American Bottoms 100
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Road Ultramarathon through the American Bottom
The American Bottoms 100 is a road ultramarathon held in the historic American Bottom region, with race headquarters located in Columbia, Illinois. The event follows a route along the Mississippi River, utilizing a combination of levees and quiet backroads. The course terrain consists of approximately 51% pavement and 49% gravel surfaces, providing a flat profile designed for consistent pacing.
The route follows portions of the American Discovery Trail and the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail. Participants travel through several historic landmarks, including Piggott's Fort, Fort de Chartres, and the town of Prairie du Rocher. The course provides views of the Illinois bluffs and runs to the confluence of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers.
Participants can choose between two main distances:
- 113 Mile: An out and back course with 1,591 feet of total elevation gain and 17 aid stations. The event has a 35 hour total cut-off time.
- 56 Mile: A point to point course with 791 feet of total elevation gain and 8 aid stations. The event has a 17.5 hour total cut-off time.
The event is organized as a no-frills race with a focus on historical scenery and accessible cutoff times. Both distances require an average pace of approximately 18:30 minutes per mile. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
