August races: Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Midwest States 100, Bigfoot 200, Eastern States 100, Leadville Trail Series, and more.

Congratulations to Kilian Jornet and Katie Schide, the 2022 UTMB champions. Incredible performances from each of you!

Two runners who won their first ever 100-mile competition, return to the race… and win yet again.

Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the Brazilian runner who tragically passed away from an accident during PTL, one of the UTMB events on August 23rd.

About the race: UTMB. One of, if not the largest events in the Ultra community. This series covers 7 events, over one week with the flagship race being the UTMB 100 miler. The 100 miler is an odyssey, taking competitors through the mountains of Italy, Switzerland, and France covering over almost 33,000 feet of elevation gain - or 10,000 meters - on technical, rugged singletrack.

Winners: For the flagship UTMB 100 Mile race: Kilian Jornet won the Men’s division with a 19:49:30 (9:31 min/mile). Katie Schide won the Women’s division with a time of 23:15:12 (13:09 min/mile). As noted earlier, there are 7 events in this week long series. The winners mentioned in this section only refer to the UTMB 100 miler. For the full list of winners of each race, click here.

About the Winners: Kilian has a long history of great performances in Ultra races. He most recently won the 2022 Hardrock 100, while setting the course record alongside the Women’s division champion, Courtney Dauwalter. Katie also has a history of great performances, especially at the UTMB series. She most notably has placed top ten in her past two performances in the 100 miler, and placed 2nd in the Women’s division at CCC (the UTMB 100km) in 2018.

More: A Brazilian runner tragically passed away from a fall that occurred during PTL, one of the events in the UTMB series. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the runner.

About the race: Leadville, interestingly, has both bike and run events in the series. Both have a 50, and 100 mile option, along with quite a few other distances. The flagship race here, is the Leadville 100. Probably one of the oldest and highest Ultramarathons, the Leadville 100 started in 1983, covering 15,744 feet of elevation gain (4,800 meters) and reaching a maximum altitude of 12,600 feet (3,840 meters). Madness.

Winners: Adrian Macdonald won the Men’s division with a crushing time of 16:05:44 (9:37 min/mi). Clare Gallagher won the Women’s division with a time of 19:37:57 (11:44 min/mi).

About the Winners: Adrian won the Leadville 100 back in 2021 as a first-time 100-mile competitor, according to irunfar.com. That is an incredible accomplishment on an easy course, nonetheless on the brutal, high altitude Leadville 100. Clare is another repeat Leadville 100 winner. She won the race back in 2016 when she was also a first time 100-mile competitor. Clare, you’re a savage.

Pretty cool that both winners this year are not only repeat winners, but this was the first 100-mile race both of them ever competed in, and won.

About the race: The Bigfoot 200 covers 209.5 miles, point-to-point, in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Participants travel 46,000 feet vertically (14,021 meters), and pray they can catch a glimpse of Bigfoot.

Winners: Jovica Spajic won the Men’s division with a time of 56:52:02 (16:17 min/mi). Kathleen Egan won the Women’s division with a time of 75:45:37 (21:41 min/mi).

About the Winners: Jovica has a respectable past of completing 200+ milers, and placing well in them. Most notably placing 2nd in the Moab 240 in 2021, and in 2018, and placing 5th in the Tahoe 200 in 2017. Kathleen also has an impressive history of a variety of races from 50km to 100 milers. She most recently won the Women’s division in the Squak in the Dark 8 hour race this year.

Upcoming Races scheduled in September: Run Rabbit Run, Sangre de Cristo Ultras, The North Face Grand Traverse Mountain Run, Kilimanjaro Trail Run, and more.

I mentioned a few races above that didn’t get a deep dive in this month’s newsletter. Click the links to see more info on the Midwest States 100, and the Eastern States 100.