SPARKS BIGGEST LITTLE ULTRA
When:
Where:
Thursday October 7, 2027 9:00 am to Sunday October 10, 2027 9:00 am
Beautiful Sparks Marina located at 300 Howard Drive, Sparks, Nevada 89434. The Sparks Marina is minutes from the Reno Tahoe Airport and adjacent to several hotels and casinos. Once a quarry, Sparks Marina now is a popular spot for fishing, swimming, sailing, windsurfing and scuba diving. It has a large dog park, sandy beaches, volleyball courts, a fishing pier, veterans memorial, kids playground, coffee shop and, most importantly, a comfortable and scenic walking path around the marina. The marina is the centerpiece of the Biggest Little Ultra and provides a pleasant backdrop for your race.
WHAT:
The Sparks Biggest Little Ultra is a fixed time/fixed distance race held over three days for runners and walkers. We offer fixed time options of a 3-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour race, as well as fixed distance options of a 100 mile and 50 mile race. The 72-hour race starts Thursday, October 7, 2027 at 9 AM. The 50 mile, 100 mile and 48-hour races start Friday, October 8, 2027 at 9 AM. The 3-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour and 24-hour races start Saturday, October 9, 2027 @ 9 AM. YES no cutoff for the 50 mile and 100 mile races (except 9:00 a.m. Sunday), so plenty of time to achieve your goal!
Relay Option! The 6-hour relay starts on Saturday, October 9, at 9:00 am and ends 6 hours later at 3:00 pm. You may have up to six relay runners on your team. So, here is a chance to gather folks from your organization, neighborhood, or family to share miles, laughter, and achievement! We want as many people as possible to get moving and exercising. All ability levels are welcome, so don't worry if your team members are not all speedsters. Show up as a team, create a name, and go for it!
WHY:
The Sparks Biggest Little Ultra is your chance to set a P.R. at your chosen distance. It is paved and lighted so the course loop is safe and visible. Tired of stressing about aid station cutoffs? This race is the solution. importantly, the 50- and 100-milers have a full 48 hours to complete their race. Maybe you just want to cruise with friends and enjoy a glorious venue. Or, let's find out how far you can go in 3, 6, 12, 24 or 72 hours. In addition, we provide great swag and we will make a contribution to a very worthy cause (Sun Smart Nevada, a program of Nevada Cancer Coalition).
"The real purpose of running isn't to win a race. It is to test the limits of the human heart."
Bill Bowerman
About The Race
The race course is a USATF Certified 1.89 mile loop around beautiful Sparks Marina. Total elevation gain is 29 feet. The course is paved and lighted so no gators or headlamps are required. Two real restrooms are along the course and porta potties will be near the start line. We will not count partial laps. So, know your split time toward the end of your race and do not go out if you see you cannot finish the lap before your race ends. 50 mile runners will run 27 loops (50.02 miles) and the 100 mile runners will do 53 loops (100.12 miles).
Please note your watch may show a different distance but we are using our official course measurement calculation for race results.
Course
We will have a fully stocked aid station at the start/finish line providing the usual aid station fare (including Hammer Products) 24 hours per day and real meals, (Including Vegan Options) during normal breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. We are cupless so bring a cup for your cold drinks with your name or initials on it and leave it at a table at the aid station. We will provide hot cups for soup and hot drinks at night.
Aid Stations
Registration is through Ultra Signup.
Bib pickup and day of event registration is at the start line 300 Howard Drive, Sparks, Nevada 89434.
If you sign up but drop out before August 1, we will refund ½ of your registration fees but not the Ultra Signup fees. After August 1, no refunds. All entries are non-transferable and no deferrals.
Registration
One pacer at a time is allowed during the entire event. No bikes, please.
Your time and distance for each completed lap will be recorded automatically using an electronic chip based timing system. You will be issued a bib with a timing transponder/chip. It is the runner's responsibility to have the bib visible and placed in front on their person at all times! Be sure not to cover the bib with a jacket or other clothing. The Laps done without a chip are not counted by the timing system and you will not get credit for any laps completed without your chip/bib. We cannot emphasize this too much. If you change clothes, be sure to put your bib back on and be sure it is visible. We have bib belts available, just ask. There are no exceptions! Up-to-date lap totals will be displayed instantaneously when runners cross the start line.
Results will be live updated on https://my.raceresult.com
Pacers & Timing
Race Aid Station
We will set up an aid station near the start line where you can relax, rest and if necessary receive basic first aid attention. If you experience a medical emergency, call 911.
Personal Aid Station
You may set up a personal aid station along the race course only in the area next to the start/finish line in Area E starting Thursday at 7:00 a.m. RV and trailer parking is allowed in the parking lot immediately adjacent to the course.
See "Sleeping and Parking" below for more details.
Medical & Personal Aid Station
Historically, October is the best weather month for the Sparks/Reno area. However, come prepared for heat, cold, rain and wind. We never know what mother nature will offer up on race day to make it interesting!
Weather
Everyone who finishes 100 miles will receive a 100 mile belt buckle and a 100 mile finishers flannel shirt!
Awards
The male and female winners of the 72 hour race will receive a free entry into any one of the races put on by Destination Trail in 2028. This means the two winners will be guaranteed entry into one of their races such as the Tahoe 200 or 100K, Bigfoot 200, Moab 240 or Arizona Monster. Yes, no waiting list or fee. In addition, female and male winners of the 100- and 50-mile races will each receive a free pair of Mount to Coast shoes. But wait; there is more - the first and second place finishers in the 24 hour race will receive 30 days of free endurance coaching from Ty Hilton at Ascent Ultra Coaching.
Many thanks to Destination Trail, Mount to Coast shoes, and Ty Hilton of Ascent ULtra Coaching for their very generous contributions to the success of our race.
Prizes
We take runner nutrition very seriously. We will offer normal aid station snacks, but we also will provide appropriate main courses at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with late night soups and treats. All food will be organic to the maximum extent possible. We will have tasty vegan selections at all meals. We will be making fresh pizza to order at the aid station and pouring organic fruit smoothies blended on the spot! You may even gain weight at the Biggest Little Ultra. We will also proudly offer HEED, a Hammer Nutrition sports drink, as well as Hammer supplements.
Nutrition
For those of you in an RV, trailer, camper van, etc., we have secured limited space for your use on a first come, first served basis. If you want a reservation to park and sleep in your RV, you must first register for the race and then send an email to the Race Director Todd Leigh at toddleigh1@gmail.com.
RV rules. No rig longer than 30 feet. Trucks must be unhitched and parked in Areas A or C so that only your trailer is in Areas B or D. No fluid discharge. Display your permit on your rig.
Sparks Marina RV Park. A convenient RV park with hookups is located very near the racecourse. Sparks Marina RV Park is located at 1200 E. Lincoln Way. You can contact them by email or call 775.851.8888.
Parking Maps. Car parking is abundant. View the attached maps for section info. Areas A and C are unreserved passenger vehicle parking for the public and Biggest Little Ultra participants. No sleeping or RVs in Areas A or C. Areas B and D are reserved exclusively for Biggest Little Ultra RV parking and sleeping. These areas will be roped off and only RVs with an advanced reservation will be allowed in Areas B and D. Area E is immediately next to the race course and is available for your personal aid station including: tent, pop up, chair, and table. We have a permit from the city for you to sleep in Area E, but no stakes in the ground, please. The winds can be strong so be sure to have any tents or pop ups tied down to weights.
Sleeping and Parking at the Course
After 2 years, our athletes have set some very impressive course records. Can you set a new course record?
100 miles: Soma Baligad (20:31) and Jenny Weaver (24:58)
100 miles (over 80 years old): David Blaylock (40:36) and Jim Ingalls (41:34)
50 miles: Kyle Vonderwerth (9:52) and Eva Chen (11:58)
72 hours: New in 2027!
48 hours: Marc Sanderson (183 miles) and April Thorpe (138 miles)
24 hours: Dominick Holhs (111.5 miles) and Meredith Miller (68 miles)
12 hours: Sam Sorbo (54 miles) and Stacy Daniel (56 miles)
6 hours: Fernando Estrada (41.5 miles) and Aryn Archer (34 miles)
3 hours: Jose Orellano (17 miles)
6-hour Relay: MVMT RX Sportscare (39.7 miles)
Course Records
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Visit www.https://www.nevadacancercoalition.org/sun-smart-nevada
to learn more
Sun Smart Nevada
Every participant will have access to online viewing and free lower-resolution downloads of all images shot by our photographer, ideal for online and social media use!
Full resolution downloads and prints will be available for purchase.
Photos at the Event
