In the News: Ultramarathon celebrates new sponsors

[The following was published in the Huntingdon Daily News, June 6th, 2025. Below is a copy of the article outside the paywall.]

Huanyuan “Wayne” Shang of Falls Church, Virginia, crossed the finish line of the third annual Ironstone 100K Ultramarathon in 2024. This year’s event is being held in partnership with the Ford Bronco Wild Fund and will begin Saturday, July 12, at Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County.

The Ironstone 100k ultramarathon recently announced new partnerships with the Ford Bronco Wild Fund and the Neighborhood Ford Store.

The 63-mile-long endurance race will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County and go to Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County.

The race is organized by the Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance. Ben Mazur is the race director of the Ironstone 100k and vice president of the alliance.

“The Ironstone 100k is a brutal, soul-crushing nightmare disguised as a race,” said Mazur. “It’s a 100-kilometer slog through the the most punishing desolate trails in the Alleghenies, guaranteed to leave you questioning every life choice that led you here. The suffering starts on usually the hottest day of the year and kicks off in the blistering afternoon heat.”

The Ford Bronco Fund is an initiative that donates a portion of all profits made from Ford Bronco sales and puts it towards environmental preservation and revitalization.

The fund partners with local environmental initiatives to make a difference. Proceeds raised by the Ford Bronco Fund will be split between the Ironstone 100k and the Canoe Creek Park. At Canoe Creek Park, the funding will be used to maintain current trails for year-round use and add a new fitness trail system.

The Neighborhood Ford Store is a network of 77 Ford dealers across western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.

All are invited to Bronco Wild Fund Day, a free outdoor event held from noon to 4 p.m. the day of the race. The event will feature activities for all ages.

Activities will include The Bronco Basecamp, a 9-foot trailer set up as a wilderness experience, a chance for attendees to win a 2025 Ford Bronco and a Bronco owners meetup.

For the Ironstone 100k, landing the sponsorships was the easy part.

“We didn’t have to do anything,” said Mazur. “They called us.”

The ultramarathon itself will present a monumental challenge for participants. This is the Ironstone’s fourth year. The race has become known for its grueling conditions, including rugged and difficult terrain. There will be no pacers and limited aid stations. Participants have 23 hours to complete the race.

The Ironstone 100k stresses that it is not a beginner level race and those who attempt it must have completed at least one official 50k race, or a similarly difficult marathon, before registering.

The Ironstone 100k attracts participants from around the country as well as internationally. In 2024, the race had participants from 15 states and several other countries including Australia and the Philippines.

For more information or updates, those interested can visit the Ironstone 100k’s official website or find them on Instagram and Facebook.