Runners in the Truckee-Tahoe region will have plenty of options for competing this weekend with a pair of events slated for Saturday, Aug. 5, ranging from a 5,000-foot ascent to a 50-kilometer ultra marathon.

Ascent Runs will host the finale of the three-part Tahoe Dirt & Vert Series with a race featuring more than 5,000 feet of climbing from Carson City, Nevada, up to Snow Valley Peak above Lake Tahoe, and then back to the finish line at Carson City; while in Truckee, Tahoe Mountain Sports will host the third annual Sierra Crest 50K and 30K Ultra Run and 15K Fun Run.

The Sierra Crest Ultra Run will benefit the Auburn Ski Club’s Training Center Biathlon Programs.

The 30-kilometer and 50-kilometer races start at Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center end at the Auburn Ski Club Training Center at Boreal Mountain Resort.

The 50-kilometer course features 4,660 feet of elevation gain and 4,125 feet of loss; while the 30-kilometer route has 3,493 feet of gain and 2,948 feet of loss.

The course will take runners on single-track trails between Truckee and Donner Summit.

This year’s race will be the largest yet for the Sierra Crest Ultra Run with more than 200 runners registered as of Thursday, Aug. 3, according to Race Director Megan Seifert, with more expected as race day approaches.

“Our permit max last year was 200 and we hit 200,” Seifert said. “We had to cap it right at the very end. This year our permit was moved to 300 people.”

The U.S. Forrest Service issues the permits, and according to Seifert, wants to see race organizers show they can handle larger and larger crowds of runners on the trails in order to receive permits to allow for larger fields of runners.

“We proved that we could make it happen safely without too much impact to the trails,” Seifert said.

Truckee runners Nick Sterling and Hudson Verbeck were the top two overall finishers in last year’s 50-kilometer race, with Sterling finishing the course with at time of 4 hours, 11 minutes, 8 seconds.

Kati Clark, of Truckee, won the women’s race with a time of 5:23:49. Both Clark and Sterling are scheduled to return this year to defend their titles.

Seifert said this year’s course will be different than last year, with the routes utilizing more of the Auburn Ski Club’s summer trail system.

Registration for the race can still be done on Friday, Aug. 4, at Tahoe Mountain Sports and on race day. Cost for the 50-kilometer race is $150, the 30-kilometer race is $130, and the 15-kilomoter distance is $35.

Down in Carson City, the Capital Climb will begin at 6 a.m. at the Brewery Arts Center and will take runners on dirt trails and roads to Snow Valley Peak at an elevation of 9,218 feet, before returning down the mountain to the finish line at the Brewery Arts Center. The course is 21 miles long and has over 5,000 feet of climbing. Online registration for the race is closed, but race day registration will be available from 5 a.m. to 5:45 a.m. for $95. There will be an awards ceremony after the race for the winners and overall series winners.

Mathew Morales, of Visalia, California, has the series lead on the men’s side with a first-place finish in the series opener, according to AscentRuns.com, with the second race being canceled due to snowmelt.

Jessica Brazeau, of Reno leads the women’s side after winning the first race, which was held in Genoa, Nevada.

For more information visit AscentRuns.com

Looking ahead, Big Blue Adventure will host the Marlette 50K & 10 Miler Trail Run at Lake Tahoe State Park, taking runners on a course around Marlette Lake and Spooner Lake.

Registration for the 50-kilometer race costs $95 before Aug. 11 and $105 on race day. The 10-mile race costs $67 and jumps to $75 on race day.

To register visit TahoeTrailRunning.com.