The Best First 100-Mile Race for Every Month of 2027

The short answer

There's a beginner-friendly 100-miler almost every month: Coldwater Rumble (Jan), Rocky Raccoon (Feb), The Pistol (Mar), Prairie Spirit (Apr), Iron Will Backroads (May), Kettle Moraine (Jun), Badger Trail (Jul), Hallucination (Sep), Hennepin (Oct), Tunnel Hill (Nov) and Brazos Bend (Dec). No lotteries. August is the one tough month.

I ran my first 100 miles on November 28, 2020, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to raise money for childhood cancer research.

I didn't have a coach. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. So I mapped out a 1-mile loop around my neighborhood, 1.02 miles to be exact, and decided I was just going to run it 100 times. My aid station was a pop-up tent in the driveway.

Pierce Showe running his neighborhood loop with a friend during his first 100-mile run — Company on the loop during my first 100.

Pop-up tent with Christmas lights, a fire pit and a 100 Miles for Cancer Research sign that served as Pierce Showe's aid station during his first 100-mile run — My "aid station": a tent in the driveway.

I did it that way because I didn't know there were real races out there built for a first 100. There are a lot more than you think.

Here's one for (almost) every month of 2027, spread across the country. No lotteries. I picked them for the things that matter most in a first 100: temperature, terrain, elevation gain and a generous cutoff.

January: Coldwater Rumble 100

Runners on a desert trail in Estrella Mountain Regional Park near Phoenix — Desert trail at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, from the Aravaipa race photos.

Where: Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Goodyear, AZ (near Phoenix)
When: January 16, 2027
Terrain: Desert loops: two 10-mile loops, then three 27-mile loops
Elevation gain: ~8,700 ft
Avg high / low: ~66° / 42°
Cutoff: 32 hours

January is cold almost everywhere, but not in the Arizona desert. You come back through the start on every loop, and the 32-hour cutoff gives you room.

It has more climbing than most races on this list, so train on hills. The other January classic, Long Haul in Florida, is already sold out for 2027.

February: Rocky Raccoon 100

Two runners on a pine-needle trail through tall pines at Huntsville State Park — The pines at Huntsville State Park, from the Tejas Trails race photos.

Where: Huntsville State Park, Huntsville, TX
When: February 6, 2027
Terrain: Five 20-mile loops on soft, pine-needle trail, with roots
Elevation gain: ~5,000 ft, in small rolling bits
Avg high / low: 63° / 46°
Cutoff: 32 hours

I ran the Rocky Raccoon 100K here in February 2022, before my first 100-mile race. The loops bring you past your drop bag and crew every 20 miles, and February in east Texas is usually great running weather.

Watch the roots, especially at night. It's capped and sells out, so sign up early.

March: The Pistol 100

A pedestrian bridge over a grassy greenway in Alcoa, Tennessee, from The Pistol race photos — The greenway in Alcoa, from The Pistol race photos.

Where: Alcoa, TN
When: March 13, 2027
Terrain: Ten paved loops of 10 miles
Elevation gain: ~2,000 ft
Avg high / low: 61° / 39°
Cutoff: 32 hours

The closest thing on this list to my first 100: loops on pavement. You come through the aid station every 10 miles, and the cutoff is generous.

April: Prairie Spirit 100

A runner passing an old grain building in Colony, Kansas, on the Prairie Spirit Trail — A runner passing through Colony, Kansas, from the Prairie Spirit race photos.

Where: Ottawa, KS
When: April 3, 2027
Terrain: Out and back on a crushed-limestone rail trail
Elevation gain: ~1,800 ft
Avg high / low: ~60° / 38°
Cutoff: 30 hours

A rail trail across the Kansas prairie, so the grades stay gentle the whole way. Early April is cool, and aid stations are about every 5 miles.

May: Iron Will Backroads 100

Two runners silhouetted at sunset on a gravel road beside an American flag at Iron Will Backroads — Sunset on the backroads, from the Iron Will race photos.

Where: Enterprise, KS
When: May 29, 2027
Terrain: Loops of about 11 miles on gravel roads and rail trail, with staffed aid each lap
Elevation gain: Rolling, about 2,500 ft per 50 miles
Avg high / low: ~76° / 57°
Cutoff: 36 hours (2024)

May is a tough month to find an easy first 100. Iron Will is small, on gravel and rail trail, and the 36-hour cutoff is one of the most generous out there.

June: Kettle Moraine 100

Runners on a sunlit forest trail at the Kettle Moraine 100 in Wisconsin — The forest trail at Kettle Moraine, from the race photos.

Where: Kettle Moraine State Forest, near La Grange, WI
When: June 12, 2027
Terrain: Mostly wooded trail, including 65 miles on the Ice Age Trail, with some prairie
Elevation gain: ~8,800 ft
Avg high / low: ~77° / 59°
Cutoff: 30 hours

A classic Midwest 100. It has more climbing than most races on this list, but it's runnable trail through the woods, and June in Wisconsin is milder than most of the country.

See Kettle Moraine 100 →

July: Badger Trail 100

A shaded, tree-lined rail trail in southern Wisconsin — The shaded rail trail in southern Wisconsin, from the Sugar Badger race photos.

Where: Belleville, WI to Orangeville, IL
When: July 31, 2027
Terrain: 99% rail trail, out and back
Elevation gain: Flat
Avg high / low: ~82° / 65°
Cutoff: 36 hours

The flattest summer 100 I could find, on a shaded rail trail with full aid stations every 4 to 8 miles. The 36-hour cutoff gives you a lot of room on a hot day.

Another great late-July option: Lean Horse 100 in the Black Hills of South Dakota, on the Mickelson rail trail with a 30-hour cutoff. It.s July 30, 2027.

August: the toughest month

A runner on the red Mickelson Trail below rocky Black Hills spires at Lean Horse — The Mickelson Trail at Lean Horse, one of the best late-July options.

I'll be honest: I couldn't find a beginner-friendly 100 in August. Most of the August 100s I found were big mountain races, and that's not where you want to run your first one.

If you want a summer 100, run Badger Trail or Lean Horse at the end of July. Or train through the summer and run Hallucination in September.

September: Hallucination 100

Runners crossing the finish line at Run Woodstock in Michigan — The finish line at Run Woodstock, from the race photos.

Where: Run Woodstock, Gregory, MI
When: September 2027 (date TBA; 2026 was September 12)
Terrain: Six loops of about 16.7 miles, mostly wooded singletrack
Elevation gain: Rolling
Avg high / low: ~73° / 56°
Cutoff: Intermediate cutoffs, with a 100K finish if you miss them

The 100-miler is part of Run Woodstock, a whole weekend festival of races with a Woodstock theme. Loops bring you back past your drop bag every lap, and September in Michigan is cooling off.

See Run Woodstock →

October: Hennepin Hundred

A runner crossing an old steel truss bridge along the Hennepin Canal with fall leaves — Crossing one of the old canal bridges, from the Hennepin Hundred race photos.

Where: Sterling to Colona, IL
When: October 2, 2027
Terrain: Point to point on the Hennepin Canal towpath
Elevation gain: ~1,100 ft
Avg high / low: 65° / 45°
Cutoff: 30 hours

A flat towpath along the old canal, and early October in northern Illinois is cool. You never repeat a mile, so plan your crew and drop bags carefully.

November: Tunnel Hill 100

Runners coming out of the tunnel on the Tunnel Hill State Trail, with fall leaves on the ground — Runners coming out of the tunnel at Tunnel Hill, from the race photos.

Where: Vienna, IL
When: November 2027 (date TBA; 2026 is November 14)
Terrain: Crushed-rock rail trail, never steeper than 2%
Elevation gain: ~1,400 ft
Avg high / low: 55° / 37°
Cutoff: 30 hours

My #1 pick on my list of 100-mile races for beginners. It's flat, the weather is cool and predictable, and almost all of it is runnable. Pack warm layers for the night.

December: Brazos Bend 100

Pierce Showe running the Brazos Bend 100 on a flat, tree-lined trail in Brazos Bend State Park, Texas — Me at the Brazos Bend 100 in December 2022.

Where: Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, TX
When: December 2027 (date TBA; 2026 is December 5)
Terrain: Six flat loops of 16.7 miles
Elevation gain: Under 100 ft
Race-day high / low: ~71° / 55° on average (2021–2025), and humid
Cutoff: 32 hours

I ran the Brazos Bend 100 in December 2022, and it's flat as a pancake. I liked Brazos Bend, but it is very humid, so start your fueling and hydration early.

And yes, you'll probably see alligators sunning themselves next to the trail. They totally leave you alone.

Summary: a first 100 for every month of 2027

Month	Race	Where	Elevation gain	Avg high / low	Cutoff
Jan	Coldwater Rumble 100	Goodyear, AZ	~8,700 ft	~66° / 42°	32 hr
Feb	Rocky Raccoon 100	Huntsville, TX	~5,000 ft	63° / 46°	32 hr
Mar	The Pistol 100	Alcoa, TN	~2,000 ft	61° / 39°	32 hr
Apr	Prairie Spirit 100	Ottawa, KS	~1,800 ft	~60° / 38°	30 hr
May	Iron Will Backroads 100	Enterprise, KS	Rolling	~76° / 57°	36 hr
Jun	Kettle Moraine 100	La Grange, WI	~8,800 ft	~77° / 59°	30 hr
Jul	Badger Trail 100	Belleville, WI	Flat	~82° / 65°	36 hr
Aug	No great pick	Run Badger Trail or Lean Horse in late July
Sep	Hallucination 100	Gregory, MI	Rolling	~73° / 56°	Intermediate cutoffs
Oct	Hennepin Hundred	Sterling, IL	~1,100 ft	65° / 45°	30 hr
Nov	Tunnel Hill 100	Vienna, IL	~1,400 ft	55° / 37°	30 hr
Dec	Brazos Bend 100	Needville, TX	Under 100 ft	~71° / 55°*	32 hr

Dates marked TBA had not been announced as of November 2026. Temperatures are monthly average highs and lows for the nearest town, not official race figures, and are approximate. *Brazos Bend shows the average race-weekend high and low from 2021 to 2025. Check each race's site for 2027 cutoffs before you sign up.

Want a ranked list? Here are my 100-mile races for beginners, ranked hardest to easiest. Picked your race? Here's how to train for your first 100 while working full time and what I learned running my first 100.

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Common questions

What is the best month for a first 100-mile race?

Spring and fall have the mildest weather in most of the US. November (Tunnel Hill), October (Hennepin) and February (Rocky Raccoon) are great months for a first 100.

Are there 100-mile races without a lottery?

Yes, a lot more than you think. Every race on this list is first-come, first-served, though some, like Rocky Raccoon, sell out.

What is the easiest 100-mile race?

The Tunnel Hill 100 in Vienna, Illinois. It's a flat rail trail that never gets steeper than 2%, with cool November weather and a 30-hour cutoff.

Is there a good first 100 in August?

Not really. Most of the August 100s I found were big mountain races. Run Badger Trail or Lean Horse at the end of July, or wait for Hallucination in September.