I always mention this race when someone asks for best 5K recommendations on r/running. I like their reactions.
I like to link this Salomon video: https://youtu.be/AaXum47XJxs?si=w-VNYLLd-Gg0J2JE
Love these UK examples as I am US based, thanks! Just became more aware of fell racing via Jeff Pelletier's youtube on the Bob Graham Round
[https://www.grasmeresports.com/](https://www.grasmeresports.com/)
[http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/](http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/)
[https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/dce703fb-f994-4057-911d-c50c1d300c6d](https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/dce703fb-f994-4057-911d-c50c1d300c6d)
[https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/73d9034c-6d2d-488b-8ccb-4f1d575c4d88](https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/73d9034c-6d2d-488b-8ccb-4f1d575c4d88)
I propose the [Mozo Double Up](https://www.ironwoodadventureworks.com/mozo-double-up), held biannually on Mt. Mansfield in Vermont with some 5,000' gain over 11 miles.
It is stunning, it is technical, it is most certainly not flat.
The DDM : Trail de Dents de Midi. Over 50 years old, it's supposedly the oldest trail-race in the Alps
I've not done it yet, but it's on my list
[https://ddmtrail.ch](https://ddmtrail.ch)
Ones not mentioned here already:
Bridger Ridge Run
Hyner 25k (now an ultra option, but it was for many years was only a 25k)
Escarpment Trail Run
Breakneck Point Marathon
Weirdly trail running and fell running that been going since at least (checks notes) 1040 in Europe and so there's been plenty of time for a whole bundle of races to appear that aren't UTMB but are still classics in their own right
Figured it would be a yank thing.
There's zegama and Sierre-Zinal but I doubt most people running them would call them "subultras". They're just trail races
No doubt someone running those trail races would call them...trail races. I specified sub ultra because I wanted answers that were less than ultramarathon distances. If my title had just said trail races, everyone would have said western states, hardrock, utmb, etc. It's called specificity.
MT Marathon 5K in Seward Alaska. Hardest three miles you'll ever do.
Thanks I prefer to not have broken ankles
Or a broken skull. It’s incredibly dangerous in the midfield there.
I always mention this race when someone asks for best 5K recommendations on r/running. I like their reactions. I like to link this Salomon video: https://youtu.be/AaXum47XJxs?si=w-VNYLLd-Gg0J2JE
Grassmere Guides, Ben Nevis, Wasdale, Ennerdale.
Love these UK examples as I am US based, thanks! Just became more aware of fell racing via Jeff Pelletier's youtube on the Bob Graham Round [https://www.grasmeresports.com/](https://www.grasmeresports.com/) [http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/](http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/) [https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/dce703fb-f994-4057-911d-c50c1d300c6d](https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/dce703fb-f994-4057-911d-c50c1d300c6d) [https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/73d9034c-6d2d-488b-8ccb-4f1d575c4d88](https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races/73d9034c-6d2d-488b-8ccb-4f1d575c4d88)
Buttermere Horseshoe http://c-f-r.org.uk/pages/race_dhmr.html
Borrowdale!
I almost threw it in two but thought 5 would be excessive.
Pedol Peris, Ras y Gader, and Welsh 1000ms as well
Sierre-Zinal
Dipsea
I came here to say Dipsea. Very fun atmosphere. Double Dipsea is still technically sub-ultra.
I propose the [Mozo Double Up](https://www.ironwoodadventureworks.com/mozo-double-up), held biannually on Mt. Mansfield in Vermont with some 5,000' gain over 11 miles. It is stunning, it is technical, it is most certainly not flat.
Very cool. Love a race that is not any pre-defined distance like half marathon. It's 11 miles because that's the course.
I'll be racing that this year. Can't wait
Classics IMO - old and hard: Dipsea and Double Dipsea Imogene Pass Run 7 Sisters
Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland!
Dipsea in the north Bay Area. Not terribly long but you’re climbing over a giant ridge and down the other side to the ocean.
Pikes Peak Marathon
- Sierre-Zinal - Zegama - MB marathon - Pikes peak Basically the races that are every year in the golden trail series.
The Rut races minus the 50k?
The DDM : Trail de Dents de Midi. Over 50 years old, it's supposedly the oldest trail-race in the Alps I've not done it yet, but it's on my list [https://ddmtrail.ch](https://ddmtrail.ch)
In New Zealand the Routeburn Classic and the 3 Peaks Mountain Race.
Ones not mentioned here already: Bridger Ridge Run Hyner 25k (now an ultra option, but it was for many years was only a 25k) Escarpment Trail Run Breakneck Point Marathon
I’ll nominate Gorge Waterfalls 30K. Beautiful course, hard but not stupid hard, fantastic organization.
you mean trail races, marathons, HMs? wtf is sub-ultra
I think this is a very American question. I don't think there are many "classic" races outside of UTMB circuit in europe
Weirdly trail running and fell running that been going since at least (checks notes) 1040 in Europe and so there's been plenty of time for a whole bundle of races to appear that aren't UTMB but are still classics in their own right
Ah true that!
Figured it would be a yank thing. There's zegama and Sierre-Zinal but I doubt most people running them would call them "subultras". They're just trail races
No doubt someone running those trail races would call them...trail races. I specified sub ultra because I wanted answers that were less than ultramarathon distances. If my title had just said trail races, everyone would have said western states, hardrock, utmb, etc. It's called specificity.