About The Shippey Endurance Runs
Our Vision
The Shippey Endurance Runs was created with the focus on the building of community. We say you sign up as a runner but leave us as family. Our focus is giving a high quality event with simple grassroots feel.
This is STL’s Original 100-mile trail ultra!!
Nestled quietly in the rolling wooded hills just outside of Greater St. Louis lies the wonders of the Beaumont Scout Reservation. Here we invite you to partake in a first-hand experience of these “rolling” hills, where, under normal circumstances the general public is not allowed to run the tough and beautiful trail systems within.
The Shippey Endurance Runs, rightly named from the trail color system used by the Scouts, after Merle Shippey a well-respected cog in the scouting community. The Shippey takes you through all aspects of this magnificent wonder by creating an extremely runner, crew and aide friendly race.
No need to chase runners over miles of back roads. Camp indoors 100 yds from the Start-Finish line and the ease of seeing your runner or your crew every 3-5.3 miles The Shippey is minutes from amenities, allowing runners and their crews the ease of re-supply and convenience nearby!!
Come prepared for cold temps but also know that it could be 70 degrees. Weather in St. Louis can flip on a dime!
So, if you want to run on an amazing trail system that will only be open to the public during this event….well, come run with us at The Shippey Endurance Runs!
P.S. the Boy Scout's didn't believe in switchbacks when they built these trails! You have been properly warned!!
The History
The Beginning
Shippey began as an idea to bring together a growing set of trail runners in the St. Louis area early in 2019 by Ryan Maher. The idea was to have a location unique to the area and to the event and in turn it came upon the scout ranch on the borders of St. louis and Jefferson County Missouri. A location founded distance and logistics became the goal as Ryan and Co-RD Jake Grossbauer worked under Crushtown race management to find, connect and create a system of ancient scouting trails to create the perfect loop for a trail and ultra event. It was obvious the trails were unused, disheveled and in complete disarray and the two set a lofty goal of having an event in August of 2019, 5 months after founding. Alot of trial and error the course was set using 5 smaller intermixed legs to create a large 20mile loop having distances of 20mi, 100k, 100mi and 100mi relay. The event was magical but proved this was a tough test for anyone as only 2 of 9 100 milers finished(Eric Buckley and Crystal Schilling) However, the vibe was perfect it was runner and crew friendly, and with minor prep became a hit!
The Evolution
After an initial success the plan was in motion for year two shortly after year one setting out to fine tune the trail and the course altogether with a better perspective of course layout now. However, 2020 reared its ugly head with COVID and led to a year two push into the winter of 2021 and by the time the event neared safety was still of concern so the event was cancelled.
After life calmed down the plans were set for January 2022, focusing on indoor aid stations and leaf blowing vs weed trimming & adding a 20mile relay; the event began cold with a dusting of snow on the ground, warming up and by nightfall rain, rain and more rain ensued as runners slowly dropped by the wayside again. Finish rates plummeted as the course was slick and in the end only 1 100 miler finished, again, Eric Buckley(Mr. Shiippey) Even in horrible conditions the other distances had success and showed there was still potential but maybe the event was under advertised to toughness and elevation.
With plans in place the course was carefully measured and data collected paving way for 2023 where we saw a boom in numbers, added a night 40 miler and even more so great overall weather and 12 finishers in the 100 mile. We also had a new champion in another local, Chris Roberts. The event saw course records in every distance on both female and male sides showing that it was possible to complete it.
New Era
For 2024, Ryan stepped aside taking on personal endeavors as Jake began PR Racing who now hosts the event and others. The event added Jeff Bell of Bellflys Endurance Coaching to the RD mix as we eye the future and growth of the event in the ever changing/ growing world of trail and ultra running. Our course has been solidified, we rotate each year on the directions. The intent is still the same, create an event where runners come as strangers and leave as family building community around this small piece of tough land we call home. What began as a dream has been lived and now it's our time to water it and watch it grow!
