Kissing Bridge Debuts Summit Survivor Backyard Ultra with Coach Eric Orton

Kissing Bridge Debuts Summit Survivor Backyard Ultra with Coach Eric Orton

New self-supported, last-runner-standing race brings a fast-growing ultramarathon format to the hills of Western New York on October 3, with support from The Runner's Roost

GLENWOOD, N.Y. — Kissing Bridge Ski Resort today announced the launch of the Summit Survivor Backyard Ultra, a new self-supported endurance race set for Saturday, October 3, developed in partnership with ultrarunning coach Eric Orton. The event, developed in collaboration with local running retailer The Runner's Roost, will bring one of the fastest-growing formats in endurance sports to Kissing Bridge's trail network, pairing a demanding hourly loop with a festival-style celebration for runners and spectators alike.

Ultrarunning has moved from niche to mainstream over the past two decades. Average ultramarathon participation grew roughly 6.5% year-over-year in 2025, outpacing overall race growth, and one recent industry analysis found ultra-distance events posting growth of over 15% in the same period. Demand for marquee ultras has surged even faster: lottery entries for iconic 100-mile races now regularly outnumber available spots by 20 to 1 or more. Kissing Bridge and Eric Orton see the format as a natural next step for a region already known for its trail and ski communities.

A Race Against Yourself

At its core, organizers say, the race isn't really about who's fastest — it's about conquering hard things. Every lap a runner completes is its own win, a chance to test what they believe they're capable of, regardless of pace or place. The event is open to all ages and competitive levels, from first-time trail runners to seasoned ultramarathoners, each measuring the day against their own limits rather than the runner next to them. Still, the format crowns one Summit Survivor: if the race produces a finisher, that runner's name is engraved on the event's perpetual trophy, on permanent public display at Kissing Bridge.

How the Race Works

The race follows the "backyard ultra" format popularized by endurance events across the country: runners complete a 3-mile loop, starting and finishing at the base of the mountain, every 60 minutes, beginning when the event clock sounds at 8:00 a.m. Anyone who fails to finish a lap within the hour, or chooses not to continue, is out. The event carries on, hour after hour, with the field advancing to a 12th lap starting at 7:00 p.m., until only one runner remains, with no separate categories by gender or age. As with any true backyard ultra, it's also possible that no one completes a final lap alone, in which case the inaugural race will crown no winner.

The race is self-supported: Kissing Bridge will provide water at a base-camp aid station, and runners are responsible for bringing their own nutrition and gear between laps. Every entrant receives a custom long-sleeve cotton shirt — already a sought-after collector's item in the trail running community — with guaranteed sizing for anyone registered at least 14 days before race day.

Registration and Race-Day Celebration

Registration is now open, with pricing and details available online at [REGISTRATION LINK]. Race weekend kicks off with packet pickup, followed by an 8:00 a.m. Saturday start, and wraps with an 8:30 p.m. after-party featuring live music, food, and family-friendly activities — including disc golf and the resort's climbing wall — for spectators cheering runners on lap after lap.

The Runner's Roost, a Western New York running retailer and community hub, is supporting the event's launch and helping connect Kissing Bridge with area runners and running groups.

Coming Home to the Hills

For Eric Orton, the event is also something of a homecoming. Orton grew up in the Springville area and first started running on Kissing Bridge's hills as a kid, long before he went on to coach elite athletes and become known nationally through "Born to Run."

"These hills taught me how to run before I ever knew there was a name for it. This race isn't really about beating anyone else — it's about finding out what you're capable of, one lap at a time. Every runner who lines up, no matter their age or ability, gets to have that experience," said Eric Orton, coach of Born to Run.

"We wanted our first year to be simple, credible, and true to what this sport is about — one course, one clock, and one winner," said Matt Thomas, General Manager of Kissing Bridge. "Eric grew up running these hills, and partnering with him to bring a real ultra race back to the mountain is a natural fit for Kissing Bridge."

About Kissing Bridge

Kissing Bridge is a four-season mountain resort in Western New York, offering skiing and riding in winter and trail-based recreation, events, and mountain activities throughout the rest of the year. The resort has increasingly grown into a year-round destination, supported by an expanding lineup of recreation, arts, wellness, and community offerings.

About Born to Run

Eric Orton is the coach behind Born to Run, the running program built around the natural-running and strength methods he developed over decades of coaching. Orton first gained international recognition as the coach featured in Christopher McDougall's Born to Run, the No. 1 running book of all time and a four-year New York Times bestseller, and the two later teamed up again on Born to Run 2: The Ultimate Training Guide. Orton is also the author of The Cool Impossible, published in seven languages across 15 countries, and is the former Director of Fitness at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, he coaches runners from recreational athletes to elite ultramarathoners, leads running camps and clinics worldwide, and reaches a growing global running audience through his Born to Run coaching platform and social channels.

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