The maples along US 41 are changing, the air is cool, and the trails are dry. If you are thinking about the Back 9 Endurance Run on May 29-30, 2027, this is the quiet moment when the race is actually won.
Nobody is asking you to run a hundred miles in October. The goal for fall is a base: easy, steady miles that teach your body to keep moving for hours. A few simple guidelines:
- Go slow on purpose. Most of your running should feel conversational. The Back 9 is a long day, not a sprint, and the runners who finish strong are the ones who learned to be patient early.
- Add one longer run each week. Increase it by no more than about ten percent from week to week, and take an easier week every fourth week.
- Walk the hills. The course climbs and drops through the old holes 10 through 18 on every 3.68-mile loop. Practicing a strong, efficient hike now will pay off at hour nineteen.
- Pay attention to your feet and your sleep. Both matter more over 24 hours than any single workout.
Registration for 2027 is open through UltraSignup, and fees go up after March 31. Questions? Call 906-289-4403 or email back9endurance@keweenawresort.com.
