Course description

Here’s a first description of the course.
More details are yet to come, especially those on the aid stations. All course distances in this description are given in Km  (1 Mile = 1.609 K; 1K = 0,62 miles). The elevation is given in feet.

This is a 100 mile run. Even though finishing after leg 2 would give you the opportunity to have a 100K race done – please don’t make plans for doing only a 100K run.
We are not able to provide the aid station equipment for the much faster pace of 100 K runners.
Of course, in cases of exhaustion or injury it’s o.k. to quit at any time of the race.

The course
Despite some miles on paved ground (unevitable) – it’s a trail run which deserves it’s name. About 90 percent of the course are on single trails and dirt/jeep roads. Some trails may be a little overgrown in late July. Don’t worry if caught by thorns. 
Do you often twist your ankle on flat and paved ground? You’d better not plan to have your debut here. And the ups and downs will definitely blow you away.
The STUNT 100 is a tough race!

Elevation
The course has 12,641 feet of climb. The lowest point is at 262 feet above sea level, the highest point is at 1,217 feet.
Apart the ‘normal’ ups and downs of the course, there are tough uphills at K42 (nicknamend ‘Roadrunner’s hell’), at K73 and at K119.
As an experienced ultra runner, you know how to go through these challenges. Slow down and hike.

Our own ‘Death Valley’:
Between K77 and K90 you’ll have to run in an open valley beneath the river ‘Leine’. Mostly on a small paved road designated for bikers (not open to car traffic).  This road is not shadowed by trees or hills. And in late July – and on late afternoon for the most runners – you’ll find it a very ‘hot spot’ down there. Even though the course is flat here, it’s everything but relaxing. FEEL THE FIRE!

Distances of each leg:
1^st leg: ("The Mountain Whip") 50 K; 5,640 feet of climb
2^nd leg ("The Panoramic Loop") 50 K; 3,314 feet of climb
3^rd leg ("Nightmare on Tosmarberg") 43.3 K; 2,605 feet of climb
4^th leg ("The Finishing Dash") 17.6 KM; 1,083 feet of climb


Detailed description

1^st leg (“The Mountain Whip”)
Out from start to K12 and back from K38 to K50 the same way. A big loop from K12 to K38.

The first leg is the most challenging of the race. Very soon in the race – after a cozy beginning on paved roads – you’re entering the woods with a steep uphill section. You’re running up and down on jeep trails now. You’ll find a lot them in this forest: check the course marking watchfully. At K8 you’ll come to a gorge called “Wettenser Schlei” (and nicknamed ‘Roadrunner’s Hell’) in which you’ll have to run run downhill for now (the uphill here will be at K42). You’ll come to a wide valley of the River ‘Leine’, passing the village of Godenau, crossing the river on a wooden bridge, heading to the first manned aid station. You’ll come to a railroad crossing and to the “Federal Highway 3” (it’s like a state highway in the US). You’ll have to cross the highway at your own risk. But it’s not too dangerous.
Soon you’ll come to the small mountain range called „Duinger Berg“. After climbing up to the top of the range the course follows the ridge on a scenic single trail which might be a little overgrown in July. Go ahead on this trail and don’t stop for some shrups sticking to your legs. At K24, after another downhill section you’ll cross another flat area (not shadowed). The next little mountain range, called the “Külf”, is waiting for you. The single trail on the ridge of this range is far more difficult than the one before. It’s constantly going up and down, with some 150 feet at each climb.
When leaving this range you’ll soon came back to the “Highway 3” and the aid station. The last 12 Kilometers are the same as the first, only backwards. Including ‘Roadrunners Hell’ in the famous uphill direction. Now you’ll know why we nicknamed it so.
On the way back to the soccer field in Sibbesse, please check the course marking carefully. Taking a wrong way can be very ‘painful’. Back at the soccer field after 50 kilometers a little less of a third of the race is done.

The 2^nd leg

The second leg is a big 50K loop with points of scenic overvlook to the mountain range of the “Harz” (some 50K south) and to the valley of the river “Leine”.

On the very first kilometers the beginning of the loop is the same as of leg 1. But don’t take the turn-off to the right at the junction at K53,6 (as you did before in leg 1). Watch out for the course marking. You have to turn off to the left at this junction, following a trail which is additionally marked with an “R”-sign for a hiking trail called the “Rennstieg”. Enjoy running on a beautiful single trail in a forest for some kilometers. Then you’ll have to cross a small public roads (with not much traffic – but be nevertheless watchful). Watch out for our course marking and the “R”-signs on the other side of the road and take the dirt road/jeep trail section which is coming now for the nexts few kilometers.

Just behind a next small road you had to cross (at K59,6) you’ll enjoy a scenic overlook to the mountain range of the “Harz” (which is the highest range in northern Germany with its highest peak “Brocken” of 3,750 feet) – if the waether is fine and you like to take a few seconds for the look. Dont’s miss the turn-off to the right 3.6 kilometers behind this point (at the highest point of the course with it’s 1.217 feet). There will be a next turn-off to right 50 meters behind this point – don’t take this turn-off and stay on the ridge instead. Follow the single trail section and later the jeep road section down to the village of “Everode”. You’ll have to face a very steep uphill section behind the village - about 800 meters long - with a freshly made pavement of 'graveyard-cobblestones'. You can still read names on these broken tombstones. (If you mean to read your own name on one of these bricks - don't mind and have a coke or a coffee at the next AS. You're apparently tired.) When this piece of work is done you’ll come to a beautiful trail on the ridge of this hill with an overlook the the valley of the river “Leine”. The next section is the ‘Death Valley’-section as mentioned above with it’s flat paved 15 kilometers. You’ll come to the railroad crossing with the AS (which you took already on the first loop). But this time you’ll have to head on straight in the valley. At K92 you’ll have to turn off to the right, slightly coming to new uphill sections in the forest. As always, please watch out for the course marking carefully. There are some wrong ways in this section. You’ll come to the village of “Eberholzen” and at K100 you’ll come to Sibbesse’s soccer field for the second time. Have some refreshments there and be prepared for the 3^rd leg.

The 3^rd leg (“Nighmare on Tosmarberg”)

Out to the village of “Diekholzen” (K100-K116) followed by a loop of 10K in a forest up and down the hill of “Tosmarberg”. Back to the soccer field the same as the first 16 kilometers. You may have encounters with your fellow runners in the out and back section of the 3^rd leg.

You’ll have to start this leg the same way you just came in - of course, in the opposite direction. Before “Eberholzen” you’ll have to turn off to the right now, cross a small public road (very less traffic in the evening/night hours). The nexts kilometers are easy to run, they went flat or slightly downhill on dirt roads (some are paved, some are not). You’ll pass the  villages of “Nienstedt” and “Eitzum”. Check the marking carefully behind Eitzum! When leaving the next village of “Barfelde” you’ll have to climb a long uphill section. You’ll leave the open plains and come to a forest section for the next kilometers with jeep trails until the village of Diekholzen. When entering this village – after about a kilometer - watch out for some stairs leading down from the road you’re on to the right side. Behind these stairs cross the main raod and head on to the right. A little later at a turn-off to a dirt road on the left you’ll come to a trailer. That’s the aid station (you’ll come to this station again after the 10K loop mentionend above). You’ll have to run the next kilometers on a wide dirt road which finally is climbing steeper and steeper uphill to the top of “Tosmarberg”. Always look out for the course marking in the forest section! There are some wrong turn-offs. That’s the toughest part for the night. You’ll have the opportunity to relax in the next downhill section of 3 kilometers. When coming to the edge of the forest (there’s a restaurant called “Söhrer Forsthaus” with a big parking lot in front of it) turn to the left. Do not head down beneath the restaurant. Follow the (nearly) flat dirt road and trail section at the edge of the forest/or just in it. Enjoy the single trail section here (if you still can enjoy something) – it’s a beautiful trail. You’ll come again to the aid station with the trailer after about 2.5 kilometers. Now you’ll have to take the 16 kilometers back to Sibbesse you’ve already taken some hours before.

The 4^th leg  (“The Finishing Dash”)

There are only 17.6 kilometers left. It’s out to the well-known aid station in Diekholzen – on a new way this time – and back to the soccer field this way.

When leaving the soccer field you’ll have to turn to the left (for the first time in this race) and cross the road beneath. Follow the course marking on dirt roads to the pedestrian tunnel leading you under the railroad tracks (designated for Germany’s high speed train, the ICE).

Head on straight for 200 meters and turn to the left beneath a fence above the railroad tracks. You’ll come to the edge of the forest and have to run slightly uphill and a little later on a moderate downhill section to the turning point at the aid station. You’ll have to take just the same way back to the soccer field now for the very last 8.8 kilometers.

Congratulations! You’ve just finished a(nother) 100 mile run. We’ll call you a ‘Stunt’-men or ‘Stunt’-woman now.