How Hardcore Are You? Test Yourself at the Hardesty Hardcore

Put Sunday, July 26th on your race calendar, because that’s when you should come out to Oakridge, Oregon to run the 2026 Hardesty Hardcore. This Level 32 Racing event is the 4th event in the Run Big Trail Series (RBTS) and offers trail runners a 14 miler and a 5.5 miler to choose from.

This 14 miler (“Hardcore”) will begin at the Hardesty Trailhead, and parking is limited, so consider carpooling if you can. Runners will take off from here at 8:00AM and it will be challenging, with 33300 feet of elevation gain in the first 4.5 miles and 3300 feet of descent in the next 4 miles. After this, runners will be on the 5.5-mile course to finish the event on rolling hills. This course is considered very challenging and there is a 4-hour time limit.

The 5.5 miler (“Forest Fiver”) will be starting at a different location than the 14 miler, and there is no parking at the start line for this distance. Participants should plan on taking the 8:15AM shuttle from Hardesty Trailhead parking lot to their start, and their race begins at 8:30AM. As mentioned in the paragraph above, this course is all on rolling hills, and the route is rated moderately difficult.

Both courses are all on single-track trails. Aid stations will be at 4 locations for the 14 miler and available at 1 location for the 5.5 miler. Runners will have water, electrolyte beverage, and some light snacks to choose from.

This race has a participant limit due to parking and shuttle limitations as well as the space limitations of a single-track course, so register now before it’s too late!