23/08/2023
Announcing - Ultra X Nevada! A 5-day 220K stage race outside Las Vegas in October 2024.
I’ve had over 6 months to prepare to write this post, and I still don’t know how to properly express my excitement about the event we are launching next fall outside Las Vegas.
When Ultra X approached me last winter about helping bring their successful stage race series from the Eastern Hemisphere across the pond to the US, the first thing I said was, well to be honest.. “they have a beautiful website”. But the second thing I said was “this team clearly cares on an unprecedented level about everything from top level production and experience as any major race would, down to the most basic aspects of conservation, sustainability, and inclusivity that are key to trail and ultra racing”. And I was in.
Thus ensued 6 months of building and keeping the hardest secret I’ve had to keep professionally as someone who loves nothing more than talking about what’s awesome out there in racing. Relentless planning, course designing, creative discussions, meetings, a wild week earlier this month running around Las Vegas (and not in the way one normally would!), and a self-taught graduate seminar in public land permitting has led to what I truly believe is going to be one of the most amazing experiences a runner will find in 2024 - certainly one of the most exciting races, new or otherwise, in the USA.
The appeal of operating outside Las Vegas was always in the contrast - the world knows Vegas for the flash and lights, but too few (like myself until 7 years ago) know about the amazing natural beauty, diversity, and spectacular trail systems that lie just outside the city limits. So we created a course to showcase the full range of it - 5 days from 8500 feet down to 3,000 - from views of snowy alpine mountains and evergreen trees by Mt. Charleston, down to desert basins and cacti and colored rock formations around Red Rock - a true showcase of the American Southwest. With this, Ultra X Nevada is one of the most creative masterpieces I’ve been blessed to contribute to.
When I formed On Path Events, while part of my dream was to bring national-level knowledge to passionate local race directors building series and brand - and I’ve had many opportunities to do this - the other part of it was to be the ‘regional airline’ providing local/regional knowledge and support to expanding national and international series. Never did I imagine the first opportunity to achieve this would come in such a spectacular fashion. I’ve been intrigued and hooked since the beginning and while there is still a long way to go until we kick off at 8500 feet on Oct 21, 2024 - I am brimming with happiness that we’ve got this far and can share what we’ve created with the world.
Thank you Ultra X, Mark and Sam for giving me a metaphorical (and literal) sandbox in which to play, thank you Ryan Cooper my good local friend and guide, Chris and Josh and others yet to come for your bits of advice, and not least Carly for putting up with me over the last 6 months as my sounding board and source of sanity.
Everyone else - keep an eye out, tell your friends, sign up, and get ready :)
http://ultra-x.co/nevada
