Back of the Pack Friendly Races

Inspired by a less-than-friendly to the back of the pack race, we polled our community to find the friendliest races in the country — and beyond! Here are the recommendations you came up with, along with testimonials as to why these races are particularly awesome!

This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it is pretty dense! You’ll see some specific races listed, and others that list entire race directing organizations. For the organizations listed, we placed them in the region that they most serve. However, you may find they host races outside of the region they’re categorized under as well. Similarly, if there’s a race listed that’s part of an organization that puts on other races — you can probably assume their other races are BOTP-friendly as well!

We’re continually adding to and updating this list, so if there’s a back-of-the-pack friendly race that you know of and love, please leave us a comment or shoot us a message! Also, please remember that people’s experiences can vary person-to-person and year-to-year. While we wish we could, we can’t possibly run all these races, so we’re trusting you — our community — to vouch for them!

That said, there were two race companies in particular who got dozens of shout-outs each: Yeti and Ten Junk Miles.

Yeti Trail Races hosts races of all distances all over the country.  Here’s what people had to say about their races:

  • Every Yeti trail race ever! The race director will be ready for hugs for every single runner and we celebrate DFL!

  • At Dam Yeti 50-miler, I was close to DFL and the aid stations were going strong and so was the finish line. Jason, the RD, greets every runner as they finish.

  • Any Yeti race is the greatest. The director gives every single finisher a hug.

Ten Junk Miles races in the Midwest (yes, Midwest friends! You have GREAT races, too!). Here’s what people had to say about their races:

  • I was DFL at the Sugar Badger 50-Miler last year. I got a hero’s welcome when I finished and the community could not have been more supportive or encouraging. Aid stations remained open until the cut-offs and they were prepared to do whatever it took to keep me going.

  • Badger Trail Races have generous cut-offs, a bigger buckle if you’re over 30 hours to finish, and the RD makes sure everything is stocked for all participants. Leftovers are donated to the local food pantry. I swept last year and for the last guy — we kept him with us, timed his walk/run intervals so he didn’t have to look at his watch, tied his shoes when they came undone so he could get moving faster (who can bend down at mile 95?), and got him in-and-out of the last aid station to beat the clock by less than 10. It was the best moment of my life as a volunteer, but there's just good vibes the whole race.

  • I ran the 50K two years ago and it took me almost the whole 12 hours, and the finish was full of people cheering me. There was still hot pizza and cold drinks and hugs at the end! It was the best.

  • Badger 100 has a 36-hour cut-off, and I can give first-hand experience that they give huge support for the back of the pack. I ran it last year as my first 100 and finished last in 35 hours and 45 minutes. It’s an amazing event!

  • Another shout-out to Badger. I was 4th from last in the 100 in 2023 and the reception at the finish was awesome. I was too tired to move, but there was pizza left, and I believe beer (???). Bigger buckle for over 30 hours. Great aid stations and RD. Definitely excellent support to the back of the packers. Great experience.

Alright, and now for the rest of them!

West

California:

  • Loco Trail Races: Support stays until all runners come through. You will be well taken care of whether first, last, or somewhere in between.

  • Salmon Falls 50K: They have a DFL award and champion until the end.

  • Leona Divide 50/50: I was back of pack, and everyone was super encouraging. I got everything I needed at the aid stations, and the volunteers were amazing.

Washington:

  • Teanaway 50K: Tough but no cut-off. There is a 100-miler going on at the same time. I probably finished in the last third. Great vibes! Good snacks and they served burgers at the end while everyone chilled by the campfire.

Oregon:

  • Mountain Lakes 100: I crewed my friend at this race and it was a fantastic experience. She was close to the back, and had a great experience. There were still a ton of people watching the final runner come across and crying/cheering. SO GOOD!

  • Gorge Waterfalls: The cut-offs require you to push, but the aid and support for the back of the pack was amazing! There were heaps of food, including Spring gels, and not one aid station was packing up early! The support at the finish line was awesome! The announcer at the finish line made an effort to hype the crowd for every finisher. Many people were hanging around at the finish clapping and cheering! Tough but beautiful race!

Colorado:

  • Run Rabbit Run 100: It’s a tough race but it treats the back of the pack really well. Plus, they have a two-hour early start option for women over 50 and men over 60. I noticed they also extended their intermediate aid station cut-offs this year.

  • San Juan Solstice: I was second from last with about five minutes to spare. I couldn’t really dilly dally in the aid stations, so the volunteers completely NASCAR’ed me out of them. All were still fully stocked. Guy at the last aid station gave me pace times and strategy to make it to the finish. Super impressed. // Seriously amazing — people were dumping out my drop bags, ripping off my pack, filling my water. I didn’t even know what was happening. I just left each one with fresh snacks, full water, and a huge moral support boost. Amazing race.

  • Human Potential Running Series: They are so inclusive! Generous cutoffs. No age group winners, but there is a nice bottle of wine for last place. // I have run several of their races and am always dead last but never felt bad about it. I am older and fairly new to trail running. Everyone is very encouraging and supportive. Never felt any pressure and super generous cut offs. Highly recommend them. John is a great director.

  • Gnar Runners: I’ve done two of their events: Never Summer 60k and Quad Rock 25 miler. At Never Summer I was in the back with about 10 other folks and they kept the stoke SO HIGH the entire time. I never saw anyone packing anything up. It was very well-stocked and the volunteers were lovely. They put on great races from my perspective!! // Red Feather Jamboree was awesome. They have three distances to choose from. The 50K and half have very generous time allowances and no intermediate cut-offs. Course is fun and challenging with great aid stations. It’s a weekend event with camping or cabins. Very well organized and fun. Family friendly as well.

Arizona/Utah:

  • Grand to Grand Ultra: Amazing multi-day stage race with generous cut-off times, and amazing volunteers. The experience is awesome!!

Colorado/Utah:

  • TransRockies: They have a dawn patrol guided early start, and the entire camp tends to show up to cheer in every last runner. // TransRockies is amazing and very supportive! Loved dawn patrol and the ladies that lead it! // EVERY SINGLE RUNNER is celebrated at TransRockies Running. I have videos at Moab Run the Rocks of the RD running in holding hands with back of the packers. // Day five of TransRockies, about 200 runners came out of the dinner tent to cheer on the final runner. We were all in tears. // The year I did the race, they did random giveaways (packs and things) to random people as they crossed the finish line and made sure to save some for the back of the packers.

Colorado/Arizona:

  • Aravaipa Running: Anything put on by Aravaipa Running is a blast. Well run, inspirational volunteers, the BEST aid stations! // Re: aid stations, they are great because they typically offer multiple distances, and they are there to the end — the last runner in the longest race. // I second Aravaipa races. Generous cut-offs, spectacular volunteers and aid stations. 

Wyoming

Midwest

Kansas:

Texas:

  • Active Joe Races: Dinosaur Valley Endurance Run and the whole Average Joe series is super friendly and motivating. The RD is super accepting of everyone and they’re generous if you want to drop down in mileage versus getting a DNF. // Dino Valley is a looped course and you can set up a tent or shade area with your stuff. I had a cot in mine and slept for a few hours during a 100K. // Dinosaur Valley is inclusive and supportive of all runner’s abilities and makes everyone feel welcome. // From the RD: Active Joe races cater to the majority of runners and walkers who are just average joes out there getting active. We aren’t elites — we’re recreational athletes there to challenge ourselves, get healthy, and enjoy our community and scenery. 

  • Brazos Bend: Awesome aid stations. Plenty of runners. Never felt lost or alone. Well-marked. It was my first ever 50K so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I’ll likely do it yearly.

Minnesota:

Indiana:

  • Ignite Trail Series: They have the Glacial Esker 40 in the spring, Indiana Trail 100 in the fall, and a trail marathon in December. Solid group of people // Yes!!!! I am often one of the last on the trails with them, and they are always supporting!

Ohio:

  • Tuscazoar Endurance Race: There are 25, 50, 75, and 100 mile options, and we aid station folks take great pride in being as supportive as possible.

  • Empower Ultras: (From the race director) Empower Ultras is very back of the pack friendly. We have a 50K with 24-hour cutoff, 48-hour race, as well as a 100 miler with 40 hour cutoff. We want people to finish and believe in helping everyone achieve their goals. Proud of being there for everyone. We are 100% women owned and women led — very small company… myself and my friend and business partner do everything from the design trail marking to cooking our food from scratch. We want to offer more, and love race directing. Very passionate about offering events that are inclusive!

Illinois:

  • Potawatomi Races: Amazing support and many early station options (except for the 200) and incredibly generous cut-off times. There is camping right at the start/finish of every 10-mile loop. It is a tough course but an amazing and fun party!

East

Vermont: 

  • The Black Fly: (From the race director herself) It welcomes all folks wherever they are at in the running journeys and helps to create an environment where all people can feel great about doing cool things outside! There are three different distances, … no time cut-offs, and aid stations do not come down until everyone is off course. The event takes place at an old barn and later that evening we have a barn dance so this promotes most people to stay all day and hang out around the start/finish which is really fun because everyone gets a cheering squad and people to hang out with no matter when they roll in!

Virginia:

  • Sheetz to Sheetz: The experience is like none other. They have a literal s’mores station in the woods where you can roast marshmallows and they have pie and mile pi! It’s an incredible race and is part of a series too!

West Virginia:

  • Rim to River Endurance Company: VERY friendly for BOTP. I was in the last hour or so before cut-off at my most recent race and not only were the aid stations absolutely still rocking, the volunteers were in great spirit and nothing was out-of-stock. Not to mention the weather was absolutely terrible, and you would never know. Can’t recommend enough.

Maryland:

  • Algonquin 50k: The whole race is a party. And it doesn't matter where you finish, even if it's 7:59:59, people are super stoked for you. Such a supportive trail running community. // RD is wonderful, aid stations are five stars all the way.

Florida:

  • A1 Ultra Events: The RD cares deeply about every finisher. I watched him with tears in his eyes declare that they would stay for that last runner who started the last lap “no matter how long it takes” at Long Haul 100. My son ran his first 9K at age nine, and you would have thought he won the world series when he finished way past “cut-off”. If an RD loves the back, everyone else loves and supports them too.

Georgia:

  • Bull Mountain Epic 50K: My favorite race! I have finished DFL the last three years. It’s a great race with awesome race directors and the best aid stations and awesome sweepers. Have run this each year (this will be year five) since I started trail running. It’s my favorite race.

Outside of the United States

United Kingdom:

  • Pegasus Ultra Running: They have no cut-offs and you never have the feeling you’re any trouble — no matter the hour at the last aid station or the finish!

That’s a wrap!

Again, this list is certainly not exhaustive, so if there’s a back of the pack friendly race that you love, please comment below or shoot us a message! We’d love to hear about it and add it to this list!

RunningLaura HallTrail Running, trail races1 Comment