Queen of the Ridge

Queen of the Ridge is held in Arena, Wisconsin, on September 26, 2026, by Driftless Endurance. The single event is a Last Woman Standing trail race that starts at 8:00 AM. There is no fixed distance: in this format you run the same loop at the top of every hour, and the race continues until only one runner is left to complete a lap.

The last-one-standing format rewards patience more than speed. Each lap you finish early gives you time to eat, change socks and sit down before the next start, so the challenge is managing rest windows and keeping your legs moving hour after hour. It suits women who want to try an ultra without committing to a set mileage, since you decide when you are done. Preparation is different from a normal trail race: practice running at a controlled, conversational pace, do back-to-back long runs on consecutive days, and rehearse eating real food during runs. Bring more gear and food than you think you need, and plan for running into the evening if you intend to stay in the game.