About This Race
The HOKA Kodiak 100 represents the signature challenge of the Kodiak Ultras series, a point-to-point journey through California's San Bernardino Mountains that tests experienced ultrarunners across technical terrain and extended time on course. Starting in Big Bear Lake at over 6,700 feet, runners traverse three distinct climate zones while managing the physical and mental demands inherent to hundred-mile racing. This race requires competency in night navigation, as most runners will spend significant hours moving through darkness across both ends of the course. The extended effort demands sophisticated pacing strategies and fueling protocols, with course cutoffs structured to keep runners moving while allowing adequate recovery at aid stations. The October timing offers cooler temperatures than summer months, though runners should prepare for significant temperature swings between day and night in the high desert environment. As part of the UTMB World Series, the Kodiak 100 attracts runners seeking both a standalone challenge and UTMB Index qualification points. The race's reputation has grown steadily since its inception, drawing a field comfortable with the demands of technical mountain hundred-milers and the extended self-reliance required when darkness, fatigue, and distance converge.
The 100-mile course navigates a point-to-point route through the San Bernardino National Forest, transitioning through multiple ecological zones as runners descend from alpine environments toward lower desert terrain. The mixed surface includes technical singletrack, fire roads, and brief paved sections, requiring runners to adapt their rhythm and effort across varied footing throughout the race.
Aid station spacing and cutoff times are designed for runners capable of maintaining forward progress through both night periods, with crew access points allowing for gear changes and nutritional adjustments as conditions shift. The course's technical sections demand focus even in states of fatigue, while smoother stretches offer opportunities to bank time and settle into sustainable pacing for the hours ahead.
Location
Practical Info
October brings cooler temperatures to the San Bernardino Mountains, with daytime highs typically in the 60s-70s Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures potentially dropping into the 30s-40s at higher elevations, requiring layering strategies for extended time on course.
ONT - Ontario International Airport
Big Bear Lake offers a range of lodging from budget motels to vacation rentals, with rooms booking quickly around race weekend. Runners should secure accommodations well in advance and consider proximity to both race start logistics and finish line access for crew members.
Best For
Notable Features
The Kodiak 100's inclusion in the UTMB World Series brings international-level race production to California's San Bernardino Mountains, with course marking, aid station standards, and runner tracking meeting the organization's global protocols. The point-to-point format eliminates the psychological challenge of looped courses, though it requires more complex logistics for crews and support teams. The race's October date positions it late in the fall ultra calendar, serving as either a season capstone or a final qualifier for runners targeting UTMB Index points before the year closes.