The race takes place in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, USA at the end of September each year.
Race check-in takes place in Kanab, Utah.
Details of the entry fee and payment options can be found in the Entry Details on this site.
The races will comprise 6 stages over 7 days, with overnight camps provided each night as the event travels north. The stages will vary in distance, ranging from approximately 8 miles (12 kms) to approximately 53 miles (85 kms). There will be cut-off times on each day, although these will be generous and will more than adequately accommodate athletes of various ability levels.
From the time you wake up on the morning of Stage 1 through to the morning of Stage 6 each participant will be responsible for carrying and utilizing all the equipment, clothing and food that are deemed necessary for the 7 day period to see you complete the event. That said, we will provide water at all checkpoints, hot water for breakfast and dinner at our overnight camps and we will provide the shelter (tents) at the camps as well. Other than that, runners are expected to know how to handle themselves without external support during the week. Don't worry if you haven't participated in this sort of event in the past; we will be available to answer all your questions and to provide information during the preparation time leading up to the race.
Supported runners will run Stages 1 to 6, just like the self-supported runners, except they will only carry all the equipment, clothing and food that they need for the day. The rest of their food and gear will be transported by the Organizers from one camp to the next. Please refer to notes for supported runners under Equipment.
Compasses are required in the compulsory items list, and participants should know how to use them. However the Course will be well marked and the need to use a compass or other navigation device brought by the runner (i.e. GPS) would only be anticipated in rare emergency situations where a participant might have become disoriented. Competitors are provided with a Race Course Book which provides details of distances between checkpoints, elevation gains and losses, terrain, views, risks, interesting facts, stage maps and elevation profiles. They are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the information contained in the Race Course Book.
Some sort of outdoor experience in sandy and rocky terrain is certainly a benefit, but not a must. Participants who have trained seriously and selected gear and supplies carefully will do well regardless of previous experience.
Anyone planning to participate in the event should be in good general health and should have trained to manage the rigors of this specific event (carrying a full pack, traversing long distances for several days in a row, effectively managing nutritional needs, etc.) Make use of the Grand to Grand Ultra Facebook Group page for specific questions and answers related to training, equipment and supplies.
A mandatory items list is included on the web site, including the required food to be carried (minimum of 2000 calories per day, with the balance for the remaining days always being based on this figure). Participants are free to choose whatever additional clothing, gear, equipment, emergency and/or medical supplies that they wish to use throughout the week. How participants decide on a final list is very individual and based on personal experience. This is the sort of matter that is discussed and debated frequently on the Grand to Grand Ultra Facebook Group page. We highly recommend you consult and contribute to the Group regularly in order to obtain the most comprehensive understanding of the options available. In general, pack weight at the start of the first Stage will typically range from 8kg to 11kg (17 to 24 lbs) depending on the size of the individual.
You may store one large suitcase free of charge for the week at the event. Your suitcase will be stored after you check out of your hotel on the morning of the Saturday before you depart for Camp 1. You will be given detailed instructions on arrival as to the storage location. You will be reunited with your luggage when you return to Kanab from the finish line.
With weight being such a crucial factor for a self-supported event like this, de-hydrated meals and other light weight snacks will be the preferred selection.
The remoteness of the area does not lend itself to spectator access and no allowance has been made for that eventuality. However, the public will be able to witness part of the race during the Long Stage at one location on Tuesday afternoon. From 2pm to 6pm there is an opportunity for spectators to see the competitors almost halfway through the Long Stage (Stage 3) of 53 miles. Spectators should park beside Angels Rest pet cemetery at Best Friends Animal Society. Competitors can be cheered on but spectators must not assist them in any way nor give them food or drink, as this can lead to their disqualification. Friends and families are invited to attend the Finish Line. Please contact us in advance should you wish to do this in order to receive directions. Non-competitors will not be allowed on the course or at camps and checkpoints. In the event that non-competitors try to get on to the course (including camps and checkpoints) they will be asked to leave immediately. A wide range of outdoor options in the area are available to friends and family members while the participants complete the event. See things to do in Kanab
No, all of the stages must be completed by the daily cut-off times, and in order. Anyone not finishing a stage will be disqualified and will no longer be allowed to participate.
About half of the course will be on sand or a sandy track.
Running long distances in extreme environments is by its very nature a taxing activity and therefore a serious health concern. The physical and mental challenges associated with participating in the event should be taken seriously; proper training and preparation are essential for ensuring the safest and most successful outcome.
No, participants are required to carry sleeping pads for use under their sleeping bags at night.
Snakes, scorpions and camel spiders do live in the environment our Course traverses. During the pre-race briefing, we will be addressing the best way to avoid encounters with potentially dangerous animals/plants, and the appropriate way to call for emergency aid in the event of an incident.
If a participant is incapacitated for any reason (exhaustion, injury, or other), they will be required to drop from the event and notify a Course official immediately. They will then be transported off the course by event staff or if, in the opinion of the Medical Director and Event Directors they are physically able, they may continue to volunteer for the remainder of the Event. Given the limited transportation available for moving staff and volunteers around the course, only a few competitors will be able to take up this option, at the discretion of the Event Directors. All those who DNF (did not finish) but remain on course either as unofficial racers or volunteers should be prepared to consume their own food.
Double occupancy rooms are provided for each participant in Kanab as part of the entry fee on the Friday night before the race starts and on the night of the last stage/awards dinner. Subject to a supplement fee, participants may request for single occupancy.
Depending on the severity of an injury, the need to immobilize an injured participant, or the relative accessibility of an area where an injury might have taken place, the race officials have a range of options available for emergency response (4WD vehicle, ATV's, horses, helicopter).
The cut off times will be 13 hours on Stage 1, 12 hours daily Stages 2-5, except for Stage 3 (Long Stage) which will be 34 hours and Stage 6 which will be 2-4 hours, depending on staggered start times.
There will also be cutoff times for checkpoints.
Check points are provided mainly to distribute water rations and to confirm the progress and physical condition of the participants. Participants can also use the check points for a short rest stop or to access equipment or supplies from their packs. Timekeepers will also be recording your time of arrival at and departure from a Checkpoint.
Yes, professional photographers will be part of the race support team and they will be taking plenty of shots throughout the stages and at the camps. Thousands of photos will be taken of individuals, groups, action and landscapes so you can rely on these exclusively and not have to worry about bringing a camera. These photos will be made available for the participants to purchase and you will be notified in due course of the packages available.
Yes, absolutely. We encourage you to take your own still shot camera and take photos of some of the world's most beautiful and varied terrain. Please note however that we do not allow video cameras on the Course. Any commercial use of such photographs is prohibited.
No. The rules prohibit the use of mobile and satellite phones on the Course including at the campsites and checkpoints and cell coverage is in any case poor. Phones are banned so that all participants can enjoy the feeling of solitude and isolation. You should consider this an opportunity for a digital detox!
Yes, the meals included in the event will include vegetarian options.
Yes, Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport is the closest international airport to Kanab.
See How to get to Kanab for details.
Previous experience in similar outdoor events is preferred. Please fill in our Volunteer Application form.
There are a wide range of wonderful activities that friends and family members can take advantage of—the region is simply loaded with options. See Things to do in Kanab. Hotel rooms can become scarce in Kanab closer to the G2G so we would highly recommend that friends and families book well in advance.
Yes, provisions for pets can be made at selected hotels in Kanab. However, they will not be allowed on the Course.
Average daytime temperatures for mid-late September are around 80°F (27°C), with typical overnight lows around 47°F (8°C). Please note that temperatures can drop dramatically in the high desert at night so be prepared for colder overnight lows.
Check out the Training Corner, and make use of the G2G/M2M Ultra Group page on Facebook. In addition, specific questions can always be addressed by way of contacting the race officials via the Contact Us.
Yes, approved personal trainers will be listed on the Training Corner.
Yes of course. In fact, we encourage this especially if you normally live at or near sea level. The Grand to Grand events take place in the high desert at an average altitude of over 1,850m (6,070 ft) so most people will require at least 3 days to acclimatise to this altitude.
We are pleased to advise that we have negotiated special promotional room rates that you will be able to take advantage of, if you would like to stay longer in Kanab, either before or after the event. See Things to do in Kanab.
You will be attempting to complete a self-supported endurance event in extreme conditions. The mandatory equipment list has therefore been developed to minimise the risk to you and give you the optimum opportunity to finish the race. The organizers take the safety of the competitors seriously and therefore the mandatory equipment, recommended equipment and Rules and Regulations have been designed to mitigate any and all risks to competitors.
