38 years ago this June, a new type of race was born. This wasn’t just any event. It was an endurance event like no other. One that would test not only athleticism and running ability but grit, determination, and resilience. This event took no prisoners. It chewed up, spat out, and burned the shirts of quitters but for those few who persevered, it bestowed on them the revered title of Ultimate Runner.
In case you’re new here or just haven’t connected the dots, the event referenced above is Twin City Track Club’s Ultimate Runner. This event, scheduled to occur on Saturday June 29, 2024, starting at 4:30PM sells out almost every year and at the time of this writing has only 24 spots left in the field of 114 participants. It is a race unlike any you’ve experienced. Ultimate Runner has athletes racing 5 events in one evening: four on the track and one on the trails. If you’ve never run a track event before or if it’s been a while, stick around and see if you have what it takes to embark on this challenging and rewarding journey to become the Ultimate Runner.
The event, hosted at the Bob Sosnik Track located by Hanes Park, begins with a timed 1-mile race. The field of 114 runners is separated into race heats based on estimated finishing times that runners submit when registering. This ensures that contestants will compete alongside runners of similar ability to themselves. (On a positive note, this competitive environment leads many runners to new personal best times in each race) The fastest runners among us start off heat one and then each additional heat runs progressively until every contestant has had a chance to complete each race. Once every heat has completed a specific race distance, the event will move on to the next race starting over again at Heat one. This will repeat itself with each heat running sequentially in all 4 track events before the event culminates in all runners toeing a single start line for a Cross Country 5K race around Hanes Park.
Sequentially, the races of Ultimate Runner are as follows:
1 Mile
800 Meters
400 Meters
100 Meters
5K Cross Country
Those that persevere and complete every event will find a coveted Ultimate Runner T-Shirt and 4.91 car decal waiting for them at the finish line of the 5K. But what about those who choose to throw in the towel and quit? Well, there is a reason the shirts are handed out AFTER this race. Ultimate Runner rewards quitters with a unique tradition: their shirts are burned at the starting ceremonies of the next year’s event! Yes, you heard that right. Tradition dictates that each year to mark the beginning of Ultimate Runner, the shirts that would have gone to the participants who quit the prior year are burned and their ashes scattered on the start line. Make no mistake, there’s a reason these shirts are coveted. If you receive one, you’ve EARNED it.
So now that you’re racing to sign up (HA “racing” see what I did there?), how do you train for such a challenge as this? Well, we have an answer for that too! Each year Twin City Track Club hosts its Summer Track Series! This 4-week series meets on Wednesday nights at the Bob Sosnik track at 6pm and is geared exclusively toward preparing runners for the challenge of Ultimate Runner. This year the series will start on Wednesday May 29th (RSVP here) and wrap up on Wednesday June 19th. This is a free event open to all who wish to participate. So come on out and run through each of the events that you’ll see in Ultimate Runner, get a feel for where you are now, and train to your goal for the race!
Wherever you are now and whatever shape you may be in, just know that there is a place at Ultimate Runner for you. While running prowess helps all of us, the real key to conquering this beast is in your grit, determination, and will to succeed. So, if this article has piqued your interest even slightly, hurry over and register before it’s too late!