Doubly dirty

So, you killed it at Kennebec, crushed it at Kendall and cruised at Imogene. What’s a badass local ultra trail runner to do with the rest of his or her summer? Why, the Silverton Double Dirty 30 of course.

The newest entrant into the local trail running scene, the SDD30 comes to Silverton on Sat., Sept. 24. The 100k (or roughly 62 mile) trail race will offer runners more than 11,000 feet of elevation gain, “high alpine trails, golden foliage and sweeping views of Colorado’s largest mountain range.”

“Start your morning off right, with the sounds of the Animas River at your side as the morning twilight tickles the cascading water while you run along the famous historic Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad,” reads the race’s website.

The motto of the race is “Go BIG or go home!” but as Race Director Megan Finnesy explains, it’s not a form of macho runner intimidation. Rather, the race is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado (a portion of proceeds will also benefit search and rescue). Her goal is to raise $75,000 for the organization through a combination of corporate sponsorship, fundraising by runners and a contribution from race proceeds.

Finnesy is a big fan of giving back to the community, which is why SDD30 also volunteered for trail work with Trails 2000 earlier this summer. Done in conjunction with runners from the Hardrock 100 – volunteer trail work is a requisite for entry in both races and also earns Hardrock hopefuls extra lottery chances – crews worked on the Engineer Mountain and Rico Silverton trails in early July.

Trails 2000 and both endurance race groups plan to partner together again in 2017.

For more info, go to: dirty30.org/silverton/