Ohio Endurance Series

  • Ten races. One calendar year. One question: how far can you go?

    The Ohio Endurance Series is Western Reserve Racing's long-distance championship. The season opens in January and closes in December, and it spans some of Ohio's best state parks and wildest trail systems — Mohican, Burr Oak, Salt Fork, West Branch, Camp Manatoc, and the Buckeye Trail through Cuyahoga Valley.

    This is the long-distance series: 15K is the shortest distance that scores, and the schedule runs all the way up through the marathon, the 50K and the 8-hour. All of our events are hiker- and walker-friendly, with generous cutoffs and courses built to welcome every pace. Run one race, or chase the whole year and go after Ohio Endurance Athlete of the Year.

  • Participate in 4 races to qualify for the Ohio Endurance Series and a chance to be named an Ohio Endurance Athlete of the Year.

    • Qualifiers receive a custom trading card with your photo and your Ohio Endurance Series race stats.

    • There's nothing to sign up for. Register for any series race and you're scored automatically — your fourth finish qualifies you.

  • The season is the calendar year. Every series race from January through December counts toward one set of standings.

    15K and up. The Ohio Endurance Series scores the long stuff. Several series races also offer a shorter option — a 5K, a 10K, a short-loop event — and those do not count toward the series. Only 15K and longer scores.

    Points are earned by place. Each race you finish is scored on a base of 10 points for 1st place, 9 for 2nd, 8 for 3rd, and so on down the field.

    Everyone scores. No matter where you finish, you earn a minimum of 2 points for every race you complete.

    Longer distances are worth more. Points are multiplied by distance:

    Distance Bonuses

    • 8 Hour; 50k - 50% Bonus

    • Marathon; 4 Hour, 20 Mile - 25% Bonus

    Every race counts. Unlike a best-of-N format, all of the points you earn across the year are added together to determine your overall placement — so the more series races you run, the more you can bank.

    Age is set by the last race in the series. Your age group is determined by your age as of the final series race of the year.

    No double dipping. Overall winners are not eligible for age group awards.

    • Top 5 Overall

    • Top 1 Masters

    • Top 1 Grand Master

  • Ten races, January through December. Series standings are posted throughout the year on our Series Results page.

    Distances listed below are the series-scoring distances. Some of these races offer a shorter option as well — great races, but they don't count toward the series.

    DIRTY SNOWFLAKE — Stow, OH — January 4 Hour

    The season opener, and unlike anything else on the calendar. A two-mile loop, a heated indoor basecamp, and the clock stopped between loops — rest as long as you like, then head back out. The 4-hour is the series-scoring event: cover as many loops as you can. Start anytime between 10 AM and noon and warm up with chili when you're done.

    MO SPRING — Mohican State Park, Perrysville, OH — April 15K · Half Marathon · Marathon

    Break out of winter hibernation. Starting and finishing at the historic Mohican Lodge, the course runs past Clearfork Gorge — a Registered National Natural Landmark, 300 feet deep and lined with hemlock and old-growth white pine — plus the covered bridge, the fire tower and Lyons Falls. Budding trees, spring wildflowers and songbirds the whole way, over rugged trail and hills.

    FOOLS — Camp Manatoc, Peninsula, OH — May Half Marathon · Marathon · 8 Hour

    The best ultra dress rehearsal on the calendar. The 8-hour runs a 5K loop, so you're never far from a fully stocked aid station — and you can set up your own 10x10 crew area to test fuel, hydration, gear and pacing in a low-pressure setting. Ideal prep for Burning River.

    SUMMER SASQUATCH — Salt Fork State Park, Kimbolton, OH — June 10 Mile · 20 Mile · 50K

    Get squatchy at Ohio's largest state park, home of Ohio's largest creature. A 10.4-mile loop over the rolling hiking and bridle trails will test your limits. Run Saturday and Sunday and get 50% off the Sunday 10 mile.

    BUCKEYE TRAIL — Brecksville, OH — June 25K · 50K

    A piece of Ohio ultrarunning history. The Buckeye Trail 50K started in 1994 as Joe Jurczyk's informal birthday run — thirteen finishers that first year, with Steve and Mark Godale sharing the win in 5:12:18 in their first ultra. Three decades on, the allure of the Buckeye Trail hasn't changed. The 25K is point-to-point from Pine Lane to Oak Grove, on the same trails as the 50K.

    LEAVE NO TRACE — Camp Manatoc, Peninsula, OH — September 5K · 15K · Half Marathon

    The Spirit of Marnoc is said to dwell in the woods of the high plateau at Camp Manatoc. This mostly single-track course is open to the public only during WRR events — your one chance each year at the Boy Scout camp's technical trails. We have special permission to run and hike with dogs at this event.

    BEST OF THE WEST — West Branch State Park, Ravenna, OH — September 10k - Half Marathon · Marathon

    A celebration of the new Buckeye Trail section at West Branch, recently designated a State Trail by ODNR — only the third trail in Ohio to earn the honor. The park is oak-hickory forest the whole way, shaded and full of wildlife. Marathoners loop the eastern end of the lake, cross the dam and run out to the campground entrance before returning to the beach; half marathoners finish at the turnaround.

    MO FALL — Mohican State Park, Perrysville, OH — October 15K · Half Marathon · Marathon

    Mohican again, transformed. Fall color and rugged trail: a mix of rolling singletrack, gentle slopes and a few demanding climbs that rewards both first-timers building endurance and veterans looking for a fight. Ferns, moss, hemlock canopy and stream crossings the whole way. Dogs welcome.

    BOBCAT — Burr Oak State Park, Glouster, OH — November Half Marathon · Marathon

    The wildest course on the schedule — roughly 90% pure trail through southeastern Ohio's backcountry. Rolling hills, multiple creek crossings and long stretches of the Buckeye Trail. The marathon is a single big loop; the half is a point-to-point on the same trails.

    BIGFOOT — Salt Fork State Park, Kimbolton, OH — December 10 Mile · 20 Mile · 50K

    The season finale, and one of the largest trail races in the tri-state area with over 900 participants. Saturday runs the 50K, 20 mile and 10 mile; Sunday adds a second 10 mile. Run both days and get 50% off the Sunday race. Last chance to bank points — and if you spot Bigfoot out there, give him a hug.