Kilkenny Ridge Race

Kilkenny Ridge Race

Kilkenny Ridge Race is a set of trail events held on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail near South Pond Recreational Area in Stark, New Hampshire. The event uses remote mountain trails and follows ridge-line terrain with significant elevation change. The course is unmarked and requires navigation with GPS and maps provided by the organizer.

Distances offered:

• 50 Mile - follows the Kilkenny Ridge Trail end-to-end with roughly 7,500 ft gain each direction
• 25 Mile - follows the ridge trail for about 25 miles with approximately 7,580 ft total gain
• 25K - follows the ridge from York Pond to Route 2 with about 4,000 ft gain

Aid on course is limited and many stations are backcountry hike-in locations with basic food, water, and electrolytes. The turnaround and finish aid stations have fuller offerings and the finish includes grilling at the finish area. Runners should expect long stretches without aid and prepare to filter water if needed.

Mandatory gear is required and checked at bib pickup. Required items include at minimum two liters of water, minimum calories of food, a windbreaker or rain shell, a space or emergency blanket, and a water filter; additional items such as a headlamp, winter hat, and gloves are also listed for longer distances.

Entry qualifications vary by distance: the 50 mile requires recent mountain 50 km experience, the 25 mile requires a challenging 20 mile trail race, and the 25K asks for a hilly technical 10 mile race or equivalent mountain experience. Parking is centered at South Pond Recreational Area and shuttles are used to reach some start locations. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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