The Void

What is The Void?

The Void is a 48-hour, out-and-back endurance challenge run entirely inside an abandoned tunnel. Runners will complete 63 out-and-backs through the 1.3-mile corridor, totaling just under 160 miles—one of many deliberate nods to the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike. When America’s First Superhighway opened, it stretched 160 miles from Carlisle to Irwin. This tunnel was part of that vision. Now, it’s something else entirely. The physical challenge is simple and unrelenting: 160 miles of pavement. An opportunity to quit every 2.5 miles. The psychological challenge is where the race earns its name. The tunnel has no interior lighting. For two days, runners move in and out of darkness—again and again—guided only by their headlamp, their discipline, and their willingness to continue. There is no scenery. No variation. No distraction. Just repetition, isolation, and choice. This is not a race against others. This is a negotiation with yourself.

Overview

The Void strips ultrarunning down to its most essential—and unforgiving—form. There is no scenery. No variation. No relief. You run from one end to the other, turn around a cone, and go back the way you came. Again. And again. And again. If you’re looking to be pampered, distracted, or entertained, you are going down the wrong hole. The Void takes place inside Sideling Hill Tunnel, a Pennsylvania Turnpike relic steeped in unfinished ambition and quiet abandonment. Originally constructed in the 1880s by the Vanderbilt Syndicate to rival the Pennsylvania Railroad, the tunnel was never completed—earning the name Vanderbilt’s Folly. In the 1940s, it was repurposed and finished for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, becoming the longest tunnel on America’s First Superhighway. Abandoned in 1968, it now sits cold, dark, and silent as part of the Old Turnpike Trail. For this race, the darkness will be maddening. The Void is a 48-hour, out-and-back ultramarathon run entirely inside the tunnel. Runners will complete 63 out-and-backs through the 1.3-mile corridor, totaling just under 160 miles—a deliberate nod to the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike. When America’s First Superhighway opened, it stretched 160 miles from Carlisle to Irwin. The physical challenge is straightforward and relentless: 160 miles of pavement and an opportunity to quit every 2.5 miles. The psychological challenge is where the race earns its name. The tunnel has no interior lighting, forcing runners to exist in repeated darkness for two days. There is no variation. No outside stimulus. No escape from the rhythm. There is no exit. Only forward. And back.

Structure, Format and Rules

The Void is unlike any endurance event you might have participated, or had nightmares about. The Void's structure, format and rules is very unique. See https://www.runthevoid.com/format-and-rules for all the details.

The Toll Ticket System

To reinforce the psychological and strategic nature of The Void, the race employs a Toll Ticket system inspired by Pennsylvania Turnpike toll tickets. At check-in, each runner is issued a physical Toll Ticket. This ticket governs how often a runner may leave the tunnel to access support during the race. The Toll Ticket system is not meant to make the race fairer. It is meant to make it harder. Success at The Void will depend not only on endurance, but on discipline, planning, and the ability to resist the urge to exit when it feels necessary—rather than strategic. Read more about the Toll Ticket System: https://www.runthevoid.com/toll-ticket-system

Before you Enter The Void, Read our Qualifications

All participants must complete an application, which will be reviewed by the race directors for entry consideration. While we will consider any applicant who makes a strong case for their abilities and preparedness, priority will be given to runners with demonstrated extreme endurance experience, as this reduces subjectivity in the selection process. We strongly recommend that applicants have completed at least one 100-mile ultramarathon, backyard ultra, FKT, or comparable extreme endurance event within three years of the registration date. Applicants with this experience will be weighted more heavily during the selection process. The event is limited to 96 participants.