Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB has become the latest trail running event to be added to the 2023 UTMB World Series.
Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will take place in Big Bear Lake, California, on October 13-15 and will feature distances of 10km, half marathon (21km), 50km, 100km, and 100-mile. The event has Running Stones offered at select distances for the UTMB World Series Finals at UTMB Mont-Blanc.
Kodiak Ultra Marathons joins a list of 36 trail running events from around the world that make up the international trail running series.
With close proximity to Los Angeles, California, Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB furthers the offering for runners keen on a UTMB experience while exploring some of the best trails across the USA. It becomes the sixth UTMB World Series event in the United States. Other series events include:
- Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB (Fruita, Colorado)
- UTMB World Series American Major – The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB (Auburn, California)
- Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (Olympic Valley and Auburn, California)
- Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB (Snowbird, Utah)
- Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB (Staunton, Virginia)
General registrations for Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will open on May 10 at kodiak.utmb.world.
“It’s an honour to have Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB added as the sixth UTMB World Series event in the United States,” said Susie Schmelzer, Race Director for Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB.
“It is a natural addition to the UTMB World Series. The event and Big Bear Lake have so much to offer runners, family, friends and spectators that meets the standards of the other great events that are part of this series.”
Sitting at 7,000ft in the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear village will host the start and finish for all five races, each offering a running experience through high desert, sub alpine and semi-arid climates.
Racing for the 10th edition of Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will kick off on Friday, October 13 when runners take on the 100-mile race. This distance is a looped course that circumnavigates Big Bear Lake.
‘From the descent through the rarely crossed Siberia Canyon, to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at nearly 10,000ft, the course is as challenging as it is beautiful.’
On Saturday, October 14, the 100km course follows over half of the 100-mile course, while covering much of Big Bear Valley. Runners in the 50km will enjoy the flowy single track of the Skyline ridge at 8,000ft before descending to the village.
Finally, on Sunday, October 15, race weekend closes out with a 10km and half marathon (21km). The 10km runners will enjoy the trails with views of Big Bear Lake in the background throughout the run. The half marathon course ascends the Skyline ridge with views of San Gorgonio peak before descending back into town for the festival finish.
Big Bear Lake is Southern California’s four-season mountain lake escape. As a jewel of the San Bernardino National Forest and known for fishing, snowboarding and skiing, hiking, mountain biking and so much more, Big Bear Lake is accessible from Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
UTMB World Series events are the only place for runners to access the UTMB World Series Finals, held annually at the world’s biggest trail running event, UTMB Mont-Blanc.
36 events across Europe, Asia, Oceania, the USA, South America, and Africa are currently confirmed for the 2023 season.
UTMB World Series 2023 confirmed events (as April 28, 2023)
- Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (New Zealand), 11-12 February
- Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 17-19 February
- Istria 100 by UTMB (Croatia), 13-16 April
- Ultra-Trail Ninghai by UTMB (China) 14-16 April
- Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB (USA) 12-14 April
- UTMB World Series American Major; The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB (USA), 28-29 April
- Transvulcania by UTMB (Spain), 4-6 May
- Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (Australia), 11-14 May
- Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB (Wales), 12-14 May
- Valhöll Argentina by UTMB (Argentina), 12-14 May
- Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB (France), 18-21 May
- Mountain Ultra-Trail by UTMB (South Africa), 26-28 May
- Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB (France), 3-4 June
- mozart 100 by UTMB (Austria), 17-18 June
- La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra-Trail by UTMB (Italy), 22-25 June
- Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB (Andorra), 24-25 June
- Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (USA), 24-25 June
- UTMB World Series European Major; Val d’Aran by UTMB (Spain), 6-9 July
- Restonica Trail by UTMB (France), 6-8 July
- Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB (Switzerland), 7-9 July
- Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB (Switzerland), 12-16 July
- Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB (USA), 21-22 July
- KAT100 by UTMB (Austria), 3-5 August
- UTMB World Series Finals; UTMB Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), 28 August – 3 September
- Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB (Slovenia), 8-10 September
- Wildstrubel by UTMB (Switzerland), 14-17 September
- Paraty Brazil by UTMB (Brazil), 22-24 September
- Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB (USA), 22-24 September
- Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB (France), 28 September - 1 October
- TransJeju by UTMB (South Korea), 7-8 October
- Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB (USA), 13-15 October
- Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB (Mexico), 3-4 November
- Kullamannen by UTMB (Sweden), 3-4 November
- TransLantau by UTMB (Hong Kong), 10-12 November
- UTMB World Series Asian-Pacific Major; Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 8-10 December
- Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB (Australia), 7-9 December
