A comprehensive North American point series tabulated by UltraRunning Magazine has created a new qualifier for the Western States 100: every single race.

The UltraRunning Race Series (URS) reward each year’s leading Male and Female ultra contender with a slot in the grueling yet iconic Western States Endurance Run — the oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail race in the U.S.

A lineup of ultra runners, Photo Courtesy of UltraRunning Magazine

UltraRunning launched its URS as an ultra running roster that scores every North American participant in every North American ultra. (keep in mind, scoring is retroactive to May 1, 2015.) The URS ranking is based on several factors including finishing time, place, race length, number of participants and strength of field.

Publisher of UltraRunning Magazine, Karl Hoagland

“We know ultra runners love to challenge themselves and have feedback against which they can measure their performances and track progress…”

“We know ultrarunners love to challenge themselves and have feedback against which they can measure their performances and track progress,” said Publisher of UltraRunning Magazine, Karl Hoagland. “This race series gives all ultrarunners – from elites to regional age groupers – an opportunity to do just that. It will be something fun for people to follow as they complete the gamut of ultra race distances in a given year.”

Each participant’s top score at four standard ultra distances — 50k, 50-mile, 100k and 100-mile — will be used to calculate that runner’s score for an overall year. As a result, the highest-scoring male and female land entries into the Western States 100. The next upcoming Western States ultra is scheduled for June 25, 2016.

Overall race series rankings will be published on a regular basis at Ultrarunning.com and will include overall standings as well as regional standings. With eight regions in the U.S. plus Canada, and with 14 age and gender categories, there will be 150 scoring categories and winners.

“Top two overall series winners will be able to gain entry in the ‘Big Dance’ to test themselves at the sport’s most venerable and competitive ultra – The Western States 100…”

Hoagland at the iconic Devil’s Thumb at the Western States 100. Courtesy of UltraRunning Magazine

Hoagland shared his excitement for the new series and added, “We will be able to recognize 450 runners with prizes every year…and the top two overall series winners will be able to gain entry in the ‘Big Dance’ to test themselves at the sport’s most venerable and competitive ultra – The Western States 100.”

URS launched in November 2015, and the seried standings will be calculated on April 25, 2016, based on the prior 12 months.

Interested in who is leading the pack as of today? Standings are available online at ultrarunningraceseries.com