Swag | Courses | Prizes | Timing | Rules | 100K Ultra Challenge
It’s time to cover the ground again! The FLRC Challenge offers Ithaca area runners an open-course virtual running competition for 2023. It sends local runners to 10 all-new area courses, split evenly between road and trail, and with distances ranging from 1 mile to the half marathon. Your mission is to run, walk, or hike as many courses as you can from April 15th through August 13th. Register today and complete them all to win an all-new FLRC Challenge medal! We also have new shirts for 2023—order online!
To increase the challenge, we have individual and team competitions for the speedy, the consistent, the deliberate, and the social. The twist is that you can run each course as many times as you want. Individuals compete for over 200 cash prizes based on fastest times (overall and age group), best average times, and most efforts for each course. 10-year age group teams go up against other generations for bragging rights based on age-graded times and most efforts. 2023 will retain last year’s “community stars” for running with a group or sharing a photo or run report. Check your individual and team standings after every run on our dynamic online leaderboard.
For ultramarathoners, we have a unique test of your grit, determination, and sanity: the FLRC 100K Ultra Challenge. Run all 10 courses in one 24-hour day and you’ll win not only an FLRC Challenge medal and the awe of the community but also a 12×12-inch FLRC Challenge course sign, personalized to commemorate your achievement. Plan carefully and make sure you’re aware of the additional Ultra Challenge requirements.
We have three initiatives for 2023:
- Personal Challenge: If some of the distances or courses are not feasible for you to complete for any reason, you can define your own version of the Challenge in consultation with Challenge Director Adam Engst. This would be appropriate for young children who should not be attempting long distances (a 6-year-old did this last year), someone who has mobility impairments that prevent trail running, and those who are intimidated by the longest distances.
- Hidden Times: For those who want to challenge themselves to complete all 10 courses but don’t want their times to appear on the leaderboard, there’s now a question during registration that will enable you to hide your times. (You won’t be eligible for any time-based awards if you do this.)
- Any 5K Counts: As with our Sweet 1600 course, which lets you run a 1600 on any standard track anywhere in the world, you can submit times for our Lakefront Loops 5K course from any 5K race or parkrun. Consider it encouragement to find a track or a 5K race while on vacation!
Registration for the four-month, 10-course series costs $75, and there is a $25 discount for FLRC members, dropping the price to $50. Join or renew today! If financial considerations would prevent you from entering, use coupon code FLRCRUNFREE2023 during registration to waive the entry fee.
You can register for the FLRC Challenge at any time, but you can submit results only for runs made after your registration. You must set up a free account with Webscorer as part of the online registration process to be able to use the timing app and submit your results.
If you have questions, ask in the FLRC Challenge Forum or contact Challenge Director Adam Engst. Let’s run!