Big Bear Lake, California is about to become the center of the North American ultra running world. From October 8 to 11, 2026, the HOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will take over the San Bernardino Mountains, bringing five race distances, serious qualification stakes, and free live coverage to one of the most compelling events on the UTMB World Series Americas calendar.
Whether you're lining up to race or watching from home, here's everything you need to know before the start gun fires.
Where, When, and What the Race Actually Is
The Kodiak Ultra sits within the UTMB World Series, the global circuit that feeds into the legendary Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc held each August in Chamonix, France. The Americas leg of that series has been growing steadily, and Kodiak is positioned as one of its flagship events.
Big Bear Lake isn't a random backdrop. At roughly 6,750 feet in elevation, the base altitude alone is enough to challenge runners who aren't acclimatized to high-altitude effort. Add technical singletrack, exposed ridgelines, and October weather that can swing unpredictably in the San Bernardino Mountains, and you're looking at a course that earns its place in the ultra canon.
The event runs across four days, with different races staggered to manage field size and logistics on the trails. That structure also means spectators and support crews get multiple opportunities to follow athletes across the weekend rather than one compressed day of racing.
Five Distances, One Mountain
Kodiak Ultra offers five race distances, making it accessible to a wider range of trail runners without watering down the challenge at the top end. The full lineup hasn't been finalized in every detail at time of publishing, but the centerpiece is the 100-mile race, which is the distance that carries the most weight in terms of UTMB qualification.
Running 100 miles at altitude, over demanding terrain, is exactly the kind of test the UTMB World Series is designed to surface. Finishing times at high-altitude 100-milers are significantly slower than sea-level ultras of the same distance, and the physiological demand scales accordingly. Studies on altitude performance consistently show that aerobic capacity drops by roughly 1 to 3 percent per 1,000 feet above sea level, which means runners at Big Bear are operating under meaningfully compressed oxygen availability from the first step.
Shorter distances at Kodiak give runners who aren't ready for the full 100 a legitimate race experience on the same trails. That matters because the quality of a course often defines the quality of training it produces. Racing on high-altitude singletrack, even at 50K or 50 miles, builds a specific kind of resilience that road ultras simply don't replicate.
If you're thinking about how to fuel across multiple distances and terrain types, the principles covered in Cross-Training Nutrition: What You Actually Need to Eat apply directly. Macro timing and carbohydrate strategy at altitude are different from flat-course racing, and getting that dialed before October is worth the effort.
What's at Stake: UTMB Qualification and Running Stones
This is where Kodiak becomes genuinely high-stakes for competitive ultra runners. Top finishers at the 2026 race earn direct qualification spots for the 2027 UTMB World Series Finals. That means a podium performance in California can put you on a start list in Chamonix. For runners building toward UTMB, that's a significant shortcut through what is otherwise a competitive and points-heavy qualification process.
Beyond direct spots, the race also awards double Running Stones to finishers. Running Stones are the UTMB World Series points currency, and doubling them at Kodiak means every finish, not just the podium, carries extra qualification weight. For runners who are grinding through the World Series circuit to accumulate enough points for their target race distance at UTMB, double Stones at a single event can shift the math considerably.
The UTMB World Series Finals draw elite fields from across every continent. Earning your place through a domestic race on American soil, rather than traveling to Europe for points, makes the pathway more accessible for North American athletes who've historically had fewer regional options on the World Series circuit.
The growth of trail racing in terms of both field size and competitive depth is visible across the calendar. Events like the Geneva Marathon 2026, which drew 27,500 runners, reflect a broader surge in participation that's also lifting the ultra and trail segments. Kodiak is part of that wave, and the qualification stakes attached to it are a direct response to demand from serious athletes who want a clear path to the sport's biggest stage.
Free Live Coverage on DAZN
One of the most practically significant things about Kodiak Ultra 2026 is how you can watch it. DAZN will broadcast live coverage of the event at no cost to viewers. That makes Kodiak one of the most accessible elite ultra events of the year.
Live coverage of ultra marathons has historically been limited, fragmented, or locked behind subscription paywalls. The UTMB World Series has been pushing toward broader broadcast reach, and partnering with DAZN for free streaming is a meaningful step. You don't need a cable package or a sports streaming subscription to follow the race. You need a DAZN account, which is free to create.
For the ultra running community specifically, live coverage matters because these races unfold over hours and sometimes days. The 100-mile field at Kodiak will have runners on course well into the night and potentially into the following day. Streaming coverage that captures key moments across that window, including night racing and dawn finishes, gives viewers something that highlight reels can't replicate.
Hydration strategy becomes critical when you're watching athletes perform over that kind of duration, and the same logic applies to your own training leading into October. Pre-workout hydration has to start well before you train, and at altitude, where dehydration accelerates, that window extends further than most runners expect.
The Course Environment and What It Demands
Big Bear Lake sits in the San Bernardino National Forest, a protected landscape that supports serious trail running while also presenting the kind of terrain that punishes under-prepared athletes. The area features rocky singletrack, significant elevation change, and exposure to weather systems that can bring cold temperatures and wind even in early October.
The environmental impact of large trail events is worth understanding as a runner. Research into trail erosion and ecological impact has become more rigorous, and what trail runners actually do to the trails they love is a nuanced picture. Responsible race organizations and informed athletes make better decisions about route design, timing, and post-race restoration. UTMB World Series events operate under protocols designed to minimize that impact, but knowing the science matters.
From a training standpoint, if you're targeting Kodiak 2026, the preparation window from now is meaningful. Altitude adaptation, technical terrain training, and night running experience all need to be built progressively. Showing up fit from road or flat trail racing isn't enough. The course will expose specific weaknesses that only mountain-specific preparation addresses.
Who Should Be Watching This Race
Kodiak Ultra by UTMB 2026 has a clear audience beyond the athletes on the start line. Trail runners who are building toward UTMB qualification over the next few seasons should track this race carefully. The double Running Stones structure means it's one of the higher-yield single events on the Americas calendar for points accumulation.
Runners curious about the ultra scene but not yet ready to race at this level will find the free DAZN coverage a legitimate entry point into understanding what 100-mile racing actually looks like. The tactics, pacing decisions, and crew dynamics visible in live coverage are educational in a way that post-race recaps don't capture.
And if you're interested in how major trail events are evolving in terms of inclusion and design, the trajectory is worth following. Trail racing is getting more serious about women's-specific course design and race structures, and events like Kodiak reflect that shift across the UTMB World Series.
Key Details at a Glance
- Dates: October 8 to 11, 2026
- Location: Big Bear Lake, California
- Series: UTMB World Series for the Americas
- Qualification: Direct spots to the 2027 UTMB World Series Finals for top finishers
- Points: Double Running Stones awarded to finishers
- Coverage: Free live streaming on DAZN
October in the San Bernardino Mountains is going to be worth your attention. Whether you're racing, training toward a future start line, or simply tracking where ultra running is headed, Kodiak Ultra by UTMB 2026 is one of the season's defining events.