Great Eastern Endurance Run
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Great Eastern Endurance Run : Sherando Lake Recreation Area
The Great Eastern Endurance Run takes place at Sherando Lake Recreation Area near Lyndhurst, VA on Saturday, Nov 7, 2026. The event offers three mountain trail distances:
- 40 miles
- 20 miles
- 10 miles
The courses run through Appalachian forest and ridgelines, combining technical singletrack, steep switchbacks, rocky jeep roads, and short sections of park pavement. Runners summit Bald Mountain and descend into forest hollows, with extensive sections on remote forest road and singletrack. Peak fall foliage is noted as part of the experience.
Aid stations are available on all courses and provide water, Gatorade electrolyte drink, ice, fruit, salty snacks, sweet treats, GU vanilla gels, candies, chips, and pretzels. Station counts by distance are: seven aid stations on the 40 mile (not including start and finish), two on the 20 mile, and one on the 10 mile. The longest unsupported stretch is 9.3 miles on the 20 mile course.
Crew access is permitted at designated points via the Blue Ridge Parkway; participants are asked to park with all four wheels off the pavement to avoid citations. The 40 mile course includes one crew-only location at Bald Mountain Overlook. Bald Mountain drop bags will not return to the finish until after 4 PM and that location is not vehicle accessible. Kennedy Trail drop bags return around 2 PM. Unclaimed drop bags will not be shipped.
Cutoff times are strictly enforced for safety: 12 hours for the 40 mile and 6 hours for the 20 mile.
Registration opens Friday, July 25. Entry fees vary by date tier: 40 mile: $100 until Sept 1, $110 until Oct 1, $120 thereafter. 20 mile: $75 until Sept 1, $90 until Oct 1, $105 thereafter. 10 mile: $55 until Sept 1, $70 until Oct 1, $85 thereafter. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
