Feed your sense of adventure and join us for the Grindstone Running Festival by UTMB. This one-of-a-kind event takes you through acres of national forest just west of the Shenandoah Valley on an iconic running adventure complete with stunning fall foliage, mountain views, and demanding terrain. With a 100M, 100K, 50K, and 21K, there’s a new challenge for every runner. Join us for this feat to push your endurance, get gritty, earn your stones, and qualify for the iconic UTMB® World Series Finals.
Step Up to the Challenge
One of the hardest courses on the East Coast, Grindstone challenges and pushes runners to test their limits. With a highly technical course, runners will overcome high elevation, ridges, peaks, valleys, and all the grit the Shenandoah Valley has to offer. Think you have what it takes to take on this terrain? Push yourself and take in all the breathtaking experiences this running festival provides.
Most Scenic and Unique Courses on the East Coast
Set during peak fall foliage, the Shenandoah Valley captures all the beauty the East Coast has to offer. With miles through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, runners will take in peaks, valleys, sunrises, and sunsets. Runners will take the trail through the diverse wildlife as they climb the Appalachian Mountains and trek along the ridge to stunning views. With 4 unique courses including the 100M, 100K, 50K, and 21K distance, there is an adventure for every runner, introducing new runners to the trail community.
Destination Shenandoah
Let the Shenandoah Valley be your next run-cation. Between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Alleghanies, the Shenandoah Valley is full of fresh-air adventure around every turn. Run through ridges, peaks, valleys, and take in the stunning views while surrounded by fall foliage. The winding trails will give you the top views for sunrises and sunsets. But it doesn’t stop there. Once you’re done your race, you can take in the surrounding towns and all of the unique experiences they have to offer.
Dual Qualifier
The Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB is a dual qualifier for the iconic UTMB® World Series Finals and the Western States Endurance Run. Join the fun on the East Coast and run to qualify for the opportunity to compete in some of the most iconic races in the trail running space.
UTMB Cares US
Through UTMB Cares US, we have set out to achieve something extraordinary by caring for the amazing environments that host our trail events. UTMB Cares US is a program of The IRONMAN Foundation. Since 2003, over $55 million has been provided through IRONMAN and IRONMAN Foundation charitable giveback programs to more than 10,000 local, regional, national, and global nonprofit initiatives. Including $50,000 in grant funding for clean-up and restoration efforts of the Western States Trail, enjoyed by The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®️ runners, in partnership with Western States Endurance Run and The Tevis Cup. Together, we are on a quest to engage our community and care for our race surroundings through grant funding and volunteerism efforts.
100M
With approximately 21,000’ of vertical gain that includes monster climbs and the solitude of single-track ridge running, the Grindstone 100-mile race is considered by many to be the most incredible ‘hundo’ east of the 100th meridian.
100K
Offering 11,000’ of vertical gain, adventure awaits as you experience some of the most scenic and challenging sections of the 100-mile course in this 100K version of Grindstone by UTMB.
50K
With just over 5000’ of climbing, the Grindstone 50k offers a challenging and scenic course combining gorgeous single track with some fire road running as you get a little taste of both 100k and 100-mile courses.
21K
The Grindstone half marathon course throws a killer climb, a fun ridge run, and a bombing downhill at you, all while still offering a blazing fast start and finish for those interested in a little taste of everything!
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