Looking Glass 100K

About the race

The Looking Glass 100k is a trail ultramarathon around Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah, starting and ending at the field across from Davidson River Campground off FS 5069 near the Pisgah Ranger Station. The course is approximately 62 miles with about 10,500 ft of elevation gain and loss and a 20 hour time limit.

The route includes a mix of smooth and technical singletrack, grassy double track, gravel, and a short section of pavement. It passes through cove hardwood forest, boreal balsam woods, and high-elevation mountain balds with multiple summits above 6,000 ft. The course also goes by multiple waterfalls and moss-covered streams, some of which require crossings.

There are 10 aid stations, including 8 full-service stations, with aid roughly every 4.5 to 8.6 miles. Minimum offerings at aid stations include water and Skratch Labs electrolyte drink and foods such as bananas, orange slices, potato chips, pretzels, PB&J, pickles, Snickers, and M&Ms. Some stations provide additional hot and cold items.

Registration opens May 1st. Refund windows are 75% (May 1–July 31), 50% (Aug 1–Oct 1), and none after Oct 2. No transfers; deferments only for military deployment, pregnancy, or a death in the family within two weeks of the event.

All runners and pacers must carry required safety gear at all times, including a headlamp with backup batteries, weatherproof seam-sealed jacket, emergency bivy, insulating base layer, warm hat and gloves, emergency whistle, 32oz+ hydration carrier, and the provided GPS tracker. Gear checks are mandatory and officials may remove people from the course for safety reasons.

Packet pickup is the Friday before the event at Appalachian Mountain Brewery in Mills River, NC; pre-race meeting is scheduled for 5pm Friday. Crews are allowed at full aid stations 1, 3, and 5. Pacers may join at aid 5 (mile 41.8) and must complete the final roughly 20 miles. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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