Eastern States 100

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

Eastern States 100 is 103 rocky miles with +20,000ft of elevation gain and a finisher rate of about 49 percent. Welcome to Pennsylvania!

Registration opens October 1st at 6pm EST.

🌄 Course Description

Only the hardiest of runners will complete this circumnavigation of Pine Creek. A Pennsylvania Scenic River. The largest creek in the United States. The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The river route that supplied the lumber that built America. The Iroquois called it Tiadaghton – the River of Pines. Or is it the Lost or Bewildered River? After 100 miles of multiple 900 – 1200 foot climbs and equally punishing descents, the second definition will seem appropriate.

• Scenic Trails: Runners will experience portions of some of the most scenic and most challenging trails in Pennsylvania.
• Trail Highlights: Includes the Mid State Trail, the Black Forest Trail, and the West Rim Trail.
• Unique Crossings: Cross Pine Creek on a former railroad trestle and a one-lane steel grate bridge.
• Wildlife: Encounter deer, bear, bald eagles, and rattlesnakes along the course.

🚀 Qualifying for Eastern States

The Eastern States 100 is not an entry-level ultramarathon. The course terrain, elevation gain, and weather conditions present unique challenges that require significant prior trail running experience.

Minimum Qualification Requirement

• 50K Requirement: All participants must finish at least one advertised 50K trail race within the official cut-off time prior to registering.
• Date Range: The qualifying race must take place between January 1, 2024, and the date of registration.
• Official Event: The race must be an officially organized trail event with publicly available results.

Non-Qualifying Events

The following do not meet the qualification requirement:

• Timed Events: Events like 12-hour, 24-hour races.
• FKTs: Fastest Known Times, peak bagging or Long-Distance runs/hikes.
• Obstacle Races: Obstacle Course Races (OCR).
• Triathlons: Biathlon/Triathlon events, unless the run portion is a 50K trail race.

Completion Requirement

• Requirement Enforcement: The qualifying 50K must be completed prior to registration.
• Limited Flexibility: Some flexibility on the January 1, 2024 date may be granted only in extenuating life circumstances.

Rationale

• Finish Rate: Since the race began in 2014, Eastern States 100 has averaged just a 49% finish rate.
• Participant Experience: The 50K requirement ensures that the participant has experience in a race environment.
• Course Difficulty: Our course is unforgiving with relentless climbs and rugged terrain.
• Simplicity: Keeping it simple with clear qualifying events to assess preparation.

🎖️ Participant Responsibility

• Research: It is the responsibility of each participant to research the course, review maps, and seek advice from past finishers.
• Readiness: Race management will not provide individualized assessments of readiness.

🆚 Supported vs. Unsupported Classes

At Eastern States 100, runners are classified into two categories:

• Supported: Crew assistance is allowed at designated aid stations, and pacers are permitted starting at approved points.
• Unsupported: No crew and no pacers are allowed at any point during the race.

This classification helps maintain fairness, consistency, and clarity for all participants.

Common Questions

• Q: Can Unsupported runners have friends spectate? A: Yes, spectators are welcome at crew-designated aid stations only.
• Q: What if I need a crew during the race? A: You will not be disqualified: you will be reclassified as a Supported Runner.
• Q: Can Unsupported runners use aid stations? A: Yes, all runners have full access to official aid stations.
• Q: What recognition do I receive as an Unsupported Runner? A: Unsupported runners receive a small memento in recognition of their achievement.
• Q: Why a distinction between Supported and Unsupported? A: To ensure proper recognition and manage total human impact on the course.

For more details, visit the official race page here.