The Antelope Island Buffalo Run is going back to a Friday/Saturday format. But there will be substantial differences. The start/finish area will still be at the marina like it was for 2023. The entry limit is still 600.
No early start available for the 50 mile. No more sleeping in for the 100 mile runners.
Why start all races on Friday? Starting in 2022, the park is not allowing any special events to happen on the weekend or holidays. This is due to the huge increase in visitors over the past couple of years and the lack of adequate infrastructure (roads, parking etc.) to handle both an influx of the regular visitors to the island, plus the addition of several hundred cars for the race.
The issue isn’t with the trails, it’s with the roads and other park infrastructure. By starting all of the races Friday morning, the only runners that will still be on the course on Saturday are the relatively few numbers of 100 mile runners, and the vast majority of those runners will be done by noon on Saturday.
Yes, I know Easter is Sunday, March 31. This was the only weekend available from the park.
50/100 Mile Course Narrative:
If you have run either the 50 mile or 100 mile in the past, the actual course remains the same, but the order in which you run the trails will be different. The start is at the marina. You will go about 11.5 miles straight south to the Ranch. After reaching the Ranch, you will turn around and run back up the Mountain View Trail to the fence. Turn left at the fence and run up the hill and along the dirt road next to the fence. Follow the dirt road as it sweeps right. There will be a short section of pavement before you head out on the Lakeside trail over to the next aid station at Bridger Bay campground. Continue around the Lakeside trail and down the dirt road over to the White Rock Bay trailhead. Run the trail out to the Elephant Head aid station, the out and back on the Elephant Head trail, then continue around the Split Rock Loop and back to Elephant Head aid. After that run back to the White Rock Bay trailhead. Turn right and follow the fence back down to the Mountain View trail. Turn left and run back to the marina. If you’re running the 100 mile, go out and do it again.
LESS
