Pigtails Challenge
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Event Details
The Pigtails Challenge is a running event on May 23-24, 2026, at Lake Youngs Watershed in Renton, Washington. The course consists of a rolling 9.4-mile loop on a multi-use, double-track trail with approximately 900 feet of elevation gain per loop. The event is open to walkers, bikers, and horse riders; participants are asked to share the trail safely.
Distances
The event offers multiple distances:
- 200 miles (21 full loops plus an extra 2.6-mile out-and-back section)
- 150 miles (16 full loops with a shortened first loop)
- 100 miles (10 full loops plus a 6-mile out-and-back at the start)
- 100 kilometers (6 full loops plus the initial 6-mile out-and-back)
- 50 kilometers (3 full loops plus a 3-mile out-and-back at the start)
Participants for the 200-mile and 150-mile events must complete their first 100 miles or 50 miles, respectively, independently before arriving at Lake Youngs.
Course and Support
There is one aid station at the start/finish area and another approximately halfway through the loop, though the halfway station may not always be staffed. Drop bags are only allowed at the start/finish. Pacers are permitted, with a maximum of two at any time, but muling (carrying a runner's gear) is not allowed. Crews are welcome at the start/finish area.
Food is provided at the aid station, including drinks, snacks, and gels. At the start/finish, hot and cold meals are served during specific windows: breakfast (7-10 AM), lunch (12-5 PM), dinner (6-8 PM), and a late snack (8-10 PM). No dinner is served on Sunday.
Swag includes a Northwest Endurance branded neck tube for all participants. Finishers of the 200-mile, 150-mile, 100-mile, and 100k events receive a belt buckle, while 50k finishers get a medal.
Logistics and Rules
A medical history form must be completed and brought to bib pickup. The course closes at 4:00 PM on Sunday, with specific cut-off times for starting the final loop for each distance. Participants in the longest distances (200M and 150M) must start their last loop before 12:00 PM Sunday; 100M, 100k, and 50k runners must start before 1:00 PM Sunday.
Parking is available at the start/finish. Overflow parking is at the nearby Renton Christian Center, where all vehicles must be removed by 9:00 AM Sunday. Tent camping is allowed on the church grounds, but tents must be removed by 8:00 AM Sunday. A few tents are also allowed behind the park bathrooms during daylight hours only. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
