2021 Race is Scheduled for March 20th & 21st
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Registration opens October 1st - Register on the 1st and SAVE!
October 1st through the 4th, Lake Martin registration fees are discounted. The 100 mile will open at $220. On October 5th, the price increases to $240. The 50 mile registration will open at $110 and the 27 at $70. On the 5th, the prices go up to $120 and $80. Register early and save!
Lots of photos and a video of the Lake Martin Course from the Feb 22 preview run.
Photos from the 2020 LM100 preview run by Southeastern Trail Runs and MRuns.
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2020 LM 100 Preview Run Video
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Photos from MRuns
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About the Lake Martin 100, 50 and 27 Mile Endurance Race
The Lake Martin 100 is a beautiful course that follows miles of Lake Martin shoreline and creeks flowing into the lake. The course is 100% on the private lands of the Russell Forest Trial System. The trail system is over 20,000 acres of some of the most beautiful land in the southeast. The only paved roads you will see are a few cabin roads you will cross. Most runners will never see a car on any of these roads.
The Lake Martin 100 was designed from the ground up to be the perfect step-up from a 50K to a 50 mile or from a 50 mile to your first 100 mile trail race. Our goal is your success. We promise to do everything in our power to help you accomplish your ultra goal, whether that goal is to run your first ultra, the 27 Mile Fun Run, or to break 21 hours in the 100. We also pledge to make your race experience Fun! The race will be hard. All those beautiful hills become steeper and longer with each successive lap. Those gentle carriage paths become very long about mile 80. But if you have put in enough training miles, we will encourage you, push you, help you, and even yell at you if necessary, to get you to the end. We might even let you rest occasionally. If you are ready, you can do it.
Each 25 Mile loop is 75% Single Track and 5% Double Track Carriage Paths/Trails. There are about 4 1/2 miles of gravel roads, all but 800 yards by the Adamson Road Trailhead do not allow any automobile traffic. A little less than 1/2 mile is on a paved walking path leading to and from the Cabin Aid Station. There are NO sections on Paved Roads.
The course layout makes race planning extremely easy. It also makes things very simple for you crew. There are only two physical aid stations in the Lake Martin 100 or 50 or 27. There is the Start/Finish aid station at the Cabin and there is Heaven Hill. The two aid stations are only 3 miles apart by car. Runners stop at each aid station 4 times per 25 Mile Loop. The aid stations ranging from 5 miles to 7 miles apart by trail. That adds up to 18 "Full Service" aid station stops in the 100. The course looks line three "0s" side by side. Where the "0s" touch is where the aid stations are located. (The course looks like this, 0+0+0 with the aid stations located at the "+s" - See the diagram below.) There are also three major trailheads within 5 miles of the Cabin that your crew can easily reach in minutes. It just doesn't get any easier than that.
For experienced 100 mile runners the lake Martin 100 is no “Walk in the Park.” My Suunto Ambit 3 Vertical GPS watch shows 14,128 feet of elevation gain. Probably the true elevation gain is something over 13,000 but the course is very hilly. There are virtually no trails that could be called flat. There are also no big climbs. Almost all of the hills range from 50 to 100 feet in height, but those small hills are relentless. If you alternate walking and running, you will not need to time the cycles. The Lake Martin 100 Official Cutoff is 32 Hours. The 50 Mile and 27 Mile Cutoffs are16 Hours. Actually, we don't enforce any cutoffs at the Lake Martin 100. If it takes you 20 hours to finish the 50 mile, you are a finisher. Same with the 27 Mile. Also, if you register for the 100 or 50 and have to drop down, you are still a finisher if you cover at least 27 miles. (Exception, You MUST be off the trails before sunset Sunday. That's a Russell Land's Rule)
Non-Technical Defined: I describe the Lake Martin trails as non-technical. If you the regularly run ultras on single track trails, you will agree the LM100 trails are non-technical. If you're a road runner or only run on trails groomed by machines, you may not agree. Some Russell Forest Trails have lots of small rocks about the size of your fist. There are also roots on all the single-track trails. You simply have to pay attention where you step. I was a "roadie" for 35 years. For a roadrunner, it's like running down an old sidewalk with a few crack, holes and uneven blocks. You just have to "Watch where you step."
Start and Finish Location: The race starts at the Cabin, Located in Russell Crossroads. This is also the location of the Cabin Aid Station:
Address: Russell Crossroads, 288 Stables Loop, Alexander City, AL 35010. GPS coordinates are: 32.763937, -85.945281
The Lake Martin 100 was designed from the ground up to be the perfect step-up from a 50K to a 50 mile or from a 50 mile to your first 100 mile trail race. Our goal is your success. We promise to do everything in our power to help you accomplish your ultra goal, whether that goal is to run your first ultra, the 27 Mile Fun Run, or to break 21 hours in the 100. We also pledge to make your race experience Fun! The race will be hard. All those beautiful hills become steeper and longer with each successive lap. Those gentle carriage paths become very long about mile 80. But if you have put in enough training miles, we will encourage you, push you, help you, and even yell at you if necessary, to get you to the end. We might even let you rest occasionally. If you are ready, you can do it.
Each 25 Mile loop is 75% Single Track and 5% Double Track Carriage Paths/Trails. There are about 4 1/2 miles of gravel roads, all but 800 yards by the Adamson Road Trailhead do not allow any automobile traffic. A little less than 1/2 mile is on a paved walking path leading to and from the Cabin Aid Station. There are NO sections on Paved Roads.
The course layout makes race planning extremely easy. It also makes things very simple for you crew. There are only two physical aid stations in the Lake Martin 100 or 50 or 27. There is the Start/Finish aid station at the Cabin and there is Heaven Hill. The two aid stations are only 3 miles apart by car. Runners stop at each aid station 4 times per 25 Mile Loop. The aid stations ranging from 5 miles to 7 miles apart by trail. That adds up to 18 "Full Service" aid station stops in the 100. The course looks line three "0s" side by side. Where the "0s" touch is where the aid stations are located. (The course looks like this, 0+0+0 with the aid stations located at the "+s" - See the diagram below.) There are also three major trailheads within 5 miles of the Cabin that your crew can easily reach in minutes. It just doesn't get any easier than that.
For experienced 100 mile runners the lake Martin 100 is no “Walk in the Park.” My Suunto Ambit 3 Vertical GPS watch shows 14,128 feet of elevation gain. Probably the true elevation gain is something over 13,000 but the course is very hilly. There are virtually no trails that could be called flat. There are also no big climbs. Almost all of the hills range from 50 to 100 feet in height, but those small hills are relentless. If you alternate walking and running, you will not need to time the cycles. The Lake Martin 100 Official Cutoff is 32 Hours. The 50 Mile and 27 Mile Cutoffs are16 Hours. Actually, we don't enforce any cutoffs at the Lake Martin 100. If it takes you 20 hours to finish the 50 mile, you are a finisher. Same with the 27 Mile. Also, if you register for the 100 or 50 and have to drop down, you are still a finisher if you cover at least 27 miles. (Exception, You MUST be off the trails before sunset Sunday. That's a Russell Land's Rule)
Non-Technical Defined: I describe the Lake Martin trails as non-technical. If you the regularly run ultras on single track trails, you will agree the LM100 trails are non-technical. If you're a road runner or only run on trails groomed by machines, you may not agree. Some Russell Forest Trails have lots of small rocks about the size of your fist. There are also roots on all the single-track trails. You simply have to pay attention where you step. I was a "roadie" for 35 years. For a roadrunner, it's like running down an old sidewalk with a few crack, holes and uneven blocks. You just have to "Watch where you step."
Start and Finish Location: The race starts at the Cabin, Located in Russell Crossroads. This is also the location of the Cabin Aid Station:
Address: Russell Crossroads, 288 Stables Loop, Alexander City, AL 35010. GPS coordinates are: 32.763937, -85.945281
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Tailwind is a sponsor of all Southeastern Trail Runs Races and is provided at all aid stations in the Lake Martin 100.
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A Very Simplified Version of the 25 Mile loops of the Lake Martin 100
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The Russell Forest Trail System
Use of the Russell Forest Trial System is Free to all runners and hikers. Stop by the Information office at Russell Crossroads (Just about 100 yards south of Katherine's Market) as fill out a Russell Lands Usage agreement. You will be given an annual pass. The only requirement to use the trails is, call Russell Land's Security when you start your run and let them know where you are parked and how long you plan to be on the trails. When you finish your run, call security again to let them know you are leaving. Get the Russell Lands Trail App before you start if you don't know the trails. There is good cell reception everywhere in the area. The trails can be a bit confusing so the app will help. Trail maps are also available at trailheads and at the information center.
The Russell Lands mobile app is your official guide to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, all at your fingertips. Explore over 100 miles of Russell Forest trails. Locate yourself on the trail map. Share your location or see your friends' locations on the trail map. Record your treks and the distances you travel. Display your treks and replay them on the trail map. Email images to friends, post them to Facebook and other social media, or view them in Google Earth. Keep up-to-date with Russell Lands events, and easily locate and contact restaurants with the built in directory.
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The 2020 Lake Martin 100 Runners Manual
Please take a few minutes to look over the 2020 Runners Manual. The information in the manual is important. It just might make the difference between finishing and a DNF! 
The 2020 Runners Manual in PDF Format.
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Children's Harbor is the location of the iconic Lighthouse on Lake Martin 100 Buckles and Shirts. It is also a camp built and donated by Ben and Luanne Russell to provide special services to kids with serious illnesses. Children's Harbor is the location of Camp Smile-A-Mile, Alabama's camp for Kids with cancer , one of 20 organizations that use the camp. Smile-A-Mile is the recipient of the money raised from the first race Southeastern Trial Runs created in 2011, the Run for Kids Challenge. To date RFK has raised over $50,000.
We have reserved all 44 rooms in Harbor Lodge at Children's Harbor. The Lodge is located just 3 miles for the start of the Lake Martin 100 at Russell Crossroads. The lodge has 11 separate cabins in a beautiful setting by the lake. Each cabin has 4 individual rooms. Each rooms has a private entrance, private bath and sleeps up to 5. Each room has two twin beds and a bunk bed plus a pullout sofa bed. The rooms are basic but neat and clean. Each room is rented for $56 per person, per night with a two night minimum. No additional taxes or fees. You ARE reserving a private room, that is, Each reservation reserves one room. One person can register at the "per-person" rate and that person receives a private room. We have to rent the rooms at the per-person rate because that's how Harbor Lodge was rented to us. This makes no sense to me, but it how Children's Harbor does it. We have reserved the entire Harbor Lodge for Friday and Saturday night so we can only accept reservations for those nights. If you have questions please contact me. David Tosch
We will offer a pre-race dinner Friday night before the briefing and breakfast Saturday morning at Harbor Lodge before the race.
Packet Pickup and Lodge Room Check-in will start at 3:00 PM Friday. Dinner will be served starting at 5:00 PM. The price of dinner is $13 per person and is catered by Logan Cook, a professional caterer and ultra trail runner. As soon as everyone is settled for dinner we will have a short pre-race briefing. The meeting is highly recommended but not required. Logan will also be preparing breakfast for runners starting at about 4:00AM at Harbor Lodge dining room. Same location as dinner Friday night. The price of the breakfast is $6.
Register now at Ultrasignup.com
Registration closes Tuesday, March 16th. There is no late registration.
Shirt Cutoff is March 7th.
Getting to the Lake Martin 100 start at the Cabin at Russell Crossroads:
The Lake Martin in run on the Private Lands of the Russell Forest Trail System at Starts at Russell Crossroads, 10 miles south of Alexander City, Alabama, in east-central Alabama. The closet airport is in Montgomery, Alabama, 49 miles southwest of Lake Martin. Birmingham's Shuttlesworth Airport is 89 miles to the northwest. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport is 137 miles east northeast.
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This is a "Relive" video of one 25 Mile Loop of the Lake Martin 100, 50 & 27 course.
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Click on the image below to see the video of the 2019 Lake Martin 100
The 2019 Lake Martin 100 and 50 Mile Endurance Run and the 27 Mile Fun Run
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The Lake Martin 100 Course, 25 Mile Loop on the Russell Lands Map.
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Terrain Map of the Lake Martin 100 Course.
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Elevation Profile of the Lake Martin 100 Course - 25 Mile loop. The Profile is color coded to the Russell Lands Map above.
Race Weekend Schedule
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(There will be NO Late Registration Friday or Saturday before the race.) |
Friday, March 19th - 3:00 PM. to 5:00 PM - Package Pickup for all races will be Friday afternoon at the Harbor Lodge at Children's Harbor. When you pick up your packet you will be required to sign a release form for Russell Land's. We will accept drop bags for 50 and 100 mile races only, for the Heaven Hill Aid Station during package pickup. Be sure your bags are properly labeled with Name, Bib # and Aid Station. My white Ford F150 truck "Should" be in front of the meeting hall at Harbor Lodge. Place the dropbags for Heaven Hill in the back. If my truck is not there, there will be a sign telling you where to leave them. DO NOT leave "Cabin Aid Station" dropbags at Harbor Lodge!! Bring them to the start Saturday morning.
*** You MUST have a government issue photo ID to pick up your race packet and bib. You may not have someone pick up your race packet for you. You can pick up your bib Friday or Saturday morning before the race. ***
50 Mile Runners, When you go through Heaven Hill AS the 4th time, (second time on lap 2) tell the AS crew you will not be back and ask them to place you bag with the 50 mile bags to return to the cabin. We will get them back as soon as possible.
Drop bags for the Cabin Aid Station should be taken to the start Saturday morning. If you arrive early, you can park close to the cabin along the road. You are welcome to use your car as you aid station. Your crew is welcome to set up personal aid stations along the gravel road or in the field across from the cabin. We will not accept dropbags for Heaven Hill from 27 mile runners but you may leave a bag at the cabin. Here are the GPS Coordinates for the meeting center at Harbor Lodge: 32.730519, -85.968550
And a link on Google Map to the Meeting Center at Children's Harbor from Russell Crossroads.
GPS Coordinates for The Cabin at Russell Crossroads: 32.763928, -85.945330 - Link to Google Maps Cabin Start Location.
*** You MUST have a government issue photo ID to pick up your race packet and bib. You may not have someone pick up your race packet for you. You can pick up your bib Friday or Saturday morning before the race. ***
50 Mile Runners, When you go through Heaven Hill AS the 4th time, (second time on lap 2) tell the AS crew you will not be back and ask them to place you bag with the 50 mile bags to return to the cabin. We will get them back as soon as possible.
Drop bags for the Cabin Aid Station should be taken to the start Saturday morning. If you arrive early, you can park close to the cabin along the road. You are welcome to use your car as you aid station. Your crew is welcome to set up personal aid stations along the gravel road or in the field across from the cabin. We will not accept dropbags for Heaven Hill from 27 mile runners but you may leave a bag at the cabin. Here are the GPS Coordinates for the meeting center at Harbor Lodge: 32.730519, -85.968550
And a link on Google Map to the Meeting Center at Children's Harbor from Russell Crossroads.
GPS Coordinates for The Cabin at Russell Crossroads: 32.763928, -85.945330 - Link to Google Maps Cabin Start Location.
Friday, March 19th - 5:15 PM - Following package pickup we will have a pre-race dinner in the Harbor Lodge dining room at Children's Harbor. The meal will be catered by Logan Cook who provides food for all Southeastern Trail Runs races. The meal will be hot, Chipotle style Mexican Dinner with several options including vegetarian fare. Following dinner there will be a short pre-race briefing for ALL 100, 50 and 27 MILE RUNNERS. It is not mandatory but we highly recommend being there if at all possible. We will cover such things as trail marking, course conditions, any last minute changes, etc. and answer any questions. We encourage all runners to attend. If you arrive late, you may pick up your race packet Friday night after the meeting. If you plan to eat dinner please make reservations by March 15th.
Saturday, March 20th - 4:30 to 5:15 AM - Breakfast at Harbor Lodge - Hot breakfast will be prepared by Logan for all runners and crew staying at the Lodge. The price is $6 per person. We need to know by March 15th if you will be having breakfast with us at the Loge.
Saturday, March 20th - 5:30 to 6:30 AM - No race day registration. Race packets for the 100, 50 and 27 mile races may be picked up Saturday Morning at the Cabin Start area. If you arrive later than 6:30 AM you may not be able to get your race packet until after the race starts. Your start may be delayed as much as 15 minutes so please arrive early. 100 mile and 50 mile runners may bring all drop bags to the start Saturday Morning. If you wish to send a drop bag to Heaven Hill aid station please have it there by 6:15 AM and place it in the back of my White F150 pickup. 27 mile runners may only have a drop bag at the start.
Saturday, March 20th - 6:45 AM - Start of the 100, 50 and 27 mile races. (Sunrise - 6:49 AM - Sunset - 6:54 PM) If you expect to take more than 11 hours to run the 50 you should have a flashlight or headlamp with you or have one in your drop bag at the Cabin.
Sunday, March 21st - 12:45 AM - 50 Mile and 27 mile races will end. (18 hour cutoff)
Sunday, March 21st - 2:45 PM - Race course will officially close. (32 hour time limit) There will be mandatory cutoffs in place at the start finish area at the start of the third and fourth laps of the 100. The cutoff will be very generous. Awards will be presented as runners finish. 100 mile runners are not required to stop at the 32 hour cutoff. As long as you can make it back to the Cabin before sunset you may continue running. We are required to dismantle and clean up the star/finish area so everything may be gone when you finish. You are still a 100 mile finisher and receive a Lake Martin 100 Buckle. If you think you may need more than 33 hours to finish you need to have crew members to stay at the Cabin until you make it back.
Saturday, March 20th - 4:30 to 5:15 AM - Breakfast at Harbor Lodge - Hot breakfast will be prepared by Logan for all runners and crew staying at the Lodge. The price is $6 per person. We need to know by March 15th if you will be having breakfast with us at the Loge.
Saturday, March 20th - 5:30 to 6:30 AM - No race day registration. Race packets for the 100, 50 and 27 mile races may be picked up Saturday Morning at the Cabin Start area. If you arrive later than 6:30 AM you may not be able to get your race packet until after the race starts. Your start may be delayed as much as 15 minutes so please arrive early. 100 mile and 50 mile runners may bring all drop bags to the start Saturday Morning. If you wish to send a drop bag to Heaven Hill aid station please have it there by 6:15 AM and place it in the back of my White F150 pickup. 27 mile runners may only have a drop bag at the start.
Saturday, March 20th - 6:45 AM - Start of the 100, 50 and 27 mile races. (Sunrise - 6:49 AM - Sunset - 6:54 PM) If you expect to take more than 11 hours to run the 50 you should have a flashlight or headlamp with you or have one in your drop bag at the Cabin.
Sunday, March 21st - 12:45 AM - 50 Mile and 27 mile races will end. (18 hour cutoff)
Sunday, March 21st - 2:45 PM - Race course will officially close. (32 hour time limit) There will be mandatory cutoffs in place at the start finish area at the start of the third and fourth laps of the 100. The cutoff will be very generous. Awards will be presented as runners finish. 100 mile runners are not required to stop at the 32 hour cutoff. As long as you can make it back to the Cabin before sunset you may continue running. We are required to dismantle and clean up the star/finish area so everything may be gone when you finish. You are still a 100 mile finisher and receive a Lake Martin 100 Buckle. If you think you may need more than 33 hours to finish you need to have crew members to stay at the Cabin until you make it back.
View photos and results of the 2020 Lake Martin Virtual Races
Southeastern Trail Runs 2020 Sponsors
