USA Track & Field’s (USATF) Mountain Ultra Trail Council announces a brand new race in the acidotic RACING, LLC portfolio will host the 2019 USATF Mountain Running Championships on Sunday, September 29, in Waterville Valley, NH. The event will also be the sole selection race for the US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) scheduled to compete at the World Mountain Running Championships on November 15 in Villa La Angostura, Argentina.
Photo by Waterville Valley Resort.
The inaugural Waterville Valley Mountain Race will be a 10 kilometer, multi-loop course making excellent use of over 2000 vertical feet and 220 acres of available rugged New Hampshire terrain. The exact course will be announced in the spring after the snow has melted and the trails are accessible.
With a prize purse of $3000, open and masters’ awards, and the top 4 women and top 4 men earning automatic spots on the US Mountain Running Team, competition will be intense.
Joe Gray winning the 2017 USATF Mountain Running Championships at Mt. Cranmore. Photo by Joe Viger.
While this is a brand new race, the team at acidotic RACING, LLC (aR) is no stranger to hosting competitive championships and challenging events for runners of all abilities. aR has hosted eight of the past ten USATF Mountain Running Championships alongside their popular Loon Mountain Race and Cranmore Mountain Races. Last year’s championship at Loon Mountain featured equal participation by women and men as well and a record 1200 finishers.
“When we learned of aR’s vision for this new race, we were ecstatic,” said Nancy Hobbs, chairperson of USATF’s Mountain Ultra Trail Council. “Chris and his team always nail the logistics and are such great friends of our sport. Their idea to host the championships at Waterville Valley was an ideal fit for our program and shines a light on more of the great terrain New England has to offer.”
Addie Bracy winning the 2016 USATF Mountain Running Championships at Loon Mountain. Photo by Joe Viger.
Like many of aR’s races, the Waterville Valley Mountain Race will be part of the 2019 USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit replacing the Bretton Woods Fell Race. Founded in 1996 by Dave Dunham, the New England Mountain Running Circuit has been the proving ground for many past members of the US Mountain Running Team including 2011 World Mountain Running Champion Kasie Enman, 2016 team member Kim Nedeau and multiple-time team member Eric Blake.
Kasie adds, “The mountain running community in New England is thriving and has just the kind of atmosphere we need to draw new runners into our sport. I’m so excited to again show off what the Beast Coast has to offer. After a few years on familiar courses, it will be a fun challenge to test ourselves over a new route. Chris Dunn, Jeff Hixon, Paul Kirsch and the aR team have a real talent for working with the terrain to match the kind of course we’ll see at the World Championship. As hosts of the upcoming 2019 & 2021 US Alpine Skiing Championships, Waterville clearly have the steep slopes and infrastructure required to put on a championship mountain running event.”
Joe Gray leads Glenn Randall at the 2013 USATF Mountain Running Championships at Mt. Cranmore. Photo by Joe Viger.
Waterville Valley Resort is the ideal venue having hosted national and world class competitions and serving as the site for several Alpine World Cup ski races and NCAA Skiing National Championships. Waterville will also will be playing host to the US Alpine Skiing Championships in 2019 & 2021.
Athletes who participate in National Championships and Team USA competitions are subject to drug testing performed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in accordance with the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing. 6 athletes were tested at the 2018 championship at Loon Mountain. This was the first time there had been WADA certified testing at a USATF Mountain, Ultra and Trail Running Championship.
Every acidotic RACING (aR) event benefits a non-profit in part or in total. The Waterville Valley Mountain Race will benefit Waterville Valley Adaptive Sports. Since 2012, aR has also donated over $15,000 to support U.S. athlete travel to the World Mountain Running Championships.
Allie MacLaughlin leading the 2017 USATF Mountain Running Championships at Mt. Cranmore. Photo by Joe Viger.
Members of the military (active, retired, spouse) or a service profession (police, fire, rescue) can use the code “Hero2019” for $5 off their entry fee as a thank you for their service.
“It’s an incredible honor to once again host a USATF Mountain Running Championship. We are very thankful for our volunteers, hosts, partners, and the regional mountain running community for their support. Without them this opportunity would not be possible,” said Chris J. Dunn, Owner & Founder, acidotic RACING, LLC.
Recent past hosts of the USATF Mountain Running Championships & US Mountain Running Team selection races include:
2019 – Waterville Valley Mountain Race (NH)
2018 – Loon Mountain Race (NH)
2017 – Cranmore Mountain Race (NH)
2016 – Loon Mountain Race (NH)
2015 – Mt Bachelor Mountain Race (Bend, OR)
2014 – Loon Mountain Race (NH)
2013 – Cranmore Mountain Race (NH)
2012 – Mt. Washington Road Race (Men), Loon Mountain Race (Women)(NH)
2011 – Cranmore Mountain Race (NH)
2010 – Mt. Washington Road Race (NH)
2009 – Cranmore Mountain Race (NH)
For a full list of 2019 USATF Mountain Ultra and Trail National Championships check out this article.
The infamous Upper Walking Boss trail at the 2016 USATF Mountain Running Championships at Loon Mountain. Photo by Joe Viger.
