Bear 100 Endurance Run

The BEAR 100 Endurance Run joins the ranks of some of the world’s most challenging and scenic trail races.  It is also a prestigious event in that it’s a Western States 100 and Hardrock 100 Qualifier, along with being a series event in the UTMB World Series and Rocky Moutain Slam Series event.  The BEAR 100 is a point-to-point course that starts in Logan, UT and finishes at Fish Haven, ID, at Bear Lake. The first climb is the longest, with many more long climbs with varying difficulties of descent. Some descents are smooth downhill, while others are rocky.  Late September date offers the beauty of the fall colors at that time. You will see brilliant red maples and quaking aspens turning yellow, contrasting the rocks and cliffs.

The Bear 100 Endurance Run spans 5,000 to 9,200 feet and tests the strength and endurance of any well-trained runner.  To be eligible for the Bear, you must complete a 50 miler in under 16 hours or any 100k, 100, or 200 miles under the cutoff.  You can register without the qualifier being completed at the risk of losing your registration if you fail to complete the qualifier before the Bear.  To participate in this race, you must also complete eight hours of trail work or volunteer work (not crewing or pacing) at The Bear or other ultras.  This volunteer work must occur between September 2022 and September 2023 on the Bear 100 course or trails in your area.  Contact bear100info@gmail.com for more information about the requirements.

This event is a highly demanding mountain race and should only be undertaken by athletes in excellent physical condition. All entrants should be familiar with basic first-aid and know the symptoms and treatment for heat exhaustion, hypothermia, frostbite, and altitude sickness. Pay special attention to the distance and elevation gain/loss between checkpoints and plan your needs accordingly. Plan for the worst-case scenario. Mandatory gear is not required, so it is up to you to be smart and take precautions.  The race committee recommends running as much of the course as possible before race day.  Check out the Facebook group page for ways to connect with others.

The Western States 100 is the grandaddy of ultra-running events.  It is an epic 100-mile trail run from Olympic Valley to Auburn, CA, in one day on the last weekend of June. It is the world’s oldest 100 trail race, starting in 1974 as one of the ultimate endurance tests. Over the course, runners will climb more than 18,000 feet and descend 23,000 feet.  See the dedicated Western States Endurance Run website for details on the lottery process, training, support, and volunteer opportunities. Participants must qualify for the race within two years and enter the lottery. If you are selected as part of the lottery, you are officially sent details to register within two weeks. If not completed in time, the registration will be available to runners on the waitlist of 50-75 people.

UTMB World Series is the ultimate global trail running series uniting the sport’s biggest stars and amateur runners through a leading international event series in the most stunning locations.  The UTMB World Series gives all trail runners a chance to experience UTMB events worldwide, with 25 events taking place across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas. It is the only place runners can begin their quest to UTMB Mont-Blanc, home of the prestigious UTMB World Series Finals.  The UTMB World Series integrates three levels of events:

To qualify to enter the lottery for Finals or Major events, you must collect a “Running Stone” by finishing qualifier events in the 20k, 50k, 100k, or 100M categories.  Only 1 Running Stone acquired in the past two years is mandatory to enter the lottery. Running Stones are cumulative, have no expiration date, and each Running Stone gives you an additional chance to be drawn.  Collecting Running Stones is the only way to access regular runners’ UTMB World Series Finals.  Discover the 25 events that will allow you to collect Running Stones in 2022 to enter the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery from 2023 onwards here.