Lake Martin 100, 50 & 27

The race will be april 5th and 6th, 2025

Registration opens July 1

On Lake Martin in East Central Alabama, near Alexander City.

100, 50 Endurance Run and 27 Mile Fun Run Pace Charts

The Lake Martin 100, 50 & 27

Course Map and Elevation Profile

Race Start - 6:30 AM, April 5th

All three races will start at 6:30 AM. Sunrise is 6:39 AM, sunset is 6:59 PM. At 6:20 AM we will have a short race briefing for all distances. The address is: 17 Russell Farms Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. GPS Coordinates are: 32.764355, -85.945177

Shirt Cutoff is Saturday March 22nd

Please do not wait to register until the last minute. We must order race shirts on March 23rd. You may not get a race shirt

There is NO RACE-DAY REGISTRATION

Lake Martin registrations closes March 31st at 11:59 PM. There will be no registration after that date.

Click on the image above to open the Runners Manual PDF

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 trial race. Our goal is your success. We promise to do everything in our power to help you accomplish your 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, you can do it. 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.

For experienced 100 mile runners the lake Martin 100 is no “Walk in the Park.” My Suunto Ambit Vertical GPS watch shows over 14,000 feet of elevation gain. The course is very hilly. There are virtually no trails that could be called flat anywhere on the course. There are also, no big climbs and there are no technical sections at all. Almost all of the hills are less than 100 feet of elevation gain but those small hills are relentless. For those of you that alternate walking and running, you will not need to time the cycles. The hills will tell you where to walk and where to run.

We will start with a few rules form the Lake Martin 100

No Complaining! You chose to run an ultra, now get it done.
No Littering – You will be running on the Russell Forest Trail System, private land owned by the Russell Family of Alexander City, Alabama.
We have the privilege of being the only running event allowed on the trail system that is not a Russell Lands event. Please help us stay in good favor with the Russell Family and help us maintain the natural beauty of the trails.
Be courteous to other trail users. You will be sharing the trails with other hikers, possibly a mountain biker and you may see a few horseback riders. Normally the horses have right-of-way, but for the race weekend, we runners have the right-of-way. Thank the riders for allowing you to pass.
Do Not stash supplies along the trails. There are plenty of aid stations where you can leave everything you will need.
Thank the Aid Station Volunteers. They have given up their weekend to help YOU finish your race.
Above all, Have Fun! Enjoy the experience and beauty of Lake Martin and the Russell Forest Trail System.
If you have a complaint, do not even mention it to volunteers. Find me, and complain.
All decisions of the Race Directors are final. Aid Station Captains have the authority to act as on-location race directors, but the RDs have final say on all decisions.
You may not cut the course. There are NO “bushwhacking” sections, there are not swimming sections. You must stay on the marked trails at all times. It’s your responsibility to know and stay on the course. The course is very well marked. If you do not run the course as marked you will not be considered a finisher.
You must complete the course on foot, with no assistance from vehicles, bicycles or other runners. (Is it really necessary to add this?)
Headphones: Headphones are acceptable while on the trails. Remove your headphones when approaching an aid station. We can’t communicate if you can’t hear us.
Lake Martin has no road sections however runners cross cabin roads several times each lap. Be cautious as you cross a road. Pay extra attention while crossing paved roads.
Young Children ARE NOT ALLOWED in any actual aid station tent at any time. Aid stations will be very busy with runners, volunteers, pacers, and crew members working to get everyone taken care of as efficiently as possible. It’s just not safe.
Medical Assistance: If you require an IV or oxygen at any point during the race, your race is over. (Yes, that includes those little oxygen things you can buy at gas stations.) If you are caught with one of those, you will be immediately disqualified.
If medical personnel determine that you are not physically able to safely continue the race you must stop immediately. Aid Station Captains and Medical Staff decisions are final. Do not argue. That could change a DNF to DISQ!
Dogs are not allowed to run with any runner or pacer at any time during the race. There are no exceptions.
Pets are not allowed in ANY AID STATION tent. If your crew has a pet with it, the dog MUST stay out of the aid station tent.

Here is my Blog Post “How to Finish the Lake Martin 100.”

“DON’T FALL PREY TO THIS DECEPTIVE KILLER!”

This post is not just for those running their first Ultra. it’s for every one running Lake Martin for the first time.

HOW TO FINISH THE LAKE MAERIN 100

Lodging and Camping near the start of the Lake Martin Races

We are prevailed to be allowed to put on the Lake Martin 100 races in Russell Lands, on the Russell Forest Trail System. We must strictly adhere to all Russell Lands Rules. The Trail System is on 25,000 private owned acres of beautiful timbre property. Fires are strictly forbade anywhere on Russell Lands. We are allowed to have a fire in the Cabin fireplace at the start. That’s it. We have been given permission to use those propane fire pits with lava rocks. We can have one at Heaven Hill and one at the Cabin. Camping on Russell Lands is strictly forbidden. We cannot allow anyone to stay at start Friday Night. Don’t try to sneak in after 10 or 11 at night. Russell Security comes through Russell Crossroads every hour or two. They will make you leave and we get in trouble. Please don’t ask, the answer is NO.

Hotels - There are several hotels in Alexander City. Here is a Google Maps link to the hotels. Hotels in Alexander City

Camping - Camping is available at Wind Creek State Park, 7 miles from the race start. Here is the link: Wind Creek State Park Camping

Wind Creek Cabins - Wind Creek also has several cabins available for rent. Wind Creek Cabins

VRBO-Airbnb Cabins - Lake Martin is a very large lake with lots of VRBO Rentals. VRBO rentals on Lake Martin. Please note, Lake Martin has 750 miles of shoreline. Be sure to check the distance from any rental to the race start at Russell Crossroads. What looks like 5 miles may be 25 miles on tiny back roads.