Hey Rut Runners! We are excited to announce that the Rut Training Runs are returning this July 31st! The training runs are designed specifically to help you succeed in being best prepared for your Rut race. We will offer 3 well-marked courses that go up and over Lone Peak following the latter stages of the 50K and 28K routes. We'll have aid stations along the way. This is the perfect opportunity to check out the Rut courses in a non-competitive environment. All you have to do is show up and run!
Date: Saturday | July 31, 2021
Location: Big Sky Resort | Big Sky, Montana
Participation limit: 300 (There will be no waitlist )
Registration Cost: $30 

All Participants Receive

  • A marked course to follow from start to finish.
  • Two aid stations staffed by friendly volunteers & stocked with Skratch Labs nutrition products & drink.
  • The opportunity to experience and gain confidence in the most challenging section of the Rut 28K & 50K courses in a non-competitive atmosphere.
  • The opportunity to purchase a catered lunch from Big Sky Resort.
  • A Complimentary Big Sky Brewing Beer or Sparkling Water.
  • A Rut Mountain Runs water bottle.

Schedule
  • 5:30 – 8:00 am: Runner Check-in | Huntley Dining Room. (See MAP)
  • 6:00 – 8:00 am: Rolling start for training runs. (Training Run participants can start anytime during this window)
  • 6:00 am -1:00 pm: Training Runs in progress.
  • 11:00 am -1:30 pm: Lunch catered by Big Sky Resort (optional purchase when registering).

Who can benefit from the training runs? 

The Rut Training Runs are open to anyone excited to follow a marked 9.2, 10.5, or 14.5-mile course on the 2nd half of the Rut 28K and 50K courses.  Rut Training Runs participants DO NOT need to be signed up for the 2021 Rut. These routes, however, are challenging in nature and are designed to prepare Rut Runners for the challenges of race day.

3 Routes Options:
  • Option #1 | 9.2 Miles | 4,100 ft of elevation gain | Last part of 28K and 50K without Andesite section: This route follows the Rut VK course from the Big Sky Resort Base Area to the base of the BoneCrusher climb up Lone Peak. It then follows the Rut 28K/50K courses up and over Lone Peak before wrapping around to the base of the climb up Andesite Mountain. Instead of following the 28K and 50K routes up the Africa Climb to the summit of Andesite, you instead run .7 miles downhill to the Big Sky Base Area.

  • Option #2 | 10.5 Miles | 4,900 ft of elevation gain | Last part of 28K with Andesite section: This route follows the Rut VK course from the Big Sky Resort Base Area to the summit of Lone Peak. It then follows the Rut 28K course all the way to the finish.

  • Option #3 | 14.5 Miles | 5,500 ft of elevation gain | Last part of 50K with Andesite section: This route follows the Rut VK course from the Big Sky Resort Base Area to the summit of Lone Peak. It then follows the Rut 50K course all the way to the finish.

Aid Stations:

  • Aid Station #1: Mile 3.5 (Lone Peak Summit)
  • Aid Station #2: Mile 8.5 (Base of Africa Climb Up Andesite)
  • Both aid stations will be stocked with Skratch goodies as well as a variety of snacks and drinks.
Welcome to our new partners, Yeti and OnX Backcountry!

We are excited to partner with a brand like Yeti that makes bombproof products able to withstand the demands of our adventuring Rut Runners' lifestyles. Welcome, Yeti!



OnX Backcountry is the perfect adventure planning tool for our Rut Runners as this app turns your phone into a fully functioning GPS that provides over 30,000 trail and 3,200 snow experiences with data for all 50 states. They currently have compiled over 650,000 miles of trails throughout the entire country!

The Rut is one of the many RE Events organized in Western Montana each year. We invite you to check out our other 2021 races coming this summer!
Thank You Rut Partners!
The Rut Mountain Runs | Website