The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™

The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™ award is recognition for those who complete four of the oldest 100 mile trail runs in the U.S. The "Slam" consists of officially finishing three of these four: the Old Dominion 100 Mile Run, the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run, plus the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run all in the same year.

The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™ award is recognition for those who complete four of the oldest 100 mile trail runs in the U.S. The "Slam" consists of officially finishing three of these four: the Old Dominion 100 Mile Run, the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run, plus the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run all in the same year. The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run is the final race and is mandatory. You must apply for all of the races you plan to run during their open registration periods. This includes the Wasatch 100.

The idea of running the four oldest 100 mile trail runs in the country came from Fred Pilon of Ultrarunning Magazine back in 1985. He Called Steve Baugh who was the race director of the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run at the time. Since Wasatch was the final race of the four it seemed natural for the Wasatch 100 to organize the Grand Slam and have awards in conjunction with Wasatch's awards ceremony. Steve collaborated with John Grobben, current and long standing Wasatch 100 race director, and they came up with the name Grand Slam of Ultrarunning and established it in in cooperation with the race directors of the other races involved. The first Grand Slam award was given to Tom Green in 1986. The Wasatch 100 has continued organizing and managing the event since that time.

In order to be eligible for the award and official recognition, you must register by June 28, 2024. Registration fee is $90 (which covers finishers award, swag and official recognition).

IMPORTANT: Be sure you have been accepted into all four events before submitting this application.

Note: Although one person may have the fastest time for their four races, there is no annual "winner" of the Grand Slam, since people may choose a different set of the five events and it would be very hard to assign difficulty ratings to the events.

For additional questions: Steve Baugh, Manager of the Grand Slam

Those brave few attempting it in 2024

"Slammers" from 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013 / 2012 / 2011 / 2010 / 2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006 / 2005 / 2004 / 2003 / 2002 / 2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998

All Grand Slammers (1986-2023) / Grand Slam Statistics

Group photos from 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013 / 2012 / 2011 / 2010 / 2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006 / 2005 / 2004 / 2003 / 1999 / 1998

Notes: When Vermont began in 1989, it became an alternate to Old Dominion as one of the four 100-milers. Also, the Old Dominion cutoff was 30 hours in 1986, 1987 and 1988. It was lowered to 24 hours in 1989 and 1990 and has been 28 hours in 1991 and later. In 2002, the Old Dominion Memorial was allowed to substitute for the original Old Dominion, which took a one-year "sabbatical". Starting in 2003, the Old Dominion (and the Old Dominion Memorial) is no longer allowed to be one of the four 100s. In 2008, Western States was cancelled (due to fires) and the Arkansas Traveler became the fourth race. In 2017, the Old Dominion was again allowed to be one of the four 100s, with Wasatch being required. This means runners who can't get into Western States can still "Slam". In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled all of the five Grand Slam events. In 2021 Vermont was cancelled by COVID, so Burning River was a substitute.

The official Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™ web site

iRunFar blog on the first GS.

Jadd Martinez's blog on his 2016 GS.

Tommy Barlow's blog on his 2016 GS.

Jay Donosky's blog on his 2013 GS.

Peter Priolo's podcast on DFL Ultrarunning on his 2013 GS.

Article from Runner's World on the 2010 GS.

Andy Matthew's blog on his 2008 GS.

Ronda Sundermeier's blog on her 2007 GS.

Keith Knipling's comparison of the altitude profiles from his 2006 GS.

Terry Parks' report on his 2003 GS.

Ian Torrence's diary on his 2002 GS.

Michael Strzelecki's article on the Grand Slam from the May 2000 issue of Running Times.

Scott Hunter's report on his 2000 GS.

Bob Boeder's book, "Beyond the Marathon: The Grand Slam of Trail Ultrarunning" (ISBN #1884778151) may be available at Amazon.com or elsewhere for about $15.

Neal Jamison's book, "Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters With the Ultramarathon" (ISBN #1891369377) may be available at Amazon.com or elsewhere for about $15.


MESSAGE FROM THE GRAND SLAM OF ULTRARUNNING™ COMMITTEE AND THE WASATCH 100 RACE COMMITTEE

The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™ Committee and the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run Committee do not endorse, recognize, or ratify anyone or their times involved in the so-called “unofficial” grand slam of ultrarunning. Likewise we do not support, encourage, or sustain anyone involved in this pursuit.

We continue to recognize, applaud, and award the runners who are legitimately registered in and officially complete The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™.

We also remind all who are observing or otherwise involved that the term “Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™” is a trademark of The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™ entity, and only those who are official entrants and finishers of The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™ are entitled to use the term “Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™” in whatever form (including in any form that might cause trademark confusion) in connection with their running endeavors.

"http://www.Run100s.com/gs.htm" (updated: 1/6/24) StanJ@Run100s.com