Lean Horse Ultra.
The 100-mile Lean Horse Ultra follows the Mickelson Trail from Custer, South Dakota, to a turnaround at the DMTM Exchange and comes back the same way. It is rarely steep, but no kilometre lies below 1,450 metres, and the two climbs that settle the day wait beyond kilometre 110.
Lean Horse Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is at the Custer YMCA. From there the Mickelson Trail heads north, past the Mountain aid station onto a first ridge after a little over twelve kilometres, down to Hill City at kilometre 27 and back up to Red Fern at kilometre 39. The course then falls below 1,500 metres to a first low point around kilometre 50 at Mystic.
That is where the core of the way out begins: nearly 30 kilometres of almost unbroken uphill via Nahant to the turnaround at the DMTM Exchange, the high point of the race at about 1,900 metres. Kilometre 82 is half the distance but not half the work. There is no loop, only this one trail across South Dakota, where the same stations come back to you in reverse order.
The return first rolls 30 kilometres downhill to Mystic, the lowest point of the day. Then comes the first test: around 250 metres of ascent in several steps until you are back at Red Fern. Past the Hill City valley the second one adds a good 250 metres more, via Oreville to the final crest around kilometre 154. Its longest unbroken piece starts at kilometre 149 and runs at a little over three percent for three and a half kilometres. After that the only way is down to Custer.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.6 | 0.5 km | 5.7 % | 12.8 % | +26 m | — |
| km 52.8 | 0.6 km | 3.5 % | 6.6 % | +19 m | — |
| km 115.4 | 0.4 km | 3.3 % | 5 % | +14 m | — |
| km 116 | 2.2 km | 4.3 % | 21.8 % | +91 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 118.4 | 0.9 km | 3.4 % | 8.3 % | +31 m | — |
| km 119.5 | 0.9 km | 3.3 % | 5.9 % | +30 m | — |
| km 120.6 | 1.5 km | 3.1 % | 4.6 % | +44 m | — |
| km 149.4 | 3.6 km | 3.1 % | 10.4 % | +112 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Lean Horse Ultra.
Start under control
Almost everything on this course can be run, and that is what makes it dangerous: the forced walking breaks of a steep hundred-miler never come. Decide before the start what gradient makes you walk, and stick to it at kilometre 60, when the long ascent to the turnaround still feels harmless. Altitude adds to the bill: every pace costs more here than it does on lower ground.
Hold your rhythm
The biggest temptation sits just past the turnaround. Thirty kilometres of downhill look like time to win back, yet every minute taken there is paid for with the quads you need from Mystic onward. Run this section easily and use it for eating and drinking while your stomach still cooperates.
Spend what is left
The race is decided on the 40 kilometres between Mystic and the final crest. Both big climbs of the return lie inside them, and they reach you after more than 110 kilometres. If you can still find a running stride here instead of walking throughout, you make the time that nothing further up the course could have given you.
Training plan for Lean Horse Ultra: 12-week build
Build the base
Count on 24 to 32 hours, which means at least one night on the trail. The effort is almost entirely aerobic, with no spikes, just a very long time at low intensity. The target is less climbing strength than the ability to keep running calmly and keep eating after 20 hours.
Train race pace
Build your long runs so the climbing comes late, and look for long, gentle grades rather than short steep hills: the ascent to the turnaround lasts nearly 30 kilometres, not three. Long sessions on consecutive days reflect the tired legs from Mystic onward better than one enormous outing. Practise long, relaxed downhill running too, because the descent past the turnaround loads the muscles differently from any climb.
Rehearse the course
Altitude belongs in the plan. If you are coming from lower ground, spend some days on site beforehand and set your race pace below what your runs at home suggest.
Arrive fresh
A late-July date puts the core of the build in spring and early summer. At least two sessions by headlamp belong in it, so the night on the trail is not your first. The organiser publishes the aid-station distances and instructions for crews: turn those into a fuelling plan early and test it on your long runs.
Courses
Download the Lean Horse Ultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Lean Horse Ultra dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Lean Horse Ultra.
How long is Lean Horse Ultra?
Lean Horse Ultra is 160.93 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Lean Horse Ultra have?
Lean Horse Ultra has around 1,704 m of elevation gain over 160.93 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Lean Horse Ultra?
Lean Horse Ultra is classified as Rolling, averaging 10.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 25% of the route is flat, 37% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 1% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Lean Horse Ultra have?
The hardest climb of Lean Horse Ultra starts at kilometre 149.4, runs for 3.6 km at an average of 3.1% and gains 112 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Lean Horse Ultra a loop course?
Yes, Lean Horse Ultra is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Lean Horse Ultra course?
Yes. The Lean Horse Ultra course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Lean Horse Ultra?
Preparation for Lean Horse Ultra should account for 160.93 km, 1,704 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Lean Horse Ultra?
The pacing strategy for Lean Horse Ultra should reflect 160.93 km, 1,704 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Lean Horse Ultra 2027 take place?
Lean Horse Ultra 2027 takes place on July 30, 2027.
Where does Lean Horse Ultra 2027 take place?
Lean Horse Ultra 2027 takes place in Custer, United States.
Which distances does Lean Horse Ultra offer?
Lean Horse Ultra offers 4 distances — Lean Horse Ultra 100 Mile: 160.93 km; Lean Horse Ultra 50 Mile: 80.47 km; Lean Horse Ultra 30 Mile: 48.28 km; Lean Horse Ultra 20 Mile: 32.19 km.
How do I register for Lean Horse Ultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: leanhorseultra.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
