Rim to River 100 Race Report (2026) -

One hundred and four miles (with my missed turn) through the New River Gorge. Rim to rim, river to rim, and back again.

West Virginia’s only 100-mile trail race. 84 miles of singletrack, roughly 13,000 feet up and 13,000 feet down, ghost towns and abandoned mine shafts mixed in with the waterfalls and the views. The slogan is simply “endure.”

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.”

— William Barclay

Chip time: 28:09:58. Overall 69 of 156. 20th female. 94 DNFs. 11 DNS.

I went in with an A goal of sub-24 and a B goal of a PR.

Around miles 62–65 a course marking wasn’t right and sent my pacer and me past the aid station we were looking for. We weren’t the only ones. It was a confusing intersection. We backtracked… up a hill, of course, and asked other runners which way to go.

Getting warmed and fed before leaving Bike Farm

By the time we reached the aid station I was close to hypothermia. Even with winter layers and moving as well as I could, I stayed freezing until the sun came up. I knew the only thing that mattered in that moment was taking care of myself. No pressure after that.

If I wrecked, I’d deal with it. If I rallied, I’d push and pass as many people as I could. The rest of the race could play out.

I had a big rally from roughly 70 to 95 and passed people the whole way. After 95 I didn’t see anyone else. I was also out loud begging the trail and the rolling hills to end. I was ready for the road downhill to the finish.

The trail itself was a mix of technical singletrack and longer rolling sections where you can actually flow.

The technical hills were worse than I expected with rock scrambling (for my short legs) up and down.

I tripped over a vine and fell once. I rolled an ankle slightly on one of the steeper descents.

On another hill I butt-slid with numb hands because it was so cold; that might be what took a small chunk out of my finger. It bled more than I liked (sorry, it’s in my race video).

There was a washed-out section my crew and pacers called the Pit of Doom. – If you weren’t careful you were going off the edge of the cliff. I’m not exaggerating.

I love trail running. None of it turned into real damage or injury.

My Mount to Coast T1s rubbed a little, but my crew and pacers took care of them. My feet looked great at the finish. No blisters. They still hurt for four days afterward.

Sean, Jamie, and Aria crewed. Stephen and Scooby paced. They treated me like a queen, especially once the disappointment set in and the race turned into “just finish.”

Sean cooked hot food. I mostly ate mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. – Real ultrarunning food.

I also saw several other friends I didn’t expect to see. That’s always a good surprise. It matters who you spend time with.

On the out-and-backs you cheer the runners coming toward you. Trail etiquette was solid the whole way. – Faster runners through, downhill traffic has the line, everyone respectful.

In the first half I hovered between roughly 6th and 11th female. A lot of leapfrogging in our pack. At one point we hit a dirt road with rolling hills and the other women in the group decided to pick it up just a little and run the next uphill. I didn’t think that was the move that early. I stayed in my rhythm and let them go, figuring there might be an opportunity later.

There were waterfalls everywhere and, of course, the New River Gorge Bridge. I tried to take the scenery in without losing focus.

It wasn’t the race I wanted. I was disappointed. But I persevered through the setbacks and the emotions that came with them. A lot of people quit once the goals slip away.

The harder thing is coming back from that, still giving your current best, and finishing the job. I reminded myself what to do, took care of myself, and got the finish. Everything else about the race was on point. – The place, the people, the support.

If I go back, I’ll try again for the sub-24 buckle.

[For more photos, scroll to the bottom of the report.]