Hundreds of participants assemble on the Capitol Mall Friday prior to today's start of the Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run. Runners will be competing in 100 mile, 50 mile or 55k events this weekend starting at Spooner Lake.
Nearly 600 people will spend the day at Spooner State Park on Saturday, running in a 100 mile, 50 mile and 55K around the lake.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run 55K/50m/100m is in its 15th year as one of the biggest competitions in ultra running. Competitors flood Carson City, filling the hotels and even meeting on the Capitol Grounds Friday for their run orientation.
“This race is Carson City’s best kept secret,” said race director George Ruiz.
The start and finish are both at Spooner Lake and the racers have 35 hours to complete the ultra marathon.
“Thirty-five hours may seem like a lot of time, but you could miss the time by 40 seconds,” said runner Tom McCoin from California. “That could be the time that it takes you to re-tie your shoe.”
McCoin is running the Tahoe Rim in celebration of his 50th birthday.
“It is like that old country song, ‘What was I thinking?’” McCoin said.
Training for a marathon like this varies, some runners train by running 90 or so miles a week and some runners, like McCoin do a lot of cross training on bikes, hiking or skiing.
“I am not a natural runner, so I do a lot of cross-training,” McCoin said.
Ruiz said this event brings runners from all over the world. They have 11 countries and all 50 states signed up to participate this year. Only 570 runners are accepted to the marathon, selected via lottery.
“It is a big thing in the ultra marathon community,” Ruiz said.
There will be 250 people running in the 100-mile run, and Ruiz said the winner will probably cross the finish line in around 17 to 20 hours, while most of the other runners will cross at about 25 to 33 hours.
Every 100-mile runner who completes the marathon under the 35-hour limit receives a custom made nickel belt buckle with a silver medallion inside. The runners who complete the 50-mile and 55K each receive a plaque.
“I am excited for the same thing every year,” Ruiz said. “It is a tremendous effort by our volunteers, but worth it when you see people cross the finish line. 100 miles is a monumental effort and it’s an emotional finish line when people reach it.”