Not A Sprint Ultra Races

Not A Sprint Ultra Races takes place in Forest City, North Carolina, on September 6, 2026. Instead of a fixed distance, the event offers three timed trail formats held the same day: a 3-hour race, a 6-hour race and a 12-hour race. You cover as much ground as you can before the clock runs out, and your total distance is your result.

Timed events like these are a forgiving way into ultrarunning: there is no cutoff to chase, you can walk when you need to, and the 3-hour option works as a long training run with a bib on. If you are after a first ultra, the 6-hour race lets you pass the marathon mark at your own pace, while the 12-hour is a real test of pacing, fueling and patience. A 12- to 16-week block with a handful of long trail efforts will get you ready, and practicing how you eat on the move matters more than raw speed here.