Ultimate Direction Signature Races are ten events – from South Africa to Italy, New Zealand, Colorado and much more – celebrating the iconic places and people of the sport of skyrunning, ultrarunning, trail and mountain.

Like the game-changing Ultimate Direction Signature Series vests and vestas, Signature Races are original and innovative.

The first Signature Race this year was the Tarawera Ultra in Rotorua, New Zealand. The race is one of the most celebrated and loved ultras in the world. This year runner’s got to experience the unique New Zealand landscape with sun and dry trails. Now offering a 100 mile distance and part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour, Tarawera attracts the best runners in the world. This year’s field included Americans Courtney Dauwalter, Jeff Browning, Camille Herron, and many more and Kiwis like Grant Guise and Fiona Hayvice.

The next two Signature Races are in March. The first is the Caballo Blanco Ultra Marathon in Chihuahua, México. The UMCB has an incredible and storied history and was started by Micah True (Caballo Blanco) who wanted to bring runners from all over the world and introduce them to the Ramamuri (Tarahumara) people and their great culture. The Ultra event brings together endurance athletes from all over the planet to run together with over 600 Raramuri athletes. A highlight of the weekend is the UMCB kids race on Saturday (the day before race day) which features 1,000 young athletes in short races around the town of Urique.

A couple weeks after Caballo Blanco is the March 16 Chuckanut 50 km in Bellingham, Washington. Run by UD Ambassador Krissy Moehl, Chuckanut is a classic in the northwest United States. In 2002 founders Doug McKeever and Richard West passed on the directing responsibilities to Krissy after putting on 10 very successful editions of the race. Krissy decided to ensure the future of the Chuckanut 50 km as it was her first ultra experience in 2000. Krissy committed to the current course as a dedication to her friend Dave Terry who passed fall of 2009. 

The race is run on Chuckanut Mountain, just south of Bellingham, Washington, where the foothills of the Cascades meet the salt water.

Full list of Signature Races

  • Tarawera Ultra
  • Ultra Caballo Blanco
  • Chuckanut 50K
  • High Lonesome 100
  • Hardrock 100
  • Monte Rosa Skymarathon
  • Transrockies
  • Run Rabbit Run
  • Karkloof 100
  • Moab Trail Marathon