Copper Kings 100 Fat Ass June 24 2023

The idea of this run started as a way to honor my family’s connection to Butte by making a long run for myself to connect special places from my family’s history.

Six runners from Montana, Washington, and Wisconsin challenged themselves to run a course never attempted before in full.

The 105.5 mile route with approximately 16,200 feet of vertical gain was more challenging than we expected, but we pushed through and everyone finished within the 36 hour cutoff we gave ourselves.

Wes Plate 32:46:01
Dave Stinchfield 32:58:34
David Riedeman 32:58:35
Rebekah Lee 34:18:42
Jp Walters 34:37:24
Carolina Balliew 34:37:24

Early start

At 4am we arrived at the Mountain Con Mine to set up our little start area. Runners arrived and we activated each runner’s satellite tracker.

After some group photos we counted down and at 5am sharp we started running.

The north side of the course was wet. Our feet became soaked from running through the wet meadows and overgrown trail.

But we were having a blast! Our crews were also having fun and each crew aid stop felt like a party.

At mile 28.5 we left the Nez Perce aid station for a long 16 mile section to an aid station set up at Our Lady of the Rockies.

I was feeling tired. This section is tough and the many downed trees added to the challenge.

I struggled through the next section to Homestake Pass at mile 57.1. My stomach had turned as I left Our Lady and I lost all the calories I ate during my short break.

We got to Homestake Pass a short while before sunset and I was able to enjoy some broth and mashed potatoes. The fuel helped me turn things around mentally before heading out into the night.

A light rain started soon after I left Homestake Pass heading for the mile 66.9 crew stop at Pipestone Pass. Around midnight, lightning and thunder added to the experience.

As the sun rose I arrived at the mile 79 crew aid stop at the Highland trailhead. After a break with more broth and mashed potatoes, I headed back out for the last trail section.

The Continental Divide Trail from the Highland Trailhead to the intersection with the Bear Gulch Trail featured more downed trees, and a surprising amount of climbing. How many hills do we need to go up and down?!

The Bear Gulch Trail brought us to Basin Creek Park where our crews prepared us for the last couple stretches of road running back to town and then up the hill to the finish.

All the runners finished the entire course and with smiles on their faces as we reminisced about the challenge of the course and the joys and pains found along the way.