What
BONUS POINTS EVENT
All participants who finish with an official time will receive bonus points (tbd) for the new
Vert Running Series. This is a great way to get a advantage early on the competition.
This is one of the most challenging ultras in Washington that is located just 20 minutes from Seattle in the beautiful Issaquah Alps and it supports an awesome nonprofit, Run For Shoes. This Fastest Known Time (FKT) format event has over 8,000 feet of vertical beauty for the 50k and 15,000 plus feet for the 100k. You can experience what it takes individuals to set a FKT starting from planning, training and running your fastest time ever. You have 14 days, May 1 - May 14, 2023, to run the official course that showcases Washington's logging and mining history along with some wonderful views. You'll also find some of the greatest awards for overall men and women along with a new masters division (50+) in the PNW.
Attention The 2023 event is on a reroute due to logging on Middle Tiger area and there will be no FKT for this year.
Why 50k Divisions?
We have added divisions to the 50k event because it is a Vert Running Series bonus points event. The Elite and Sport 50k events will be combined together for the overall awards.
Vert Running Series Bonus Points
This is the first year of the Vert Running Series and we're honored to be their Bonus Points event. All participants in the 50k will receive points 50 for first, 49, 48, 47 and down through the field for each of the three divisions, Elite, Sport and Masters 50+. This will enable participants to get ahead start on the rest of the series participants while also helping out a charity. It's a win, win, WIN!
Why
Run For Shoes is a 501c3 nonprofit designed to eliminate the barriers for underserved youth to develop a healthy lifestyle, through the gift of a running program, coaching, life skills and a pair of shoes. During 2023 they will be staging the Billy Mills 5k event for the Urban Native Education Alliance, where they'll give 100s of running shoes to Native American families and youth.
We donate $20 of your registration fee directly to Run For Shoes. You also have the option to opt out of receiving the swag items and a total of $50 will go to support Run For Shoes. All participants will receive a donation receipt from Run For Shoes after the event is completed.
Awards and more
50k Awards– Top 3 overall (Elite and Sport are combined) women's and men's awards and Top 3 Masters (50+) women's and men's. All custom wood awards.
100k Awards – Top 3 overall men and women's awards
All participants will receive a custom bottle opener and a Issaquah Alps Grand Traverse buff and of course the greatest reward of all is supporting Run For Shoes mission to eliminate barriers for underserved youth to develop a healthy lifestyle.
Course
2023 is rerouted due to logging on Middle Tiger area.
The 50k is a point to point course and is a real challenging course. It is a bit over 50k, 31.8, and encompasses the Issaquah Alps Cougar Mountain, Squak Mountain and Tiger Mountains.
You’ll start at Upper Coal Creek Trail West Trailhead, altitude 185 feet, run to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park at Redtown Trailhead. Here you’ll shoot up and then down into Coal Creek Falls and then back up to your highpoint for Cougar Mountain area, Wilderness Peak at 1598 feet. Leaving this peak wind yourself down to the next Issy Alps area Squak Mountain and the famed Maragret’s Way trail. Squak Mountain area will give you some good challenging up and down, just when you think you’re at the top, you’ll drop back down and back up to another false summit. The actual highpoint on Squak is at 2028 feet. You’ll exit the Squak Mountain area into Issaquah and through the streets by the Issaquah High School where you’re on the final push onto the Tiger Mountain area. You’re nearly halfway and about to take on the toughest part of the course. After a run up High School Trail you’ll hit Section Line Trail, an unmaintained trail that will punch you in the gut. Section Line tops out at West Tiger 3 where you’ll traverse the next two West Tiger Peaks and take in the views of Rainier and the Cascade mountain range. After crossing West Tiger 1, you’ll drop down and head towards Tiger Mountain road and head towards, East Tiger at 2940 feet. Once you hit this highpoint you’re on the way back down to the Highway 18 parking area and your finish. You’ll have over 8400 feet of elevation gain during this beautiful yet very challenging course.
The 100k course starts at the finish line of the 50k course on Highway 18 and will be a full loop of the 50k course. It has over 15,000' of vertical gain and the steep ascent of Section Line is thrown at you during mile 48ish.
There are no aid stations, and you'll need to provide your own transportation. The Squak Mountain trailhead area and Issaquah High School area make for great spots to meet a support team if needed. Otherwise, we suggest self-support with water filter bottle like "Be Free" and knowing the water sources along these trails.
Please use extra caution when crossing State Road 900 from Cougar Mountain to Squak Mountain. There is a cross walk in Issaquah and we highly suggest that you utilize it.
Can you run with a pacer? Sure, but it's much more challenging mentally and physically doing it solo.
100k Maps
50k Maps
Rules
The rules are very simple.
To be eligible for awards you must use the approved course provided.
Maps: New updated course maps for 2023 with the new trails on the summits of West Tiger will be released once we get notice of the trails becoming officially open.
Run the course any day or time between May 1, 12:00 am and May 14, 2022, 11:59 pm.
Submit your results, and leave the rest to us.
Your results will need to include a link to a GPS tracking service such as Strava, Garmin Connect, MapMyRun, etc. to show you ran the 0fficial time trial course.
Only one submission per participant. So, make it be your best run ever!
Event's current local time: 6:58 AM PT