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HYNER -- Nearly 70 endurance athletes will descend on Hyner Run State Park this weekend for the ninth annual Black Forest Ultramarathon, a 100-kilometer trail race widely regarded as one of the most demanding footraces in the Northeast.
The race begins at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, sending runners into the darkness of the
Pennsylvania Wilds with 19 hours to complete a rugged, 62-mile course through the mountains of Sproul and Tiadaghton State Forests.
Organized by Pennsylvania-based grassroots trail-running organization Iron Forged Runners, the Black Forest Ultra is designed to be more than a test of speed. It is a test of endurance, preparation, navigation and self-reliance -- and an opportunity for runners to experience some of the most remote and rugged landscapes in Pennsylvania.
"This is not a race where you simply show up and run," said David Walker, race director. "The course demands respect. The runners have to be prepared for the terrain, the elevation, the darkness and the distance. But that's also what makes it special. They're out there experiencing the Pennsylvania Wilds in a way that very few people ever will."
The Black Forest Ultra follows a distinctive "lollipop" course incorporating portions of the Black Forest Trail, with more than 13,400 feet of elevation gain over rugged and highly technical terrain. Some climbs gain more than 1,000 feet in less than a mile. The direction of the course reverses each year, giving returning athletes a substantially different experience from one year to the next.
And unlike many ultramarathons, the Black Forest Ultra deliberately removes much of the outside assistance commonly associated with long-distance trail racing.
There are no crew members, pacers or spectators permitted on the course.
For 19 hours, runners must rely on their own preparation and the race's aid stations and volunteers as they make their way through the forest. The race also requires participants to have previously completed a 50-kilometer trail race within its official cutoff, ensuring that entrants have demonstrated experience with the demands of trail ultramarathoning.
The race's midnight start adds another dimension. Participants leave Hyner Run State Park in complete darkness, carrying headlamps into the forest as they begin what will be, for many, an all-day journey through the mountains. As daylight arrives, runners encounter the landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, including dense forests, giant hemlocks, red spruce and pine plantations -- and, in early October, the first signs of autumn color.
While the Black Forest Ultra is intentionally difficult, its organizers see the event as part of something larger than a single day of competition.
Iron Forged Runners is a grassroots Pennsylvania organization dedicated to fostering a passion for trail running through challenging, rewarding events that encourage personal growth and resilience. The organization also works to introduce runners to the state's extensive network of public lands and encourages greater appreciation and use of Pennsylvania's state parks and forests.
"Pennsylvania has an incredible trail system, and the Black Forest is a perfect example," said Walker. "We want people to come here, challenge themselves, but also leave with a greater appreciation for these forests and the communities and public lands that make these experiences possible."
The Black Forest Ultramarathon begins at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at Hyner Run State Park in Hyner. Participants have until 7 p.m. Sunday to complete the course.
For more information about the Black Forest Ultramarathon, visit blackforestultra.com.
About Iron Forged Runners
Iron Forged Runners is a Pennsylvania-based grassroots trail-running organization committed to fostering a passion for trail running through challenging and rewarding events. Its races encourage participants to test their limits, develop resilience and experience the state's remarkable network of trails, parks and forests. Through its events, Iron Forged Runners seeks to promote responsible recreation and greater awareness of Pennsylvania's outdoor treasures.