So you thought the Elk-Kings 25K was steep and technical? This mountain marathon is Euro-style mountain running, right here in Oregon. It really is not for the faint-of-heart. It’s for those who eat class 3 scrambles for breakfast, bombing descents for lunch, and hill repeats for dinner. Plus it is a bit longer than a marathon – you’ll run for 27.5 mile – it’s in the mountains after all. You’ll get 8,000 feet of gain. Yes, that was 8,000′ of climbing and a little more than that in descending. Tempted?
The race starts at Elk Creek Campground at the same time and place as the 25K. You will need to pick up your bib and take a shuttle from the the Smith Homestead near the Jones Creek Day Use Area, just east of the Tillamook Forest Center, on Highway 6. Please do not drive to the start line – bibs are only available at the Smith Homestead. Your race finishes at the Smith Homestead.
The course starts at the same spot and time as the 25K, but while those runners head straight up Elk Mountain, you’ll go up and behind it on the Elk Creek trail. You’ll rejoin the 25K course at the Kings aid station in the saddle between Elk and Kings mountains. Then it’s over to Kings summit, then down the Kings Mountain trail and east on the Wilson River trail, back toward the start. Now, you get to go up the Elk Mountain trail! From there, it is over to the saddle and onto to Kings summit and down King’s Mountain trail a second time before turning west on the Wilson River trail. Then all that’s left is to get to the finish at the Smith Homestead. Click to view the interactive course map.
There is 8,000′ of gain and 8,400′ of loss in this Mountain Marathon.
There are two cutoffs for the Mountain Marathon. The first is at the Elk Creek aid station, at 1:00 pm (mile 12.4). The second is at the Wilson aid station the second time. This is mile 19.7 and you need to leave there by 3:00 pm. If you do not make a time cutoff, you will stop racing and wait with the volunteers til they close down their aid station and then they’ll give you a ride to the finish.
Go Beyond Racing is cupless. You’ll need to bring your own cup for liquid aid at all aid stations. Full aid stations are stocked with GU electrolyte drink, GU gels, chips and cookies, PB&Js, pickles, gummy bears, and other ultra fare. The Kings aid station is not a full aid station and will have water, GU electrolyte drink, and GU gels only.
| Aid Station | Segment Distance | Cumulative Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings | 5.1 | 5.1 | |
| Wilson | 3.7 | 8.8 | |
| Elk Creek | 3.6 | 12.4 | 1:00 pm |
| Kings | 3.6 | 16.0 | |
| Wilson | 3.7 | 19.7 | 3:00 pm |
| Diamond Mill | 5.5 | 25.2 | |
| Finish | 2.3 | 27.5 |
The first man and the first woman to reach the summit of Elk Mountain during the race will be crowned King and Queen of the Mountain. Each will earn a special award for their crowning achievement.
You don’t have to be the first to finish the race, but you do have to finish, to earn the title.
The Forest Service has informed us that bees are in high season during the month of October. Therefore, if you are allergic to bees, you are required to carry an EPI-PEN during the race.
