Grindstone Running Festival by Utmb
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Grindstone Running Festival by UTMB
The Grindstone Running Festival by UTMB is a multi-day trail running event held in Natural Chimneys Park, Virginia, set in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding national forests. The festival features routes that run through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, traverse Appalachian ridges, peaks, and valleys, and are timed for peak fall foliage.
Courses are technical and include high elevation, ridgelines, steep sections, and varied terrain. The event spans several distances and awards Running Stones for UTMB World Series qualification. It also serves as a dual qualifier for the UTMB World Series Finals and the Western States Endurance Run.
Distances and key figures:
- 100M: 167.4 km, elevation gain 6400 m+, 4 Running Stones.
- 100K: 100 km, elevation gain 3350 m+, 3 Running Stones.
- 50K: 50 km, elevation gain 1550 m+, 2 Running Stones.
- 21K: 21 km, elevation gain 500 m+, 1 Running Stone.
The event includes UTMB Community Bibs, with half of the bib purchase directed to a local charity chosen by the race team. The UTMB Community Bibs are part of The IRONMAN Foundation programs; since 2003 these programs have provided over $60 million in grant funding and support to nonprofit initiatives. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
