The Pulse Endurance Runs are a beautiful and flat fixed-time race held at Eagle Island State Park, 8 miles west of Boise, Idaho. Test yourself against the clock and some of the northwest’s top timed event runners at Idaho’s premier timed race on a flat, dirt trail. Set a goal and achieve it, running as many miles as you can in 48, 24, 12, or 6 hours. Or, sign up for the 100 mile fixed-distance option! Come for fun, or come for speed….just bring your smiles!
You were always looking for a timed race without pavement hurting your feet right? At the Pulse Endurance Runs, you can enjoy nature while running on a beautiful flat dirt trail 2 1/2 mile loop bordering the Boise River and Eagle Island pond. This is a great course to get your first ultra, anywhere from a 50K to 100 miles and beyond!
The nice thing about a timed event is that there are no DNFs (unless you sign up for 100 miles and don’t complete 100 miles). Overall winners (top 3) for each race will be awarded. Anyone running 100 miles or more has the choice between a buckle OR an apparel item (to be decided at the time of registration; default is a buckle).
Solo Runner Volunteer Requirement: Each local runner is asked to furnish one volunteer for the race to fill a minimum 4-hour shift. Please help us out with volunteers. Volunteers are critical in keeping this race successful and continuing to make this race as awesome as it can be for all the runners. If you know more than one person that would like to volunteer please let me know. We will waive this requirement if you are coming from out of town, because we want you to sign up anyway!
Crew & Personal Aid: Runners may have crew support every lap. There is an area directly adjacent to the course with space for tents or canopies for personal aid stations.
Parking: Enough parking directly adjacent to the course with easy access from the course to your car any time.
Park Entry Fee: The park entry fee for one car is included in your race entry fee. Any other family members or spectators in additional cars will need to pay the State Park fee.
Food and Aid: The official race aid station will be available every 2.5 miles as you finish each lap. We will have a wide range of typical ultra food, and we are open to your suggestions and food requests.
Warming Tent: There will be a warming/sleeping tent set up next to the Aid Station. Feel free to bring a cot, sleeping bag and blankets as you feel is needed. You may set up your own aid station in here if so desired.
For those running at night make sure to bring extra clothes, it can get pretty cold and windy so extra layers may be needed. Also don’t forget to bring extra batteries for your headlamp. Even though we are inside a state park there isn’t any lighting on the backside of the course so you will need to use your headlamp.
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Well Organized Race
The Pulse Endurance Run 48-hour race turned out to be a fantastic experience, but I have to confess that I was a little disappointed in the course. Because it was … MORE
The Pulse Endurance Run 48-hour race turned out to be a fantastic experience, but I have to confess that I was a little disappointed in the course. Because it was in a state park, I expected at least some single-track trails and smoother gravel trails. It was very flat and an easy course, but much of the course consisted of what I would call unimproved, single lane, dirt and rock roads. The rock wasn’t your typical crushed gravel either. It was the kind of rocks that you would expect to find along the Boise River which was adjacent to one side of the course. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t that bad, but you had to pay attention to the trail or you could trip. There was even a short 100-yard stretch were it looked like someone picked all of the larger rocks out of the dirt road, but didn’t fill in the holes, which made for very uneven footing. There was also about a 1/4 mile stretch through a wet meadow with flooded grass. The trail through this stretch went around the side of the flooded areas, but as more and more runners went through the course , it ended up being quite muddy and wet. One the plus side, I do think it was a fast course that was runnable the whole way.
On the plus side, there was excellent runner support and bling. The one aid station at the start/finish of the 2.78 mile loop was well stocked with tailwind, water, soft drinks, hot water for tea or hot chocolate, and most importantly, coffee throughout the race. They also had typical snack food, PB&J sandwiches, grilled cheese, quesadillas, and at different times, takeout Chinese food, spaghetti, and pizza, just to name a few items. They also had a medic on site (which I didn’t need to use) and free massages from a local school of massage during the end of the last two days of competition.
There was some wildlife to be seen on the course, although I did not see any larger animals like deer or coyotes. One highlight for me was a Osprey that was at its nest on a platform on top of a power pole along the course. I saw it sitting along side of its nest several times, and also saw it disappear into the nest (presumably to lay an egg) during the second morning of the 48 hour race. There were also your typical songbirds along the course like the ubiquitous American Robin and iconic Black-billed Magpies. Interestingly, I didn’t see any Bald Eagles.
At the packet pickup which was one hour before the race start, I was given my bid and timing chip and a long-sleeved technical shirt. After I finished my race, I was given a pint beer glass, large duffle bag with the race name on it, and a large buckle for completing 100 miles. Over all, I have to say that I am very satisfied with completing 102.86 miles over two days and will have fond memories of the experience.