These roads have a soul, a depth of history. They are unique, unforgiving, ever-changing, but always red. At the heart of this event are some of the most rugged, daunting, beautiful and memorable roads in the Oklahoma wilderness. They take on a personality of their own, but they are also …
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These roads have a soul, a depth of history. They are unique, unforgiving, ever-changing, but always red. At the heart of this event are some of the most rugged, daunting, beautiful and memorable roads in the Oklahoma wilderness. They take on a personality of their own, but they are also marked by the people who travel far and work hard to ride them. Making yourself a part of these roads makes them a part of you.
The first Land Run 100, now known as The Mid South linked 107 miles of red, rutted roads and featured more 6,000 feet of climbing and Carney, Oklahoma as its halfway point. 121 riders braved the course that first year. In 2020, the event embraces over 2700 riders in the 100 and 50 and more than 350 runners, who have registered for The Mid South 50K and The Mid South Double. Between the bike race and the foot race, entrants will be coming from 47 states, Canada, Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, England, and Australia.
Every year, the weather has been a defining characteristic of the event. When rain falls on Oklahoma red dirt, the roads become unforgiving and, in some cases, unrideable. Stories of ruined derailleurs and miles-long sections of hike-a-bike through “peanut butter mud” that can swallow a shoe have become staples of the experience. But even when Oklahoma gravel is hard-packed, dusty, and fast – as it is most of the year – losing yourself on these country roads can evoke strength, grit, and resolve that you never knew you possessed. The spirit of The Mid South is found in the will to redefine what is possible.
The Mid South serves up a 100 and 50 mile cycling distance, a 50k ultramarathon foot race, and The Double where participants will run the 50k on Friday and ride the 100 mile course on Saturday.
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