The Trident Trail Races has become a carousel of different types of mini-games to offer something for everyone on race day! Whether you’re just in it for an EZ half marathon, or 24 hours and 80 miles of agony, or the gargantuan 102 miler – Ciento Dos, and everything in between, you’ll find something that speaks to you as we change a few of the mini-games every year while keeping the fan favorites! The premise of The Trident is a simple one: hold a trail race on the sugar sand dunes of coastal southeast Florida during the hottest time of the year! This is truly a test of mental and physical endurance no matter which mini-game you pick! Make no mistake: this is a HOT race! Heat training for any distance is strongly recommended!
We are bringing you 5 races to choose from!
1. Our original Trident Trail Half Marathon that starts at high noon! Same misery, same 4 hour cutoff! It’s the OG race that so many of you love to hate and hate to love!
2. Ciento Dos, our newest offering! This beast is a 102 mile challenge like no other. You’ll have 36 hours to traverse 31 – yes, 31 – Trident loops to finish with a hair over 102 miles. This race has qualifiers! See below.
3. A Series of Unfortunate 5Ks – a new Trident offering where you can earn a simple 5K finish, or, continue to level-up by running one “unfortunate 5k” (one 3.3 mile loop) over and over until you’ve ran 10 loops and 33 miles to earn the coveted 5kULTRAMARATHON finish! This race starts at noon and you’ll have 10 hours to finish. You can also bow-out at the half marathon distance and leave with a half marathon award. Or, you can do a single loop and leave with a 5k finish complete with awards all around! Deets below! This race does not follow the same “loop-per-hour” format that Immolation does. You have 10 hours to do this however you see fit!
4. IMMOLATION – a gargantuan challenge for only the most hardcore and badass endurance junkies and ultra runners! This is a 24 hour, 80 mile festival of suffering in the same elimination format as the Ridge to Nowhere: run one 3.3 mile Trident loop per hour for 24 hours. Sounds easy enough, right? There’ll be 6 elimination rounds beginning at midnight – the last runner on the course UNDER the one hour mark gets released from the race. However! A “second chance” phoenix coin issued to all runners making it past the 12 hour mark that they may redeem for a second chance if they are facing elimination. It’s a noon to noon party at the Ridge! Qualifying races/efforts required! See below!
5. The Twilight Trident, our night half marathon! It’s just like the Nooner half marathon, but with an 8 p.m. start and 4 hours to complete 4 Trident loops, it’s a great option for those not wanting to brave the midday heat!
Run the Ancient Sand Dunes!
Jupiter Ridge Natural Area is one of the last stands of Florida Coastal Scrub habitat in Palm Beach County. Only 2% of original Scrub in the county and less than one-third of the original Scrub in the state remain today! A gently rolling landscape of prickly, dense thickets spotted with bare patches of sparkling white sand, these 271 acres are protected by Palm Beach County as part of a countywide system of natural areas. Over 200 species of plants and animals call this home.
The Trident portion of Jupiter Ridge Natural Area is a sprawling collection of ancient sugar sand dunes – featuring the highest natural point in Palm Beach County! These dunes have remained unchanged since the last ice age over 2 million years ago and you’ll summit these “peaks” multiple times through your race! They aren’t particularly high with the highest being around 45 feet above sea level, but trudging through the softest sand is the only way up! It’s not as easy as you’d think!
The Trident was born with the intent to host a trail race in one of the most unforgettable and unforgiving environments in Florida and beyond at the most brutally hot and humid time of the year. It’s a celebration of suffering with friends in a social setting as the out-and-backs within an out-and-back loop will let you see your fellow competitors multiple times during your race. But please understand what you are signing up for; the dunes of Jupiter Ridge are a difficult venue for running. Add to the mix the unrelenting heat and humidity of southeast Florida in late July and you’re in for one of the toughest footraces in the US that has quickly become a cult classic bringing in runners from all over Florida and the US, Central America, and Europe to see what all the hype is about!
Schwag!
As this race is brought to you by the same folks who brought you the Sand Spur, you can expect the same level of goodies and bling, including amazing finishers medals, shirts, stickers, and other goodies! You’ll also be escorted to and from the race site to a nearby public parking area in an air conditioned van. We’ll also have custom top finishers awards for the top male and female winners from the magnificently talented Brie from Wicked Skins! Aid stations will be stocked with plenty of ice, water, liquid fuel, chilled fruit, and other goodies! The race will be professionally and accurately timed by our friends Justin at Trailhead Ultras and results will be posted to Ultrasignup immediately after the race!
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