Plain Endurance Runs
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About the race
Plain Endurance Runs is an ultra running event in Plain, Eastern Washington, built around minimal external support and self reliance. The course has no pacers, no course markings, and no aid stations. Volunteers staff checkpoints, but runners are expected to navigate and manage themselves between those points. The event offers two main formats:
- Plain 100
- Plain 100K (one loop instead of two)
Historically the event has been selective by outcome: in the first eight years there were only four finishers, and finishing rates later rose to about 50 percent. That history underlines the emphasis on self sufficiency and route knowledge rather than on crewed or marked assistance.
The 2026 edition was cancelled after a lightning‑started wildfire (the Little Giant fire) spread onto the race route. A Forest Service closure affecting trails and checkpoint access roads remains in place until snow, making any modified version of the race impossible for that season. Organizers announced that currently registered runners will receive a rollover discount for the 2027 event and indicated that, if operating costs remain stable, there should be no additional fee to race in 2027. Organizers also noted substantial volunteer work in course scouting and clearing in the lead up to the cancelled race. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
