Ultrarunner Greg Salveson recently completed Vermont’s grueling Infinitus 888K trail race, finishing a mindboggling 25 hours ahead of the cutoff.
It was Salveson’s third time completing the 551-mile trail race.
A Massachusetts native who currently lives in California, Salveson endured wild fluctuations in conditions during the race, with hot and humid days that knocked runners out when they became overheated and dehydrated, and violent thunderstorms that saw temperatures plummet, with some racers being rescued with hypothermia.
Infinitus is an event organized by the Endurance Society and features a variety of rugged trail races. Race distances start with a 9-miler and then go up to a marathon, an 88K, a 100-miler, a penta-marathon (five marathons in five days), a deca-marathon (10 marathons in 10 days), a 250-miler, and, of course, the 888K.
The course is shaped like an infinity symbol, with two connected loops—a short loop and a long loop. The short loop is just over 9 miles and features nearly 2,000 feet of elevation gain. The long loop is more than 17 miles and has more than 2,500 feet of elevation gain. Runners alternate each loop, with some variation at the end depending on the length of their race.
Along the way, runners must contend with the rugged topography of the Green Mountains. The short loop is notorious for its steep, leg-torching climbs, while the long loop is known for wearing down runners. Rocks, roots, and mud are a constant threat to feet and ankles.
Runners taking on the 888K have 10 days (a strict 240-hour cutoff) to complete the course.
To complete the 888K, Salveson had to endure a total elevation gain of roughly 100,000 feet.
— Dan Mathers
