Discover the story as narrated on the old LR100 site:
The Land Run 100 was born in 2013.
In late 2011, as the District Bicycles family was beginning to form, we discovered the rural roads surrounding Stillwater, Okla., offered virtually limitless potential for gravel cycling. Mile after mile of gravel roads ranging from smooth, hard packed dirt to rutted, gnarly mud revealed themselves to the growing community of cyclists who ventured out to explore the beautiful country surrounding Stillwater.
The first Land Run linked 107 miles of red, rutted roads and featured more 6,000 feet of climbing and Carney, Okla., as its halfway point. 121 riders braved the course that first year; today entries number over 1,700.
Every year, the weather has been a defining characteristic of the Land Run 100. When rain falls on Oklahoma red dirt, the roads become unforgiving and, in some cases, unrideable. War stories of ruined derailleurs and miles-long sections of hike-a-bike through “peanut butter mud” that can swallow a shoe have become staples of the Land Run experience. But even when Oklahoma gravel is hard-packed, dusty, and fast – as it is most of the year – losing yourself on these country roads can evoke strength, grit, and resolve that you never knew you possessed. The spirit of the Land Run 100 is found in the will to redefine what is possible.
In 2020, the event embraces more riders than ever but also more than 150 runners, who have registered for the Land Run 50K and Land Run Double. Between the bike race and the foot race, entrants will be coming from 46 states, Canada, Brazil, Belgium and England.
In 2013, when we invited our friends to come ride 100 miles of dirt, we never imagined the event would grow to be what it is today. We are beyond excited to offer you – whatever the weather – an amazing experience at the Land Run 100.
