The Pilgrimage
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The Pilgrimage - May 2, 2027
The Pilgrimage is a timed endurance race held in Mack, Colorado, set in the high desert near the Colorado River. The event runs for 150 hours and uses five different off-pavement routes that together make one full journey of about 55.3 miles with roughly 5,908 ft of elevation gain. The terrain is a mix of single track, dirt roads, and ATV track with an average altitude just above 5,000 ft. The course may change prior to race day.
The event format requires runners to complete multiple Journeys. Each Journey consists of all five colored routes; the event defines varied orders for different Journeys including predetermined, drawn, alternating, reversed, chosen, and sequential orders. Pacers are not allowed. An RD staff will be on site 24/7 and runners must check in with staff after each route. Failure to complete four full Journeys results in a DNF, which corresponds to roughly 220 miles in the 150-hour window. GPX files for each course are required and participants must know how to use them.
There are separate crewed and uncrewed divisions. Crew assistance is restricted to the home base only and onsite vehicle limits apply. The field is limited to 45 runners. The home base aid station offers hot and cold food, drinks, a small collapsible cup only, porta potties, and a portable shower.
Distances: Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
- Green route - 6.6 miles, 497 ft gain, 76 ft/mile.
- Blue route - 11.4 miles, 848 ft gain, 75 ft/mile.
- White route - 11.9 miles, 1,282 ft gain, 108 ft/mile.
- Red route - 12.6 miles, 1,323 ft gain, 105 ft/mile.
- Orange route - 12.5 miles, 1,136 ft gain, 91 ft/mile.