Ultra Trail DE
From the creators of Granogue Games comes Delaware’s newest ultra adventure: Ultra Trail DE! This 6-hour trail running challenge features a roughly 5-mile loop with approximately 700 feet of climbing per lap. Set on stunning private trails with creek crossings, scenic singletrack, and plenty of elevation, this race is designed to test your limits while delivering an unforgettable trail experience.
Note-We planned a 10 hour race but due to access limits & volunteer availability we had to scale our event back. That said this race is still gonna be epic!
Location / Contact
Address is 2900 Montchanin Road, Wilmington, DE 19807. Please note cell service is sketchy in areas of the grounds.
Course
It’s a beauty. For those that joined us in 2023 it's a very similar course with some tweaks. We have crafted a roughly 5-mile, marked lap with about 700'? of elevation gain per lap, without any long sustained climbs. The course is situated on a 550 acre property that Longwood Gardens purchased from the previous Owners. It is NOT open to the public except on run day. Spectacular views on high of pastureland, the Brandywine Creek, ponds, water towers, a tunnel, a greenhouse and these rolling hillsides all overlooking the Brandywine valley will make you forget about the pain. The perfect combo of twisty-turny, ups and downs with an occasional gravel road to make up some time! A trail runners perfect day in the woods. Course could be considered somewhat technical in spots. Still, a typical trail runners course featuring sections of scattered rocks and roots, a mix of grass & gravel and includes the 'tunnel of love'!
Main Info
This is private property with a new Owner, Longwood Gardens and our first time collaborating with them, so we really want our event to go smoothly. If we can pull that off with your cooperation we stand a good chance of receiving an invitation to come back again.
-No Preview:No poaching/pre-running these trails before race day or you'll be disqualified. These trails are only open race day.
-Start: 8:00 am meet at the Greenhouse drive same as in 2023. Please respect that inside the Greenhouse is off limits.
No stepping into the Greenhouse to look around for anyone, spectator or runners.
-Parking: In a field you'll see signage directing you to the area. If you ran our event in 2023 parking was at the top, plateau crossroad. That will change this year.
-Registration / Bib Pick Up / Check In: Opens at 7:00 am at the Plateau, look for signage. Race Day registration is pending - Please contact Race Directors if race day registration is available or if the limit has been met.
-Finish & Main Aid Station: These will both be at the plateau. The main aid station is where you will access our prepared food & drinks at the end of each lap.
-Water Stations: There will be a water station about 3 miles or at half of the full lap. Water and an energy/electrolyte option of drinks will be staged there. There will be another water only station at another location.
-Cupless: This event is cup-less, so bring your reusable cup. The first water stop is at mile 3.5.
-Personal tents: You will be able to stage your own chair, canopy tent, food/drink/shoe changing station at the plateau area that you will pass by every full lap.
Additional info
-Awards:Unique custom award for 1st Overall Female and Male. Custom Podium awards for 2nd & 3rd Place overall Male & Female. Finisher awards for everyone completing the 6-hour race.
-- Swag? Of course there's Swag, we'll keep you posted via our Instagram/Facebook sites as we make race announcements. ***
-NO Course Preview.
-Wavier:You may be required to sign a 2nd waiver, tbd.
-Aid-Station:Supplies are for runners only. If you have any special dietary needs, please provide your own food in your drop bag. **NOTE-Some items may be available for sale to your Crew, family, friends who are welcome but must abide by Longwood Gardens waiver(tbd).
-Drop Bags:An area will be designated for your “personal station” and or drop bags. Personal pop-up Tents/canopies can be set up within these parameters. Spots are on a first come basis. You can access your drop bag at the end of each full lap.
-Portopots:We’ll have them adjacent to the Greenhouse/Start area. As well as feminine products & sanitizer.
-Course: Will be well marked with ribbons and directional signage where needed.
-Parking: Field parking. Please consider carpooling.
-Medical: We will have minor first-aid supplies available, (band-aids, blister care, lube application.) We will have volunteers with medical training.
-Clothing Drive Donations: We are accepting donations of garments and footwear in support of Friendship House. Bring your "bagged" clothing/footwear donation to registration. This will get you a door prize ticket.
-Door Prizes: You will receive 1 Door Prize ticket at registration/bib pickup. Door prize tickets will be drawn while you are running and winners will be posted on our whiteboard. You won’t miss seeing it. If your bib # is listed, your Door Prize will be waiting for you when you are done!
-Pets: *Must be leashed and poop attended to promptly. (If Longwood Gardens excludes pets we'll update but for now will continue our pet policy.) Pets are not allowed on course with registered runners.
Refund / Severe Weather Date
-REFUNDS:-Please don’t register until you are certain you have no schedule conflicts with the event date. There are NO REFUNDS. If you have a medical emergency please email the race director for a transfer option. If an act of goddess, freak storm, a state of Emergency crops up our backup date will be Sunday, Sept 28, 2025. If the whole weekend is a washout, Saturday, November 1, 2025 is the next date to reschedule due to weather.
Volunteers
Any racer that brings a volunteer willing to help out and signs up on this page we'll give you a discount code. There are 3 blocks of time for volunteers ranging from parking crew for 2 hours to aid station/water stations for 3 hours. They can watch you race at a cool spot out on course.
Thank you!
WSER Donation
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Two Badasses!
About the Promoters,
Diane Grim started trail running and volunteering about 10 years ago after decades of competitive bike racing, earning national medals on the road and cyclocross scene. Trail running highlights include her first place, overall female finishes at both Worlds End 50k and the Green Monster Trail Challenge 50k, and a 3rd place overall female finish at Bull Run 50 Miler.
-Diane has been selected this year to run WSER, her first 100 miler. More on that coming soon. Lisa Vible started trail running to improve her cyclocross racing. Lisa ran her first 30k at Granogue, two 50K's at Labor Pain and World's End and another 35 miler at Labor Pain. She is a decorated cyclist with a national championship in the Tandem Road Race, 4X-Silver Medalist on the road and mountain bike, a regional champion in mountain bike, track and cyclocross. Lisa has been volunteering at trail events for decades and promoted 5 successful editions of Granogue Cross.
Photographer Credits
Photographer credits,
Dennis Smith
Kevin Dillard,
Cathy Ogur
Blair Saunders
Lisa Vible
Tom Burrows
Thanks!
Event's current local time: 1:47 AM ET
