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Florida Ultramarathon July 2026 Race Results and Highlights
- BobbieJoe Derhak
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Race directors in July do not go easy on Florida runners, throwing everything at them from exposed loops and sugar sand to courses that cover nearly every type of Florida terrain in one event. Mother Nature joins in with heavy doses of sunlight, oppressive humidity and torrential downpours.
And the runners answer with course-record-breaking performances, personal PRs and plenty of stories of grit and determination. It takes a lot of strength, courage and ice to be a Florida ultrarunner in the summer, and July proved we have all three.
We kicked things off in Vero Beach with the Octopus Ultra, which offers distances starting with the 5K. But the gem of this race is the 100 miler. The course features eight “arms,” each offering its own unique challenge over varied terrain. It is easily one of the hardest 100 milers in Florida.
After finishing second last year, Mitchell Backer returned to take the win and set a new course record of 18:25:27, shaving about 90 minutes off the previous record held by Mike Musso. Eric Kalina finished second, close enough behind to give Backer the push he needed to keep up the pace.
On the women’s side, Lindsey Vera continued her stellar year with a win in 26:23:21, the fourth-fastest female time in the race’s seven editions.
The race also featured a 100K, where both Joseph Maldonado Figueroa (12:46:53) and Melinda Smith (13:59:01) set new course records. Melinda is no stranger to the course, having finished third in the 100 miler last year.
For all distances and results, click here.
Next, we head to Orlando for the Lake Baldwin 50K. This free Fat Ass race is more fun run than grueling competition, though plenty of runners come out to show their speed on the flat, paved trail surrounding the lake.
In true Fat Ass style, there is no official aid, though race director Diane Romero-Lopez provided water, electrolytes and light snacks. There is no entry fee and no bling, aside from special awards for the top three men and women.
On the men’s side, Andrew Kelly took the win in 4:20:57. Joanne Fischer Gomez won the women’s race in 5:14:34. Joanne is a familiar sight at Lake Baldwin and has landed on the podium many times.
There is no official signup for this race. If you want to run it next year, simply show up and put your name down.
Lake Baldwin 50K is the first of three races that make up the Florida Summer Slam. The others are the Durty Beer Run in August and the Pinellas Trail Challenge over Labor Day weekend. All three races, and the challenge itself, are free to enter.
Up in Jacksonville, Sombrero Running hosted the Sombrero Sizzler, a short-loop timed event with options ranging from three to 12 hours, including RUCK divisions. There truly is something for everyone at this race.
First-time race director Emily Quintanilla led the festivities, keeping runners safe, hydrated and entertained. The exposed course and high temperatures couldn’t slow these athletes down, with multiple course records falling, including the men’s and women’s 12-hour, women’s 9-hour, and men’s and women’s 6-hour records.
There were some big miles in the 12-hour. Matt Mueller ran 68.75 miles, beating second place by 7.5 miles and the previous course record by almost nine miles.
Cason Zylinski also ran 68.75 miles to set the women’s record, with second and third place also surpassing the previous course record of 57.5 miles. Cason has an impressive ultrarunning resume, with top finishes in nearly every race she has attempted.
Sombrero Sizzler took place on the same day as the Skunk Ape Night Run in Dade City. The race is roughly 18 miles of trail with a light entry fee and a potluck dinner. Sombrero and Skunk Ape offered a special “woodel” to anyone who completed both events.
One runner managed to snag the prize. Dustin Hampton became the first finisher of The Skunk Ape Sizzler Challenge.
July Ultramarathons in Florida Will Test Every Bit of You
For those who wanted to really suffer, the race to do it at was The Trident.
Held on the sugar sand dunes of Jupiter Ridge Natural Area, The Trident tests the spirit of even the mightiest warriors. New this year was the 102-mile Ciento Dos. Of the 17 runners who started, only four completed the challenge, with Justin Boyle winning in 29:05:48.
This was Justin’s third race in three weeks. As the Florida Ultrarunning 2025 Rookie of the Year, Justin is proving there is no sophomore slump. Melissa Witt was the lone female finisher, completing the 102 miles in 33:20:59.
The main event of The Trident in past years has been Immolation. The premise sounds simple: run one 3.3-mile loop every hour, on the hour, for 24 hours. But there are a few twists.
Beginning at midnight (the race starts at noon) elimination begins for runners who thought simply making the loop in time was enough. Second-chance “Phoenix Coins” are awarded to runners who make it past the 12-hour mark and can be redeemed to save themselves or another runner.
The winner is determined by adding together each runner’s lap times for all 24 laps, or roughly 80 miles. Lowest accumulated time wins.
Three athletes completed the full challenge this year, with Marc Burget besting his own previous course record in extreme fashion, finishing with an accumulated time of 12:35:34. At 52 years old, Marc appears to be defying both age and time.
For more info on the man behind the Trident, check out our 20 Questions With Race Director Mikey Bee.
With August races completed, some runner's took on the extra challenge of the Terrible Trilogy. Runner's are invited to pick any distance to run at Vero Beach Octopus Ultra and The Trident as well as the Skunk Ape Night Run. Complete your chosen races in a back-to-back-to-back trail challenge and earn some major summer running bragging rights and a custom award. Congrats to those that completed the challenge!
Justin Boyle
Kay Trager
Brian Mulrooney
Mandy Venables
In addition to races in Florida, we had a handful of talented runners take on the grueling Badwater135 in Death Valley, California. Congrats to all the athletes that toed the line.
Nicholas Cerbone 31:29:39
Nicole Coccia 33:29:32
Robert Cory 39:04:38
Amy Costa 40:18:59
Bradley Hamilton DNF however just starting is cause of celebration!
Another Set of MidSummer Races in the Books
Florida ultramarathons in July gave us a little bit of everything: pavement, trails, short loops, sugar sand, daytime heat, nighttime miles and more than a few thunderstorms. But what stands out most isn't how difficult these races were. It's what Florida runners did with them.
Records fell, runners returned to improve on past performances, first-time race directors stepped up, and athletes kept moving through conditions that would send plenty of people searching for the nearest air conditioner.
Looking ahead to August, there is no relief from the heat, and Florida's summer race season isn't finished yet. Runner's will be headed to the Durty Beer Run as their next stop on the Summer Slam with some other fun challenges during the month. We'll be watching to see what Florida ultrarunners do next.
For a look at the top results from July's races as well as some tips for visitors from out of state click here.
