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I'm Simon, a trail runner, and I built Kliva out of passion for the sport. Kliva is a trail race planner: from the course trace, each runner builds a roadbook plus a pacing and fueling plan, then sends it to their Garmin watch through our app (https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/2c12ea58-74ad-49df-9099-0b76a48f3f1d). It's free.

Alongside the planner, Kliva keeps the largest independent, free trail-race calendar, with more than 33,000 races across 12,000 events, and many more to come. Tahoe Midnight Express Ultra 72 has its page there, with the profile, the dates, and the registration link: https://kliva.run/en/races/tahoe-midnight-express-ultra-72-2026

          The 72 Mile Tahoe Midnight  Express 

 

Saturday-Sunday 9:00 pm Saturday evening start 
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Meet the Ring Master inside the lobby by the front desk at 8:15 PM for questions—bibs, etc. The start will be under the Golden Nugget sign on H50 at 9 PM.
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Parking is free for one hour, then free with validation by spending approximately $25. 

 

The 72 Mile Tahoe Midnight Express starts Saturday at 9:00 pm from the Valet Parking area of the Golden Nugget Casino Hotel and ends at Lakeside Beach, joining the Marathoners and other races. You will run counter-clockwise around Lake Tahoe. The race has an 18-hour time limit, with official timing ending at 3:00 pm on Sunday. There will be an orientation meeting 5 PM on Saturday, where you will pick up your runner's singlet,  t-shirt, and race bib. We can arrange earlier starts to accommodate the 3 PM finish line closing.

 

Nine-, ten-, and eleven-hour finishers should start closer to midnight so you can use the marathon aid stations for your last 26 miles and arrive at the finish line after it is ready to celebrate your completion.

(See timeline for details).

 

The first 48 miles will be unsupported (until mile 2 of the Lake Tahoe Marathon), meaning all runners must provide their support vehicle and crew. Support vehicle personnel will be allowed to support up to 3 runners maximum. The first few miles will have streetlights as you go through Round Hill and Zephyr Cove. The course is on the road, with a few bike paths to use when possible, but it has narrow shoulders in several places, especially the tunnel at Cave Rock (about 40 yards long) and the stretch between Glenbrook and Spooner Summit.

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A new bike path branches off the road at the Sand Harbor boat entrance. You could step over the green gate and run on the bike path off of H28. It is about 3 miles to Incline Village. DON'T DUCK UNDER THE HIGHWAY, where the bike path ducks under the highway in a tunnel after about two miles. Instead, keep the lake on your left, go back up to H28, and continue along H28 until the Lakeshore Blvd left turn. (If you turn right and go under H28, you'll go uphill quite a bit and miss Lakeshore Blvd. Be an A student and check Google Maps ahead of time.

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You could also join the bike path 1/4 mile north in the parking pullout.

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Always keep the Lake on your left. When you get to Tahoe City, a fork in the road will take you to Truckee if you are half asleep. Take H89 to the left. Don't go to Truckee. Cross the river by crossing over the new Fanny Bridge.  

 

All runners for the 72-miler MUST wear night-reflecting gear, flashing lights that approaching cars can't miss, and a headlamp. Runners who show up at the start line without these lights will not be part of this event.

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Contact the RD at the orientation meeting if you need to start earlier. We want you to finish what you started! If you finish after 3 PM, text in your time and ask for your bling.

If you need to start earlier, start on an even hour. 3 PM, 4 PM, 5 PM,, etc. Take a selfie at the start line and text it to Buzz at 925-250-2478

 

No whiners or woosies, please! Just get it done. And don't feed the bears!

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Event record:

Jon Olson ran the 3rd best time ever for the 72-mile Ultra on September 30, 2012

9:22:37.

The second-best time around the lake goes to Spear (Ron) Kronlage, who ran 9:15:03 in 1983, when the race was called the Pepsi of Reno 72 Mile Lake Tahoe Run. 

Rae Clark ran the fastest 72 miler back in 1982 at 9:06:11.

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 See the MapMyRun.com  route map and elevation profile here!

 

Carpooling & Adoption Requests

If your crew  would like to adopt a runner or you would like to be adopted, your name and email will be listed here:

1. 

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Awards

  • 5" stand-up Finishers Medal for your desk

  • Race bag

  • License plate holder

  • Marathon finishers' neck medal

  • Overall trophy for male and female

 

Included in your run

  • Event T-shirt

  • Racing Singlet

  • Insurance

  • Finish Line hoopla

  • New friends

  • A Saturday night and Sunday morning run you will never forget

 

Contact the Ring Master
 
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