Registration Date

Next Race: April 6-7, 2024
Registration: September 13, 2023, 8pm EDT

Competitive entrants (sub 17 hours for males; sub 19 hours for females) please read Entry Guideline #3 below.

Fees

The race entry fee is $225.

For your entry fee you receive: race support, a race t-shirt or a race hat, a finisher memento, a 100 Mile finisher certificate, and a Friday night spaghetti dinner for you and one crew member.

Before You Register

If any of the following are a deal-breaker for you, we suggest you reconsider running with us:

Understanding Registration

General registration for the Race will be online by first-to-start registration. This method has proven to be as random as a lottery, and far easier to administer. That said, although we partner with an online registration company that will not make typing speed an issue, any first-to-register process will require the registrants to be at the right place at the right time. Registrations for the 100-mile race and the 50-mile option are all combined. So, if you want to register for the 50, this information applies to you too.

We will also continue our reserved slot categories: Competitive, 500/1000 Mile Clubs, and Race Volunteers. We will also have our "Second Chance Lottery" for 60 general entries that were not admitted to the race during the initial, first-to-register online registration.

This year our reserved categories and Second Chance Lottery entries will register online for the available entries beginning on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Second Chance Lottery participants must complete the registration form, including payment information. The Second Chance Lottery registration will remain open until 6:00 pm Saturday, September 23rd. The lottery drawing will follow. If a runner is selected, their payment will be processed. Lottery and category winners will receive confirmations and their credit cards will be billed as soon as we release the winning names. The information of runners who are not selected will be deleted and your credit card will not be billed for participating in the lottery.

Generally, our process accounts for pre-race drops and race day no-shows. However, our process is not perfect. Therefore, we will maintain a waitlist based on the results of the Second Chance Lottery. At the conclusion of the Second Chance Lottery, we will contact the next 20 people planning to run the 100 (but not the 50) to see if they want to be added to a waitlist.

When participating in the Second Chance Lottery, you have no obligation to be added to the waitlist even if you are chosen. We will always ask before we add you to the waitlist. If you want to be considered for the waitlist, you must participate in the Second Chance Lottery (see Entry Guideline #2). If you did not participate in the Second Chance Lottery, please do not contact the race directors asking to be added to the waitlist - we know that everyone has a unique situation, but we want to respect the people who followed the registration process.

Competitive entries will continue to be handled on a case-by-case basis. No competitive entry will be considered prior to October 1. If you believe that you will qualify for a competitive entry position, we still ask (and recommend) that you participate in the two opportunities for online registration.

The Umstead 100 is organized and managed by ultra runners for ultra runners -- we are all volunteers. Please keep this in mind if you are disappointed by non-entry or disagree with the registration process. The Race is popular and we know there are going to be a significant number of runners disappointed when they fail to gain entry into the Race. We believe our registration policy is as fair as we can make it and at the same time works for those of us who administer the Race. Please read the Registration policy carefully. If you have comments on registration, please send them. We're always on the lookout for improvements.

The Race is typically limited to 250 runners. This limit reflects both the park infrastructure and our desire to give the highest quality service to our runners. We initially allow more runners to register based on the average number of post-registration drops and race-day no shows over the last several years.

Qualifying

For acceptance into the Umstead 100, you must have completed at least a 50-mile race within the time limit allowed for that race, or run 50 miles or more in a 12 hour race, since January 1, 2022, or show proof of adequate training and/or suitable running history.

You need to prove to us that you know what you're getting into and you are prepared to meet the rigors of a 100 mile run. We also accept as proof, given the rugged nature of each, the 40 Mile Uwharrie Mountain Run and the 40 Mile Mount Mitchell Challenge. We accept your word if you are running a qualifier subsequent to your registration for the run.

Minimum age accepted into the Race is 18 years of age at registration.

The 50-mile option does not require a qualifying race. We advise would-be 50 milers to have completed marathons and/or 50km races.

Guidelines for Determining Entry Into the Race

1. General Entries

The Race will accept 250 general entry runners into the Race through online registration on a first-to-start registration basis. These slots are open to all qualified runners. Registration will be through the Umstead 100 website, www.Umstead100.org, to our selected online registration company. Any online registration prior to the official opening of registration for a race will not be accepted as entry into the Race.

To help reduce the time needed to fill out the entry form, we will post a list of the information needed for registration on our website one week prior to registration.

Starting at 8pm on September 13, the online registration site will open 60 entry slots every 2 minutes for 6 minutes. After that, the final 10 entry slots will open, plus any remaining unclaimed entries.

You will have 10 minutes to complete the entry form and submit payment. If the application is not submitted within 10 minutes, the slot will go back into the entry pool.

Accepted applicants will receive a confirmation notice from the online registration company and we will post a list of accepted runners on the website as soon as possible after the Race is full.

2. Second Chance Lottery

The Race will reserve 60 slots for the Second Chance Lottery. This lottery is for general entry runners who were not admitted to the race during the initial, first-to-start online registration. This lottery is by online registration. On September 23, at a time designated by Race Management, all Second Chance Lottery entries will be assigned a number and 60 entries will be selected by a random number generator. Selected runners will be added to the entry list and their credit card will be charged the entry fee.

Registration for the Second Chance Lottery will be through the Umstead 100 website, www.Umstead100.org, to our selected online registration company. Registration will open at 12:00 am Saturday September 16, 2023 and close at 6:00 pm, Saturday September 23, with the drawing to follow. When registering, Applicants for Entry Guidelines #4 and #5 should check the applicable entry category on the entry form. All registrations for these slots will be verified for correctness. Any form where the category is not checked will be considered as part of the general lottery. Results will be posted on the website, no later than end of the day on September 24, as part of the overall field accepted into the Race.

3. Competitive Entries, Previous Winners

The Race will reserve 10 slots for competitive entries and previous male and female winners of the 100 Mile Race. "Competitive" is defined as the potential for sub-17 hours for males and sub-19 hours for females on the Umstead course. These slots will remain open until exhausted, but no later than March 1. Interested and qualified runners should contact the Race Director after October 1 for additional information regarding resume review and entry processing.

If you believe that you may qualify for a competitive entry slot, we request that you attempt to sign up through the initial signup on September 13th and, if that fails, the Second Chance Lottery. If you are not able register through one of the two processes described above, please contact us after October 1st for consideration.

Registering through the normal processes will provide you with an assurance of entry and provide us with more flexibility as we evaluate potential competitive entrants.

4. Members of 500/1000 Mile Clubs

The Race will reserve 20 slots for members of the "500/1000 Mile Clubs". These slots will be filled by online application (same application for Second Chance Lottery). See item 2 for Lottery registration procedures. If more than 10 valid applications are received, a lottery will be conducted by Race Management to randomly select the 10 entries to be entered into the Race. Selected runners will be added to the entry list and their credit card will be charged the entry fee. Entry assurance will be granted for 9-time finishers going for their 1000 Mile Buckle and 19-time finishers going for their 2000 Mile Buckle.

5. Race Volunteers/Supporters

The Race will reserve 15 slots for Race Volunteers and those who have materially and substantially supported the Race. These slots will be filled by online application (same application for Second Chance Lottery). See item 2 for Lottery registration procedures. If more than 15 valid applications are received, a lottery will be conducted by Race Management to randomly select the 15 entries to be entered into the Race. Selected runners will be added to the entry list and their credit card will be charged the entry fee.

The Race will reserve 3 additional slots for volunteers who, with prior permission from the Race Directors, work at least 8 hours for Sunday and/or Monday cleanup during the previous Race. This is a one-time per-runner offer and only for runners who have not previously run the Umstead 100.

6. Refunds, Transfers, and Deferrals

The Race will return a canceling runner's entry fee, less a $40 administration fee, for entry cancellations before February 1.

No refunds will be issued after February 1.

No bib transfers or deferrals will be permitted.

We regret that we cannot refund the entry fee if, for any reason out of race management's control (including but not limited to natural disaster, Park closure, public health threat, etc.), the race has to be cancelled.