Winona Forest's Chase The Day 24-Hour Trail Ultra

Winona Forest's Chase The Day Trail Ultra is a time-based endurance festival held at the Winona Forest CCC Camp in Mannsville, New York. Scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 16, 2026, the event is designed to be accessible for all skill levels, featuring a non-technical, well-maintained 2.6-mile loop with no significant elevation changes. Participants can choose to run for 6, 12, or 24 hours, focusing on reaching personal milestones or competing for the highest lap count.

Race Format and Timing

The event structure allows runners to move at their own pace, with the primary goal being the accumulation of laps within the chosen time window. For those aiming for elite distance milestones, a custom belt buckle is awarded to anyone completing 100 miles within the 24-hour period.

Category	Start Time	Finish Time	Special Feature
6-Hour Ultra	Saturday @ 8:00 AM	Saturday @ 2:00 PM	Introductory ultra distance.
12-Hour Ultra	Saturday @ 8:00 AM	Saturday @ 8:00 PM	Evening trail experience.
24-Hour Ultra	Saturday @ 8:00 AM	Sunday @ 8:00 AM	100-mile buckle eligible.
3-Person Team	Saturday @ 8:00 AM	Sunday @ 8:00 AM	Flexible relay/group format.

Course and Terrain

The 2.6-mile loop is characterized by its "smooth" profile, specifically maintained to be free of common trail obstacles like roots and rocks. This makes it an ideal course for runners attempting their first ultramarathon or those looking to set a personal record in a timed format. Pacers: Allowed for 24-hour runners only, starting at 8:00 PM (12 hours into the race). Environment: Dense forest trails that provide shade during the day and a "starlit" atmosphere for night runners. Weather: Expected temperatures range from lows in the 40s°F at night to highs in the upper 60s°F during the day.

Logistical Support and Camping

The event is capped at 100 participants to maintain a community atmosphere. Aid Stations: One main manned station at the Start/Finish area provides Tailwind electrolyte replacement and hot food options throughout the 24 hours. The race is 100% cup-free. Base Camp: Participants can set up personal aid stations (tents, chairs, tables) right along the course-line at the Start/Finish staging area starting Friday evening. Camping: Primitive camping is allowed at the CCC Camp area for participants. Campervans and small RVs are permitted in the parking areas, though no hookups are available. Swag: A custom "Chase the Day" hoodie is guaranteed for all registrations received by May 2.

Team Strategy

The 3-person team category is exclusive to the 24-hour duration. Teams have complete flexibility in how they accumulate laps: they can run in a relay format (one person at a time), run together to count three laps simultaneously, or use any other combination. The team with the highest total lap count by Sunday at 8:00 AM is declared the winner.

Schedule Packet Pick-up: Friday, May 15 (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM) or Saturday, May 16 (starting at 6:30 AM). Race Briefing: Saturday @ 7:45 AM. Start: Saturday @ 8:00 AM.