[Updated November 3 with new event dates and cancellations]
USA Track & Field’s Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) Council announces the following 10 races scheduled to host National Championships in 2020. A total of $70,000 in prize money will be awarded and medals will be presented to the top 10 overall USATF athletes and top three in each 5 year masters’ age group starting at 40. Some of these event will also serve as US team selection races for World Championship competitions.
Chessa Adsit-Morris winning the 2019 USATF Trail Marathon Championships in Moab, UT.
Here is a list of the 2020 USATF National Championships in mountain, ultra & trail running confirmed as of December 16, 2019.
- February 14 – 100 Mile Road – Jackpot Ultra Running Festival – Henderson, NV – $10,000 prize money – Race Director: Ken Rubeli.
- March 1 – 50 km Road – Caumsett State Park 50K – Lloyd Harbor, NY – $3000 prize money – Race Directors: Carl Grossbard / Mike Polansky.
- March 14 – 50 Mile Trail – Pioneer Spirit 50 Miler – Auburn, CA – $5000 prize money – Race Director: Paulo Medina.
- June 21 – [CANCELLED] Long Distance Mountain – Broken Arrow Skyrace 26 km – Squaw Valley, CA – $4000 prize money – Race Directors: Ethan Veneklasen and Brendan Madigan.
- August 9 – [CANCELLED] 50 km Trail – Ragged Mountain 50K – Sunapee, NH – $4000 prize money – Race Director: Tom Hooper.
- August 16 – [CANCELLED] Mountain – Gnar Gnar Mountain Race – Government Camp, OR – $10,000 prize money – Race Directors: Todd Janssen & Renee Janssen.
- September [CANCELLED] 24 Hour Road – North Coast 24 Hour – Cleveland, OH – $5000 prize money – Race Director: Connie Gardner.
- September 25 – [CANCELLED] Vertical Mountain Running Championships – Ultra Trails Lake Tahoe – Northstar Village, CA – Race Director: Chaz Sheya.
- September 26 – Half Marathon Trail – Birkie Trail Running Festival – Hayward, WI – $3000 prize money – Race Director: Kristy Maki.
- November 7 – Marathon Trail – Moab Trail Marathon – Moab, UT – $4800 prize money – Race Director: Danelle Ballengee.
- November 14 [New Date – April 17, 2021] – 100 km Road – Mad City 100K – Madison, WI – $2250 prize money – Race Director: Timo Yanacheck.
- December 5 – [CANCELLED] 100 Mile Trail – Brazos Bend 100 – Needville, TX – $5000 prize money – Race Director: Rob Goyen.
For questions about the USATF MUT National Championship races contact Joe Jurczyk ([email protected]), USATF MUT Championship Chair.
Tim Tollefson winning the 2019 USATF 50 km Trail Championships in Auburn, CA.
Athletes who participate in National Championships and Team USA competitions are subject to drug testing performed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in accordance with the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing.
The following 2020 World Championship events will also be contested by top U.S. mountain, ultra & trail runners:
- September 12 [CANCELLED]– IAU 100K World Championships – Winschoten, Netherlands – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Staff: Lin Gentling, Timo Yanacheck, Dr. Lion Caldwell
- September 18 [CANCELLED] – NACAC Mountain Running Championships – Golden, Canada – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Staff: Richard Bolt and Nancy Hobbs
- October 17 [CANCELLED] – International U18 Mountain Running Cup – Ambleside, UK – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Staff: Mark Weeks and Anita Ortiz
- November 14 – [CANCELLED] World Mountain Running Championships (10 km) – Lanzarote, Spain – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Staff: Richard Bolt, Ellen Miller, Paul Kirsch.
- November 15 – [CANCELLED] Long Distance Mountain Running Championships (42 km) – Haría Extreme – Lanzarote, Spain – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Staff: Jason Bryant
- November 27 – [CANCELLED] IAU 50 km (Road) World Championships – Aqaba, Jordan – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Staff: Lin Gentling
American Trail Running Association (ATRA) founder & Executive Director Nancy Hobbs is chairperson of the USATF MUT Council. ATRA’s Director of Marketing, Richard Bolt, is a member of the USATF MUT Council and Executive Committee. Nancy led three meetings of the MUT Council over two days at last week’s USA Track & Field Annual Meeting in Reno, NV. You can read the complete meeting minutes here.
The 4 women and men at the 2019 USATF Mountain Running Championships in Waterville Valley, NH.
An explanation of USATF MUT racing disciplines:
Mountain: The annual USATF Mountain Running Championships is a 10 to 12 km event alternating uphill (even numbered years) and uphill/downhill (odd numbered years) organized in accordance with USATF Rule 253. Women & men run the same distance and a separate start is preferred. Organizers design a course profile & distance which closely mirrors the World Mountain Running Championships of the same year. Poles are not allowed.
Ultra Road: These are championships longer than 26.2 miles which are held primarily on roads or a track. Parts of the course could also be on paved paths closed to vehicular traffic or dirt roads. Events follow USATF Rule 240 (Road Races) with some exceptions for 252.8 (Refreshment Stations) to allow for crewing. Championships which are also IAU label events may be subject to certain IAU rules which could differ from USATF rules. Consult the race director to determine which rules will apply.
Ultra Trail: These are championships longer than 26.2 miles which are held primarily off-road where the majority of the course is closed to vehicular traffic. Events generally follow USATF Rule 254. Crewing at aid stations is allowed. Poles may be allowed.
(Sub-Ultra) Trail: These are championships at 26.2 miles and shorter which are held primarily off-road and where the majority of the course is closed to vehicular traffic. Events generally follow USATF Rule 254. Poles may be allowed.
Caumsett 50K race director Carl Grossbard with 2018 national champion Eric LiPuma.
Editor’s Note: You can find a list of 2019 USATF MUT National Championships at this link.
