters, the skirt is a little longer in the back to allow enough fabric to cover your bum, the shorties are made from semi-compression fabric to smooth and stay put, and the cut of the shorties is wicked comfortable in the front—no center seam—plus mildly lifting in the rear. Two under skirt thigh pockets, a waistband music port and a pair of side slits for ultimate swish and ventilation add up to a complete package for your more civilized trail runs. [Note, iRF previously reviewed the Skirt Sports MarathonGirl Ultra skirt.]

Mother’s Day Skort Giveaway!
In honor of Mother’s Day, we teamed up with Mountain Hardwear to give away their brand new Pacer Run Skort to two lucky readers or their lucky woman friends. The two winners will received a copy of the book Run Like a Mother.

Lean Lutz won the contest on behalf of his wife, a mother of two. Jenny Handy, a mom three times over, also won the contest. Congrats to both of them.

Call for Comments
What do you think of running skirts? Ladies, got any favorites? If so, let us know what they are and why!

[Disclosure: The products reviewed above were free samples provided by the respective companies for that purpose. The book link to Amazon is part of an affiliate program that helps support iRunFar.com.]

Related posts:

1. Booty Found: Mountain Hardwear Pacer Advance Short Review
2. SkirtSports MarathonGirl Ultra Running Skirt Review
3. Brooks Element Shorts Review

Where do we begin? How about on the East Coast for a change, with the first of four events in The North Face Endurance Challenge Series, the North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain (Saturday, May 8 in Bear Mountain, New York). “A serious, hardy test for trail runners of any level,” this event “takes place on the western shores of the Hudson River, in the craggy foothills of the Catskill Mountains.” Saturday features a 50-mile, 50k, marathon, marathon relay, and kids run. Come back on Sunday and you can run the half-marathon, 10k, or 5k. The course is rated 4/5 stars for elevation change, 5/5 stars for technical terrain and 5/5 stars for overall difficulty. “Runners can expect technical terrain and rocky footing that cuts to the chase, with some trails heading steeply uphill rather than zig-zagging at a gentler grade. Descents end in wooded hollows before the next rapid climb ending with a breathtaking view. Make no mistake: this will be a tough test of off-road endurance.”

[Trail Goat Note: Bryon here to let you know a bit about the stiff competition that will be facing off in the TNF EC Bear Mountain 50 mile event. It will surely be a race worth following. Luckily, you can follow the race on Twitter via @thenorthface and @thenorthfaceECS. Here are my picks for the men:

1. I'll call Geoff Roes the favorite due to his recent 5:49:59 win at the American River 50 mile and second place finish to Uli Steidl at last December's The North Face Endurance Challenge Championship. (Read what Geoff has to say ahead of this weekend's race.)
2. Last year's Leadville champ, Timmy Parr, has speed and climbing ability (he won the 2009 Pikes Peak Ascent the weekend before Leadville) that he can put to use on Bear Mountain.
3. I'll pick Leigh Schmitt for third. Yes, Ben Nephew, beat him at the TNF EC Mid-Atlantic race last year, but Leigh is the two-time defending Bear Mountain champ.
4. Ben Nephew will battle Schmitt stride for stride, so we'll pick him for four.
5. I can hardly believe that I'm seeding Max King fifth. For those who don't know, King is a world class steeplechaser and cross country runner with a 2:19 marathon PR in a "bad" race. He was recently third at the American River 50 mile in 6:01:17. This seeding is more due to lack of ultra experience than anything else. King could very well finish second.
6. Brian Rusiecki was second to Schmitt at Bear Mountain last year and again at the Bull Run Run 50 mile a month ago. Then again, Rusiecki beat Schmitt by 5 minutes to set a course record at the Stone Cat 50 last November.

Here are some more top dogs. Edit: Some of these guys previously had numbers next to them, but it was never our intention to rank them. Heck, we have low confidence in the order of two through 6 above. Basically, the race is Geoff up front, a battle for second among the other five guys listed above, and the guys listed below, any of whom could slip into the top five.

• Andrew Carlson. Who? A road runner with a 1:02 half marathon PR. Yeah, an ultra is a whole different ballgame, but the guy clearly has speed and a sick cardiovascular system!
• Oz Pearlman is a road ultra specialist... and a testament to how deep the men's field is! Oz was seventh at least year's JFK 50 mile in 6:09:39.
• Jack Pilla continuously amazes with his performances. He won the Vermont 100 in 16:36 at the age of 51.
• Glen Redpath raced Miwok last weekend. Not gonna be fresh... though he seems to race all the time with few ill effects.
• Michael Arnstein is a top runner who we accidentally omitted until reader BS kindly pointed him out. Michael is a speedy marathoner who placed second at least year's JFK 50. [Added]

How do you think the men’s race will play out?

On the women’s side, Nikki Kimball is running and the race is her’s to lose. Amy Lane, a top New England runner, will run strong.]

We stay in the state of New York for the Long Island Greenbelt Trail 50k (Saturday, May 8 In Plainview, New York). The course is a double-out-and back (said to be challenging, but fair) on the northern portion of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail. After an approximate 1.5 mile stretch on rolling paved road, runners enter the Greenbelt Trail at the Sunnyside Boulevard trail head. Runners take the trail to the turnaround in Cold Spring Harbor where they are treated to a gorgeous view. The course contains several steep, rocky climbs which, although not too technical, are challenging. After completing the second out-and-back, the course heads back to the roads for a short trip to the finish line at the Greater Long Island Running Club. There are several instances where the course leaves the trail to cross heavily trafficked roads.

Keeping with the East Coast theme, we travel north to Pittsfield, Vermont and the McNaughton Park Trail Runs (30, 100, 150, 200 and 500 mile trail races). The 200/500 milers start at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. The 150 mile starts at 6:00 a.m. on Friday. The 30/100 milers start at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. All events are run on a rugged 10-mile loop in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Runners will repeat the loops 3, 10, 15, 20, or 50 times (depending on which event they are running). Each loop has 2,400 feet of vertical gain. Do the math…that’s 24,000 feet of gain for the 100-mile, 36,000 feet for the 150-mile, 48,000 feet for the 200-mile, and a whopping 100,800 feet for the 500-mile.

We can’t leave out the West Coast, and there are plenty to choose from, including the Jenkinson Lake Trail Runs (Saturday, May 8 in Pollock Pines, California), McDonald Forest 50k Trail Run (Saturday, May 8 in Corvallis, Oregon), Lost Lake 50k (Saturday, May 8 in Bellingham, Washington), PCT 50 Mile Trail Run (Saturday, May 8 in San Diego, California), and Ice Age Trail 50k (Saturday, May 8 in La Grange, Wisconsin). Be sure to check out each race’s web-site for more details, and let us know what event you are planning to run in this weekend!

Related posts:

1. This Week In Running (Week of 12/5 & 12/6)
2. This Week In Running (Week of 5/9 & 5/10)
3. This Week In Running (Week of 9/26 & 9/27)

Make no mistake about it, the Miwok 100k is hilly, delivering approximately 10,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain. Yet, with elevation comes spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, Mt. Tamalpais, and the Point Reyes National Seashore. The course, a modified out-and-back, consists of mostly fire roads and single-track trails (with about 5 miles of roads). It is also one of the most competitive races around.

In the 2009 event, Eric Grossman took top honors with a time of 8:35:17 followed closely by Victor Ballesteros in 8:38:10 and Scott Jaime in 8:46:23. Kami Semick took top female honors (9:07:02) over eventual Western States 100 champion Anita Ortiz (9:10:53).  It was Semick’s 3rd consecutive win at Miwok. The course record was set the prior year (2008) when Dave Mackey dominated the field to win in 7:53:19, a solid 30 minutes ahead of Jon Olsen (8:24:13), Geoff Roes (8:34:02), and Scott Jurek (8:38:17). The women’s course record is held by Ann Trason (8:55 in 2001) [Thanks to Gary Robbins for the correction].

The 2010 Miwok 100k list of registered entrants is just as stellar as it has been in the past. On the women’s side, Semick is slated to return and so is Ortiz. And you can’t leave out names like Devon Crosby-Helms, Krissy Moehl, Prudence L’heureux, Darcy Africa, Jenny Capel, Amy Sproston, and Diana Fitzpatrick as contenders. The men’s race is highlighted with  names such as Anton Krupicka, Hal Koerner, Evan Hone, Glen Redpath, Erik Skaden, and Zach Gingerick, just to name a few. This will surely be an event to keep a close eye on this weekend! (Note: Bryon Powell of iRunFar will be there covering Miwok. Follow iRunFar on Twitter for live from-the-course updates.)

If Miwok isn’t enough for you, here are a few other events taking place this weekend (all of which are on Saturday, May 1):

Muddy Marathon (Rockaway, New Jersey) – The trail course is 6.55 miles with over 1,600 feet of elevation gain and loss, beginning inside Craigmeur Recreation Complex, running through wooded paths, old ski trails and open fields. It then transitions through non-blazed trails into the woods to meet up with the Four Birds Trail. It follows this trail up the ridge and for approximately 2 miles before switching over to another non-blazed path in a return route to Craigmeur. This is NOT a trail race for beginning  trail runners. “You will run through water, mud, over rocks, possibly over downed trees, on blazed trails and also areas where there is no trail.”

Stolling Jim 40 Mile Run (Wartrae, Tennessee) – For 32 years, the first Saturday in May has meant one thing in the scenic hills of Bedford County, Tennessee: the return of the Ultra-Marathoners. And the Ultra-Marathoners have kept coming back. Coming back to stroll the quiet streets of Wartrace and Bell Buckle, enjoying the picturesque homes and quaint shops. Coming back to share in the three day reunion of the Southern Ultra community. Coming back to celebrate the end of winter with a run in the inspiring springtime beauty of the Highland Rim. Coming back to be a part of one of the US most competitive road ultras and to match their times against the fastest runners of the past 29 years. Coming back to strive for a coveted Gold Shirt. Coming back to feast on the bountiful repast at both pre- and post-run festivities. But, most of all, the Ultra-Marathoners keep coming back because, at the Strolling Jim, every runner is a hero, an honored guest, and a welcomed friend. Join us this May, and you will find your own reasons to keep coming back.

Greenland Trail 50k (Larkspur, Colorado) – Located within 3,000+ acres of the Greenland Open Space, the course passes through native grasslands, by ponds, through rolling Gamble oak hills and skirts ponderosa pine forests, allowing for outstanding views of Pikes Peak and the surrounding buttes. The entire course is run on dirt trails with wide, smooth double-track trails. This very fast course is very beginner friendly.

How about you, our readers? What are you all up to this weekend on the trail/ultra front ?

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1. This Week In Running (Week of 5/9 & 5/10)
2. This Week In Running (Week of 10/4 – 10/5)
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We begin in Fruita, Colorado with the Desert R.A.T.S. Trailrunning Festival (5, 10, 25 and 50 mile trail races). This is a challenging course. The 25-mile race is a single loop connecting the desert trails of Kokopelli’s and adjacent trails, with rolling elevations between 4,500 and 5,400 feet, and over 4,000 feet of climbing per loop. Five aid stations are located at about 5-mile intervals. The 50-mile race, of course, repeats the 25-mile course, but in the opposite direction. 50-milers must complete the first 25-mile loop in 6 and 1/2 hours, with an overall cut-off at 12 hours.

From Colorado we head to Lake Hughes, California and the 18th annual Leona Divide 50 Mile Run. The course has changed a bit this year from prior years with the addition of some scenic miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. The first 10 miles are run on groomed fireroads with some climbing. Next, runners connect up with the Pacific Crest Trail and run out to connect up with fire road 7N23. A hard right turn leads to 2.5 miles of solid downhill to the turn-around (at mile 29.5). Runners then head back up the fireroad and reconnect with the Pacific Crest Trail for a return trip to aid station #10 (mile 46.1), then it is down to the finish line.

This race has some rules, our favorite being “no whining or complaining please…if you are not happy for any reason find another race to do next year.”  In the 2009 edition, Benjamin Berkowitz (6:47:08) held on to beat Kevin Sullivan (6:49:09) by a mere 2 minutes. Krissy Moehl (7:25:37) took top honors for the women, with Michelle Barton (8:14:53) taking 2nd.

Finally, after a few weeks off, Pacific Coast Trail Runs brings us another one of their spectacular events, this one being the Skyline to the Sea Trail Run (Marathon and 50k). The popular Skyline to the Sea Trail runs from the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains at Saratoga Gap through Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the oldest State park in California (dating back to 1902), and ends at the Pacific Ocean at Waddell Beach, traveling through tall redwoods and high chaparral along the way. The course has about 3,000 feet of elevation gain and 5,580 feet of elevation loss. Leor Pantilat (3:38:05) and Caitlin Smith (4:17:54) were the top finishers from 2009.

There are several other events that might pique your interest this weekend, including the Ouachita Trail 50 (Little Rock, Arkansas), Ruth Anderson Ultras (San Francisco, California) and the WSU 100k (Pullman, Washington).

Anyone running on one of our featured races (or another one) – let us know, and have a great weekend!

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We begin with a beautiful, tough run on the Bull Run Trail in Northern Virginia, the 18th Bull Run Run. The run’s unique character includes a Civil War theme that respects the battles that occurred here many years ago, including a competition between runners from the North and the South. The course is a double out-and-back with a loop on the end of the second out-and-back that utilizes all but .3 miles of the Bull Run Trail (as well as the White Loop and the infamous Do Loop). The race has a 13-hour time limit. In addition to the overall cut-off, four aid stations have cut-off times (Fountainhead first pass, Do Loop first pass, Fountainhead second pass and Bull Run Marina second pass). The course records are held by Tom Nielsen (6:17:24 in 2004) and Anne Riddle Lundblad (7:31:17 in 2008). In the 2009 edition, Leigh Schmitt (6:31:14) took first, besting Glen Redpath (6:49:22) by about 18 minutes. Amy Sproston (7:34:05) dominated the women’s race, besting second place finisher Kimberly Drake (8:31:57) by nearly an hour. Schmitt and Drake are both registered for the 2010 event; Redpath and Sproston are not.

The brand new Labor of Love 100 Mile (with 50 mile, 50k, marathon, 1/2 marathon and 10k options, as well) kicks off this weekend in Lovell Canyon, Spring Mountains N.R.A., Las Vegas, Nevada. Starting and finishing at Lovell Canyon Road (elevation 4,500 feet), runners will experience high desert vegetation, including Joshua Trees, Pinion-Juniper, Mountain Rose, Sagebrush, and a relatively lush Toiyabe National Forest. The road twists and turns through the canyon, “a true treasure of the Spring Mountains N.R.A.” Yes, it is a road 100-miler. The race follows the paved Lovell Canyon Road as it twists and turns over rolling terrain. An 11-mile stretch of the road is run out-and-back 4 times (total 88 miles). A shorter out-and-back along the same stretch completes the 100-mile distance. Pacers are allowed after 44 miles. The race has about 8,000 feet of elevation gain and a 32-hour cut off.

[Trail Goat Note: What Tony failed to mention is that in his "week off" he ran a 100 mile PR at the Umstead 100. His time of 19:24 also gives him the fastest 100 mile time of any regular iRunFar contributor. Congratulations, Tony! You can read Tony's Umstead race report on his website.]

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