it just might be a terrible idea.
The Running Kind is proud to present one of the first carbon neutral 100 milers in the country - the Catskill 100. This course will showcase the beauty and difficulty that the Northeast offers as runners traverse over extremely challenging terrain in the Catskill Mountains. Running through four distinct NYS Wilderness Areas, this course was designed to leave runners more connected to the trails they are running on. Over the distance, runners will summit 12 of the 33 Catskill High Peaks including Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, Plateau, Hunter, West Kill, Wittenberg, Cornell, Slide, Big Indian, Eagle and Balsam. The route also includes the entirety of the most challenging trail in the Catskills, The Devil’s Path. This event will be one of the few 100 milers across the country with over 25,000ft of elevation gain and descent on extremely technical terrain and is sure to leave a stamp as one of the hardest 100 milers in the country.
We have been dreaming up something masochistic since the first year at Climb It For Climate. The time has finally come to bring it to life. We are excited to share this route with runners from all over the country. The event will be led by a female leadership team and the race director is reserving 50% of spots for women and non-binary runners.
This event will take place the same weekend as Climb It For Climate, which will offer a 25K and 8K for those looking to test the waters.
august 6th 2027
course
The 100 Miler covers approximately 100 miles with over 25,000ft of elevation gain and descent. It is extremely technical terrain and is designed for experienced mountain runners. Due to permitting restrictions and preservation of wilderness areas and wild forest, runners will take off in heats every 5 minutes. There will be 15 runners included in each heat. Female and non-binary runners will be released first followed by the men.
waves start at 11AM
aid stations
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Aid #1 - Mink Hollow Parking
Cutoff Friday 4PM (5 hours)
Start to Aid #1 - 7.3 miles, 3156+/2635-
Aid #1 to Aid #2 - 4.5 miles, 1580+/1844-
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Aid #2 - Notch Lake
Cutoff Friday 6:30PM (2.5 hours) - Headlamp/battery check
Aid #1 to Aid #2 - 4.5 miles, 1580+/1844-
Aid #2 to Aid #3 - 10.3 miles, 2054+/2206-
Crew permitted.
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Aid #3 - Spruceton Road
Cutoff Saturday 12AM (5.5 hours) - Headlamp/battery check
Aid #2 to Aid #3 - 10.3 miles, 2054+/2206-
Aid #3 to Aid #4 - 10.8 miles, 3639+/3522-
Crew permitted.
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Aid #4 - Notch Lake
Cutoff Saturday 6AM (6 hours)
Aid #3 to Aid #4 - 10.8 miles, 3639+/3522-
Aid #4 to Aid #5 - 5.9 miles, 1875+/1903-
Crew access: If you pick up a pacer here, they must run to Aid #7 with you.
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Aid #5 -Silver Hollow Road
Cutoff Saturday 9AM (3 hours)
Aid #4 to Aid #5 - 5.9 miles, 1875+/1903-
Aid #5 to Aid #6 - 12.8 miles, 2439+/3533-
No crew permitted.
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Aid #6 - Romer Mountain
Cutoff Saturday 4PM (7 hours)
Aid #5 to Aid #6 - 12.8 miles, 2439+/3533-
Aid #6 to Aid #7 - 11.1 miles, 2726+/2162-
No crew permitted.
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Aid #7 - Woodland Valley Campground
Cutoff Saturday 10PM (6 hours) - Headlamp/battery & Reflective vest check
Aid #6 to Aid #7 - 11.1 miles, 2726+/2162-
Aid #7 to Aid #8 - 12.5 miles, 3717+/2768-
Crew permitted.
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Aid #8 - Biscuit Brook
Cutoff Sunday 5AM (7 hours) - Headlamp/battery check
Aid #7 to Aid #8 - 12.5 miles, 3717+/2768-
Aid #8 to Aid #9 - 10.4 miles, 2250+/2739-
Crew permitted.
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Aid #9 - McKenley Hollow Trailhead
Cutoff Sunday 11AM (6 hours)
Aid #8 to Aid #9 - 10.4 miles, 2250+/2739-
Aid #9 to Finish - 7.9 miles, 2439+/2110-
Finish - Belleayre Resort
Cutoff Sunday 3PM (4 hours)
crew
You can have crew, pick up or drop off pacers at the following aid stations:
Aid #3 - Spruceton Road
Aid #4 - Notch Lake
Aid #7 - Woodland Valley Campground
Aid #8 - Biscuit Brook
Aid #9 - McKenley Hollow Trailhead
The pacer is required to sign up for the event through registration as a pacer. Each runner is limited to two pacers and can only have one pacer on the course at a time. They must check in at aid stations and have their gear checked - required gear is the same as runners - before starting their section. Pacers will receive a pacer bib that must be worn at all times. They cannot leave cars at an aid station so you will need to make arrangements to have your pacer dropped off. No muling.
Drop bags will be available at the following aid stations:
Aid #2 - Notch Lake
Aid #4 - Notch Lake
Aid #6 - Silver Hollow
Aid #8 - Biscuit Brook
We highly recommend rain proof bags for all aid stations. Label bags with your name and bib number. Please bring your drop bags at bib pickup and place in appropriately numbered bins. During your race, please place in the discard drop bag pile on your last trip through that aid station so we can transport back to the finish line. Bags will not be transported back to the finish until that aid station has been cleared by sweep.
Runners and crew that do not abide by the above standards will be disqualified.
about the event
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25K, 8K
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6AM Hiker start
8:30AM 25K start
9:30AM 8K start
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This is a zero carbon event, meaning we take into account the emissions released in relation to hosting this trail race. The Running Kind will be subsidizing the cost to offset the event, however there is a fee included in your registration specifically for this cost. This will offset the carbon emissions for your personal travel to and from the event. We are excited to partner with the Change Climate Project to support a carbon offset project we believe in. In addition to going zero carbon at this event, The Running Kind will be collecting monetary donations for The Catskills Center.
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HOKA
Who Gives A Crap
Salt Stick
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M | 2:43:00
F | 2:58:12
X | 4:15:08
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The 25K will have two full aid stations and one water only station.
Aid #1 - Rider Hollow Trailhead
Aid #2 - McKenley Hollow Trailhead
Water #3 - Sunset Lodge
The 8K will have a water only station at Sunset Lodge.
Sunset Lodge is accessible by gondola for spectators. You can purchase a discounted gondola pass. Runners can ride free.
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Aid #1 - 11AM at Rider Hollow
Aid #2 - 1PM at McKenley Hollow
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Gently worn, used or new shoes are accepted for donation for Sneakers 4 Good. Funds raised from the Sneakers 4 Good program will go to our nonprofit partner, The Catskill Center.
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The Running Kind and Sassquad Trail Running are bringing you a brand new mountain running series: Mountain Madness. This series combines four events, two from each brand. Those that join the fun and run all four events throughout 2026 will have a true taste of Northeast trail running & will earn a commemorative item.
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In an effort to improve diversity in trail racing and remove a potential barrier for the under-served and under-represented, Go Beyond Racing established the Trail Mix Fund™ in 2021. This Fund pays the race registration fee for runners who cannot afford it or aren’t sure they belong in the sport. The response to the Trail Mix Fund was so positive that this official not-for-profit organization was created and is now helping more trail racers get to the starting line.
Do you want to race but can’t afford the entry fee? Are you a part of the BIPOC or LGBTQ+ community?
Apply to the Trail Mix Fund to have your registration fee waived to any of our events.
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looking for support in training?
trail work
Join us for trail work on the 25K course on Balsam Mountain. This trail work will take you over up from McKinley Hollow Trailhead and will be supported by Runners For Public Lands, The Catskill Center and the NYNJ Trail Conference.
June 28th at 9:30AM
course preview
Join us for a preview of middle section of the 25K course on Balsam Mountain. The route will cover 8 miles and 3000ft of elevation change. There is a shorter option available [unguided] to the summit of Balsam, covering 5.5 miles and about 2000ft.
May 23rd at 9:30AM
saturday august 15
3pm shake out run
Join us for 2-3 miles on some easy cross country trails at Belleayre to shake things out. HOKA will be on site with demo shoes!
Meet at Discovery Lodge.
We are bringing back our pre-race dinner in 2026. You can add this on to your registration for $25. There will be vegan and gluten free options. Hikers must pick up bibs here.
Meet at Catskill Visitor Center
4:30pm bib pickup & pre-race dinner
6pm live podcast
While you are eating, we are bringing you an inside look at the Climb It For Climate Live Podcast hosted by race director and founder, Aimee Kohler. Guests: Michelle Merlis, Maeve Thistel, Kim Levinsky, Julie McGuire.
Meet at Catskill Visitor Center
live podcast guests
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Michelle Merlis is a mountain/ultra/trail runner from the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. She loves all kinds of running but is drawn to steep and technical environments and has a particular fondness for the Catskill Mountains. She has run and raced all over the world, including competing in the Skyrunning World Series in 2024, and has qualified for the US Mountain and Trail Team (Thailand, 2022) and the US Skyrunning Team (Spain, 2024).
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Maeve Thistel is a trail and ultra runner based in Lancaster, PA. She has tackled some impressive challenges in her short time as a runner. These accomplishments include running 100 miles on a track and setting a new course record on the hyper-technical 50K at C’mon Armageddon.
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Kim Levinsky is the founder of Sassquad Trail Running, where she produces inclusive, community-driven trail events that welcome both hikers and runners of all abilities. She is a passionate advocate for mental health, using the trails as a platform to break stigma and connect people to support and each other. In 2023, she set the first women’s FKT on the 358-mile New York Long Path, with the goal of inspiring more people to get outside and experience the transformative, healing power of these incredible Beast Coast trails.
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Julie McGuire is a high school English teacher, outdoors enthusiast, and avid backcountry skier. She recently became the third person and first woman to ski all 33 Catskill High Peaks. Julie volunteers as a trail maintainer with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. She is currently pursuing a new project to ski the “lower 67,” with hopes of also becoming the first person to ski the 100 highest mountains in the Catskills.
Presented by
not running? get involved!
volunteer
Come join us on race day and be a part of helping us move the sport to zero carbon. Opportunities available before race day, day of event & post event.
Course Marking
Aid Station Support
Sweepers
Please email us with your availability & interest! Those that volunteer with us earn a future free race entry!
partner
Are you a business owner or part of a team? We want to have you involved in our event. We have opportunities for corporate partnership, discounts and volunteering.
Feel free to also utilize this to share sustainable brands with us that you would like to see at this event! We are excited to continue engaging the Catskill community at Climb It For Climate.
The Running Kind and Sassquad Trail Running are bringing you a brand new mountain running series: Mountain Madness. This series combines four events, two from each brand. Those that join the fun and run all four events throughout 2026 will have a true taste of Northeast trail running & will earn a commemorative item.
