Back in 1986, the idea seemed perfect to local ultramarathon enthusiasts like Roland Martin: Why not use northern Nevada’s abundant trail attributes for a taxing endurance run?

For years, as participation in ultramarathons had grown, northern Nevada ultra runners – particularly those who were entered in the granddaddy of them all, the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run – found themselves living out of their cars each weekend.

To find good ultras, these runners had to drive over Donner Summit each weekend in the spring to northern California locales such as Auburn, Gibson Ranch or the Marin Headlands for trail races.

Why, thought Martin, one of the true ultra pioneers of the area, couldn’t northern Nevada host a similar event? At least for one weekend, local ultra runners could sleep in before racing.