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Race Information

Eastern States

Eastern States is a 103-mile single-loop trail race (98% single/double-track) in the Wilds region of the Allegheny Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania.  The race circumnavigates a portion of the stunning Pine Creek watershed that includes some of our longest climbs and most technical and remote terrain.  It visits storied trails like the Mid State Trail and the Black Forest Trail, and accumulates over 20,000 feet of climbing in the process — all in the glorious heat and humidity of August.  This is graduate-level trail running that will both test and fulfill you in so many ways.


Eastern States 100 Details:

Race date:
August 12 and 13, 2023

Friday:
5:00-8:00pm: Race bibs and swag bags* at Little Pine State Park

*All runners must check in with picture ID to receive their bibs and also must check in again race morning if picking up their bibs on Friday evening.

Saturday:
3:30am: Check-in station opens
All runners check in and receive race bibs and swag bags.
Fresh-brewed Bason Coffee and breakfast available!
4:45am: Pre-race briefing (at the start line)
5:00am: Start
6:16am: Sunrise
8:12pm: Sunset

Sunday:
3:10am: Moonrise (31.5% waxing crescent)
6:17am: Sunrise
5:00pm: Cutoff (36 hours

 

Qualification Standard

This is NOT an entry-level race.  Because of the difficult and remote terrain, the potential heat and humidity, and the large amount of climbing, you must qualify to enter Eastern States.
To qualify, you must either complete a 50-mile trail race within 16 hours, or complete a trail race longer than 50 miles within that race’s official cut-off time. You must complete this qualifying race in either 2021, 2022 or 2023, and you must have already completed it to register. We will review your qualifying race when you register, so please be sure it’s an official race with results published on a publicly available website.

Associated Races

The Ironstone 100K is a point-to-point “Ridge and Valley Appalachian” 100 kilometer ultramarathon in Southwest Central Pennsylvania. Amazing in its terrain and rich in heritage, the ultramarathon starts at Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County and utilizes the Standing Stone, Mid State, and Lower Trails before ending in Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County.
With its unforgiving technical terrain, it will be one of the most challenging ultras in the region, on par with races like Eastern States 100, Black Forest 100K and Worlds End Ultramarathon. The most unique feature of the Ironstone 100K is the ridge running atop Tussey Mountain, one of the longest named ridges in the Appalachians – a folded and fractured ridgeline of sandstone and quartzite. Other features include old-growth pines at Alan Seeger Natural Area, Little Juniata Natural Area, the Lower Trail rails-to-trail along the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River and the historic limestone kilns at Canoe Creek State Park.

Allegheny Trailrunners Inc. is an organization whose members love the adventurous outdoors in the Alleghenies. Based in South Central PA, we organize a series of trail races and group runs for all abilities, and advocate for trail development throughout the Alleghenies. We serve individuals at all levels of ability and talent who share a common love for being in the outdoors while promoting and preserving our region’s rich beauty and heritage. Allegheny Trailrunners is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization.

Partners

Trail Sisters was created to constitute for an equitable outdoors both recreationally and throughout the industry. Female voice and representation are essential in the future of our outdoors, impacting the role we play both on and off the trails.

To break through long-standing barriers, Trail Sisters generates educational content and resources, while fostering an inspirational community that encourages self-advocacy and life-long friendships. Eastern States 100 is proud to be Trail Sisters Approved.