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Trails Collective

Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 100M Division

Although the Speedgoat’s motto may be “100 miles is not that far”, for nearly everyone else, it really is. Nearly all will experience significant mileage in the pain cave. Moments of doubt and darkness. Mental refrains where you question not just whether you’re physically capable of going on (you’re pretty certain you’re not), but emotional anguish. When the glitz has faded, when you question what the hell you’re doing out there and what you were thinking, if I can offer one bit of advice, it would be to just make it to sunrise.

To toe the line let alone finish a 100, whether on a technical mountain course, or a flat as a pancake rail trail is an amazing feet. Every one is tough. In related articles we’ll highlight both flat and mid-elevation gain 100’s in our region. For this round, I’m ranking 11 of the “toughest” 100 mile trail events in the Northeast as measured by elevation gains of roughly 150’/mile or more.

For those arriving directly here, check out our lineup of the Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast across distances. We also have related articles on Most Scenic, Historic, Flat & Fast, and others to come. For now, let’s dig in to the Trails Collective ranking of the Toughest trail 100 Milers in the Northeast.

#11

Vermont 100

West Windsor, VT

Month:

July

Distance:

98.8

Elevation Gain:

15,646′

Gain / Mile:

158′

Cut-Off Time:

30 Hours

Vermont 100 Mile Elevation Profile

#10

Oil Creek 100

Titusville, PA

Month:

October

Distance:

98.1 miles

Elevation Gain:

14,556′

Gain / Mile:

148′

Cutoff Time:

32 Hours

Oil Creek 100 Mile Elevation Profile

#9

Infinitus 100

Goshen, VT

Month:

May

Distance:

105.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

16,579′

Gain / Mile:

157′

Cutoff Time:

48 Hours

Infinitus Elevation Profile

#8

CUT 112

Connecticut

Route map for CUT112 by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

CUT 112 Elevation Profile

Month:

June

Distance:

114.9 miles

Elevation Gain:

16,766′

Gain / Mile:

146′

Cutoff Time:

When You Finish

#7

Cloudsplitter 100

Norton, VA

Month:

October

Distance:

100.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

20,700′

Gain / Mile:

206′

Cutoff Time:

40 Hours

Cloudsplitter 100 Mile Elevation Profile

#6

Peak Bloodroot 100

Pittsfield, VT

Month:

May

Distance:

96.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

20,541′

Gain / Mile:

213′

Cutoff Time:

38 Hours

Peak Bloodroot 100 Mile Elevation Profile

#5

Grindstone 100

Swoope, VA

Month:

September

Distance:

99.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

21,424′

Gain / Mile:

222′

Cut-Off Time:

38 Hours

Grindstone 100 Elevation Profile

#4

Massanutten Mountain Trails 100

Fort Valley, VA

Month:

May

Distance:

101.3 miles

Elevation Gain:

19,145′

Gain / Mile:

189′

Cutoff Time:

35 Hours

Route map for MMT 100 by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Elevation Profile

#3

Virgil Crest 100

Cortland, NY

Route map for VCU 100M by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

September

Distance:

101 miles

Elevation Gain:

22,616′

Gain / Mile:

224′

Cutoff Time:

36 Hours

#2

Eastern States 100

Waterville, PA

Month:

August

Distance:

101.8 miles

Elevation Gain:

20,178′

Gain / Mile:

198′

Cut-Off:

36 Hours

#1

The Wild Oak Trail 100

(Winter TWOT Edition)

Mt. Solon, VA

Route map for TWOT Loop by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

February (there is an October running as well)

Distance:

110.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

30,756′

Gain / Mile:

279′

Cutoff Time:

48 Hours

TWOT Single Loop Elevation Profile (“100” mile runners complete 4 loops)

The passage below is from founder Dennis Herr on the TWOT. To me it’s a reflection of 100’s. At some point they will strip you bare. Require that you dig in not as motivated by glitz but by character. Finish not because of your desire for notoriety or because of the support of your crew. You set out because doing so makes no sense. You finished because in the most simplest way, you never gave up on putting one foot in front of the other.

TWOT

Since this is a semi-invitational, here are some guidelines to help you determine if you are “invited”, or, more aptly, not invited:

  • If you are even the least bit worried or concerned about getting lost, don’t come.
  • If you have questions, don’t come.
  • If you need a crew, don’t come.
  • If you need toilet paper, don’t come.
  • If you expect to be pampered in any way shape or form, don’t come.
  • If you’re a whiner, don’t come.
  • If you’re a freeloader, don’t come.
  • If you’re seeking fame and/or fortune, don’t come.
  • If you’re thinking about writing a report about your experience at Wild Oak, don’t come.
  • If you crave abuse, if you yearn for abuse, if you are addicted to abuse in any way shape or form (be it physical, mental, sexual, verbal, mathematical, artistic or whatevah), please send an request for entry!
  • The above bullet point applies to abusees only. Abusers are not welcome. The only abuser allowed is the trail.
RankEventTownStateMonthStravaPlotarouteHello,DrifterTopoFusionAvg ElevationMileageGain Per MileDivision
11Vermont 100West WindsorVTJuly163441564514626159681564698.8158100m
10Oil Creek 100TitusvillePAOctober140551410414728153361455698.1148100m
9InfinitusGoshenVTMay1804816909170671429116579105.4157100m
8CUT112CTJune1632913497183631887316766114.9146100m
7Cloudsplitter 100mNortonVAOctober22,07916365219752237920700100.4206100m
6Peak BloodrootPittsfieldVTMay204231866421975211002054196.6213100m
5GrindstoneSwoopeVASeptember219612102022569201472142496.6222100m
4Massanutten Mountain Trails 100Fort ValleyVAMay1863417539197112069419145101.3189100m
3Virgil Crest 100mCortlandNYSeptember23,08320610240322273722616101224100m
2Eastern States 100WatervillePAAugust21,18619,560200661990020178101.8198100m
1The Wild Oak Trail 100Mt. SolonVAFebruary30,14028764321403198030756110.4279100m
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