Kilkenny Ridge Race
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Kilkenny Ridge Race
Kilkenny Ridge Race is a weekend of trail events held at South Pond Recreational Area in Stark, New Hampshire, on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail. The event offers the following distances:
- 50 Mile
- 25 Mile
- 25K
The 25 and 50 mile routes follow the Kilkenny Ridge Trail end to end and gain roughly 7,500 feet per direction along ridgelines and remote valleys. Courses are unmarked and backcountry in nature; runners must carry navigation tracks on a phone or GPS and study maps before the race. The terrain and remoteness mean long stretches may lack aid and require water filtering.
Aid stations on the backcountry sections provide limited food, water, and electrolytes. The turnaround and finish areas offer a fuller aid selection and finish-line food including grilled options. Shuttle service moves runners from the main parking area at South Pond to race start locations; vehicles may not be left at remote start points.
Mandatory gear is checked at bib pickup. Typical requirements include two liters of water, a minimum of calories (higher for longer distances), a windbreaker or rain shell, an emergency blanket, and a water filter; additional items such as headlamps and warm clothing are required for the longer distances. Qualifications are required: entrants must have prior trail experience appropriate to each distance. Crews are restricted in some on-course areas and no pacers are allowed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
