Ouray 100 Mile Race Guide
Race Name
The official title of the event is the Ouray 100 Mile Endurance Run. This hundred-mile mountain ultramarathon is staged by Ouray Ultras LLC and crowns finishers with a signature Ouray buckle and the chance to soak in the nearby hot springs.
When It Is Run
The Ouray 100 takes place each July, with the 2026 edition scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM on Friday, July 17, and conclude by 12:00 PM on Sunday, July 19, allowing a total window of 52 hours to complete the course. Early packet pickup and a pre-race briefing are held on the Thursday before the start in Fellin Park.
How to Qualify or Register
Entry is managed through an online registration portal on UltraSignup. Runners must demonstrate recent experience on mountain ultras by meeting at least one of several criteria: an official finish of a 100-mile trail race or 100 km within cutoff, a sub-11 hour 50 mile finish, or equivalent performance at a comparable mountain or timed event in the 12 months prior. Proof of results and a service requirement of eight hours of trail volunteer work (or a $100 opt-out donation) must be submitted by early July to secure a starting slot.
Particular Challenges
The Ouray 100 is renowned for its relentless climbing and high altitude. With over 41,800 feet of cumulative ascent and 83,700 feet of total elevation change, runners contend with steep sustained climbs, loose scree, alpine scree fields, occasional snow patches, and technical single-track that demands constant attention to footing. Altitude ranges from a low of 7,640 feet in Ouray to peaks above 13,300 feet, and the thin air magnifies every effort. The mixture of out-and-back sections means runners repeatedly tackle the same climbs in reverse, testing both endurance and mental resilience.
Course Format
The route begins and ends at Fellin Park in Ouray, CO, and weaves through a series of out-and-back and loop segments. Key sections traverse Camp Bird Road, Silver Basin, Imogene Pass to Fort Peabody, Chicago Tunnel, Richmond Pass, and multiple single-track trails such as Grey Copper, Weehawken, Crystal Lake, Old Twin Peaks, and Perimeter Trail, before finishing on the historic Old Horsethief Trail (often called the “Bridge of Heaven” descent). Runners experience both clockwise and counter-clockwise loops, with a central Ironton loop that is run twice—once in each direction.
Elevation Profile
The Ouray 100 covers 102.1 miles and climbs 41,862 feet while descending an equal measure, for a total elevation change of 83,724 feet. The course lows in the town of Ouray at 7,640 feet and tops out at Fort Peabody on Imogene Pass at 13,365 feet, with an average course elevation of 10,239 feet. Major climbs include the ascent to Silver Basin Lake (11,644 feet), the technical slog up Chicago Tunnel Mine (12,241 feet), and the high-altitude summit at Fort Peabody (13,340 feet).
Terrain Breakdown
The entire route runs on unpaved surfaces, alternating between jeep roads and single-track trails. While exact percentages vary by segment, approximately sixty percent of the mileage follows narrow single-track that can be rocky, muddy, or snowy, demanding careful foot placement. The remaining forty percent rolls along gravelly jeep roads and mining access roads, providing slightly more runnable surfaces but still requiring constant vigilance on loose rock.
Time Limit & Cutoffs
Runners must complete the full 100 miles within a 52-hour overall cutoff, with the official finish deadline at 12:00 PM on Sunday (Day 3). Intermediate aid-station cutoffs are enforced to ensure safety and pacing. Volunteers monitor each runner’s split times at major stations such as Silver Basin, Ironton, and Weehawken, and runners who miss those intermediate windows are asked to withdraw to keep crews and support on schedule.
Aid Stations and Crew Access
The Ouray 100 features multiple aid stations strategically positioned throughout the course, though specific spacing varies due to the complex out-and-back nature of the route. The race includes both physical aid stations with full supplies and some water-only checkpoints on return segments. Crew access is available at three main locations along Highway 550, all within about 25 minutes of each other, making logistics manageable for support teams. These crew-accessible stations include Fellin Park at the start and finish, Crystal Lake, and Ironton, which are all positioned along the main highway corridor. Additional aid stations are scattered throughout the mountain sections, with the first two physical aid stations at Lower Camp Bird and Richmond Trailhead offering basic support without hot food. All remaining aid stations except the water-only Richmond Trailhead on the return trip provide hot food options including soup, ramen, grilled cheese, and quesadillas, along with propane space heaters for runner comfort during cold mountain nights.
Drop Bags and Supplies
Runners can utilize drop bags at specific aid stations throughout the course, allowing them to access personal gear, nutrition, and clothing changes at critical points during their journey. The aid stations stock standard ultramarathon fare including fruit, sweet snacks, salty snacks, water, and sports drinks provided by sponsor Skratch Labs. Five physical aid stations with hot food capabilities include Ironton, Weehawken, Crystal Lake, Fellin Park, and Silvershield, providing crucial warm nutrition during the long hours on course. Since the race does not provide elite-level foot care services like larger events, runners should pack any specialized foot care items in their drop bags, including preferred taping supplies, lubricants, and blister treatments. The aid station volunteers work tirelessly to support runners, but personal preparation with drop bags ensures athletes have exactly what they need when they need it most.
Mandatory Gear Requirements
Race organizers take runner safety seriously by requiring specific mandatory gear that must be carried throughout the entire event. Runners must provide their own headlamp or waist lamp plus a backup light source such as an additional headlamp, flashlight, or keychain light to ensure visibility during the extensive nighttime portions of the race. The race provides a comprehensive emergency kit in a ziplock bag about the size and weight of a smartphone, which includes a SPOT Gen3 GPS tracker, emergency poncho, emergency Mylar blanket, emergency flashlight with coin battery, water treatment tablets for one gallon, a Bic mini lighter, and a tealight candle. Race officials reserve the right to conduct spot checks of runner packs at any point during the event, and failure to produce the mandatory gear bag results in immediate disqualification with no exceptions. This strict policy reflects the serious nature of mountain safety in the San Juan range, where weather can change rapidly and emergency preparedness can mean the difference between a manageable situation and a life-threatening crisis.
Recommended Equipment
Beyond mandatory gear, race organizers strongly recommend several items that dramatically improve runner comfort and safety on the challenging Ouray course. Trekking poles top the list of recommended equipment, providing crucial support during steep climbs and helping preserve leg strength on treacherous descents. A bandana serves multiple purposes, protecting lungs from dust on jeep roads and functioning as a neck ice bandana during hot sections. Sunglasses, chapstick, and a small sunscreen bottle protect against the intense high-altitude sun exposure that occurs above treeline. Gloves for cold weather become essential during night sections when temperatures drop significantly at elevation. Weight lifting gloves with cut-out fingertips and mesh backs can save wrists and hands during inevitable falls on rocky terrain. A lightweight waterproof and windproof jacket provides critical protection against mountain weather, while shoes with four to six ice spikes or sheet metal screws offer extra traction on the steeper dirt trails that dominate the back fifty miles of the course.
Crew and Pacing Support
The Ouray 100 allows crew support at the three main crew-accessible aid stations along Highway 550, where support teams can provide food, gear changes, and crucial encouragement to their runners. Pacing rules follow common ultramarathon standards, though specific restrictions apply to when and where pacers can join their runners on course. The concentrated nature of the three main crew access points along Highway 550 within Ouray, Ridgway, and Colona makes crew logistics relatively straightforward compared to races with more dispersed access points. Crews should establish base operations in either Ouray or Ridgway, both offering good lodging options and proximity to key runner access points. The race philosophy emphasizes that crews, pacers, and runners should all remain relaxed throughout the event, planning for the full 52-hour cutoff rather than overly ambitious time goals that can lead to mental breakdowns when reality doesn’t match expectations. Race organizers request that all crew members and pacers refrain from alcohol and recreational drug use during the event to ensure they remain fully alert and capable of supporting their runners through this difficult and potentially dangerous mountain course.
Navigation and Course Marking
The Ouray 100 features a well-marked course designed to guide runners through complex mountain terrain, though athletes should never rely solely on course markings for navigation. The course uses standard trail marking systems common to mountain ultramarathons, with markers placed strategically along the route to indicate the correct path. On good trails, markers appear at approximately quarter-mile intervals, while road sections like Camp Bird Road and Imogene Pass Road typically only have markers at intersections, potentially leaving miles between markers. More technical cross-country sections feature markers at closer intervals, especially through areas where runners will be navigating at night. All runners receive a SPOT Gen3 GPS tracker at check-in that transmits their location to satellites every 2.5 minutes, updating a live tracking map on the race website. This technology allows race organizers to monitor runner locations, identify potential course deviations quickly, and coordinate emergency response if needed. However, the tracking technology has limitations in mountain terrain, with signals sometimes blocked by terrain, dense tree cover, or storm conditions.
GPS and Navigation Technology
Race organizers strongly recommend that directionally challenged runners download navigation apps like Gaia or Backcountry Navigator to their smartphones before the race. These apps cost between ten and twenty dollars but transform phones into GPS navigators that work without cell reception by downloading Forest Service maps and the Ouray route GPX files in advance. Runners can activate their phone’s location function when uncertain about their position, confirm their location on the downloaded map, then turn the location function back off to preserve battery life. The race website provides downloadable GPX files of the complete route that can be imported into these navigation apps. Runners should note that consumer GPS watches, even expensive models, are not survey-grade accurate in mountain terrain due to sky obstructions from peaks, dense tree cover, and storm interference. The course’s complex out-and-back nature means runners will see other competitors throughout the race, providing additional confirmation that they remain on the correct route. Race organizers emphasize that athletes should arrive prepared to navigate the course with or without markers, using map study and ideally pre-race course reconnaissance to build familiarity with the route.
Historical Finish Rates
The Ouray 100 maintains one of the lowest finish rates among major 100-mile ultramarathons, with completion percentages typically ranging between 34 and 50 percent depending on weather conditions and field strength in any given year. Historical data shows the finish rate has dipped as low as 20 percent during particularly challenging years, while better conditions have pushed completion rates closer to 40 percent. These statistics underscore the genuine difficulty of the course, which combines extreme elevation gain with technical terrain, high-altitude exposure, and unpredictable mountain weather. The 2021 race saw only 34 finishers out of 110 starters, a 31 percent completion rate that reflects typical attrition for this event. The 2024 race had 61 finishers from 81 starters in the 100-mile distance, representing a 38 percent finish rate. Most finishers use the majority of the 52-hour cutoff, with average finishing times hovering around 40 to 48 hours for mid-pack runners. The course record stands over 30 hours, demonstrating that even elite ultrarunners require extensive time to complete the challenging route. These finish rates serve as a sobering reminder that success at Ouray requires not just physical preparation but also mental fortitude and respect for the mountain environment.
Special Features and Awards
The Ouray 100 embraces an old-school ultrarunning philosophy summarized by the Latin phrase “Non Laurus Luctatio,” meaning “Not the prize but the struggle.” Race founder Charles Johnston deliberately designed the event to push the boundaries of what non-elite athletes can achieve, creating an experience that exists on the razor’s edge between success and failure. Finishers receive a distinctive belt buckle that symbolizes their accomplishment, passing through two orange cones at the finish line to claim their hard-earned hardware. The race offers no participation trophies or 50-mile buckles for those who attempt the 100-miler but don’t finish, maintaining the philosophy that the back fifty miles present the hardest challenges. Top finishers compete for a cash purse, with the top female 100-mile finisher receiving $1,250 and the top male receiving $1,000. However, these cash awards come with a unique requirement: winners must submit to drug testing immediately after finishing and again at a formal collection the following morning. The race implements comprehensive anti-doping policies including testing for steroids, testosterone, EPO, and THC above certain thresholds. Podium awards are laser cut from genuine traffic cones, adding to the race’s quirky, no-frills character.
Course Records and Previous Winners
Miguel Medina of Durango set the current men’s course record in 2022 with a time of 30:00:27, shattering the previous record held by Chris Price from 2017 by over 45 minutes. Meredith Edwards, also from Durango, established the women’s course record at the same 2022 race with a finishing time of 34:01:33, breaking Melissa Beaury’s 2017 record of 34:26:00 by approximately 25 minutes. The 2024 race saw Seth Orme claim victory in 29:25:54, while Luke Metzger finished second in 31:44:00. Elizabeth Butler won the women’s division in 35:28:46, followed by Emily Keddie in 37:21:24. The 2025 race crowned Ted Bross as champion with a time of 29:19:13, while Luke Metzger returned to finish second in 29:38:38. Sarah Ostaszewski dominated the women’s field in 2025 with a time of 32:42:17, improving on her third-place finish from 2023. Other notable winners include Mike Cassidy in 2019, Anthony Lee in 2021, and Alyssa Clark who won the women’s division in 2021. The consistently strong performances from Colorado-based athletes reflect both the home-field advantage of altitude acclimation and familiarity with San Juan Mountain conditions.
Race Philosophy and Culture
The Ouray 100 operates under a strict no-whining rule that applies to runners, crews, and pacers alike, reflecting race director Charles Johnston’s philosophy that embracing the possibility of failure creates opportunities for growth. The race deliberately avoids the “everyone’s a winner” mentality, instead celebrating the courage required to attempt something genuinely difficult where success is never guaranteed. Johnston designed the course to be right at the edge of what normal, non-elite athletes can accomplish, creating an experience that tests limits while remaining theoretically finishable. A gentleman in his sixties completed the race in 2015 despite stormy weather, proving that age need not be a barrier for properly prepared runners. The race enforces what’s known as the “Ironton Clause,” created by Jason Pecoraro, which states that runners who drop before reaching Ironton should return to Fellin Park and crew or pace another runner to the finish rather than simply abandoning the event. This philosophy fosters a supportive community atmosphere where even those who don’t finish contribute to the success of others.
Service Requirement
Each Ouray 100 participant must complete eight hours of volunteer service prior to July 1st of race year, either at trail ultramarathons or performing physical trail work. Crewing, pacing, and coaching do not qualify toward this requirement. Runners can opt out of the service requirement by making a $100 donation to Ouray Trail Group at registration checkout. Entrants who have not submitted their service form or paid the opt-out fee by July 10th forfeit their registration fee and cannot participate in the event, with no exceptions granted. This service requirement reflects the race’s commitment to giving back to the ultrarunning community and supporting trail maintenance in the areas where the event takes place. The policy encourages runners to become active participants in the broader trail running ecosystem rather than simply consumers of race experiences. Race organizers strictly enforce this requirement, understanding that community involvement and trail stewardship ensure the long-term sustainability of mountain running events in the San Juan range.
Official Contact Information
The official race website is www.ouray100.com, where runners can find detailed course information, section descriptions, elevation profiles, aid station directions, and live tracking during race weekend. Registration for the Ouray 100 Mile Endurance Run takes place through UltraSignup at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=130482, where runners can access the event page, view results from previous years, and register for upcoming races. The 2026 race is scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2026, with an 8:00 AM start time and a 52-hour cutoff ending at 12:00 PM on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Packet pickup occurs Thursday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Fellin Park, with a pre-race briefing at 6:00 PM that race organizers describe as optional but highly useful for learning important course details. Race-day packet pickup runs from 7:00 to 7:45 AM on Friday morning. The award ceremony takes place at 12:30 PM on Sunday following the cutoff. Fellin Park is located at 1220 Main Street, Ouray, Colorado 81427, immediately next to the Ouray Hot Springs on the north side of town.