A highway that lives in our memories and a disease that steals them will take center stage Nov. 11-13 when dozens of endurance athletes from around the country gather on fabled Route 66 for a 140-mile run in honor of one of their own.
Legendary ultimate endurance athlete Marshall Ulrich of Evergreen, CO, who has run more than 130 ultramarathons averaging 125 miles or more, is organizing the
Route 66 UltraRun that will proceed west from Seligman, AZ, in honor of two causes important to him: Alzheimer’s, the disease that afflicts his close friend and fellow endurance athlete Mark Macy, and historic Route 66 itself.
“Our inspiration is always and forever Stray Dog (endurance racing team) Mark Macy as he continues his fight against this horrible disease with the loving support of his wife, Pam, and his family,” said Ulrich.
Ulrich noted that the Route 66 UltraRun will be donating a portion of every entry fee to the Alzheimer’s Association, which is committed to eliminating Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research while providing care and support for all affected.
Ulrich and Macy, who both reside in Evergreen, formed the Stray Dogs ultra endurance team with several other athletes in 1995, competing together in events around the world before Macy’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s. Even after that, they both competed in the World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji.
The Route 66 connection
The other cause that will benefit from the Route 66 UltraRun is The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of the highway and the memories along the route.
“The Mother Road,” as it has come to be known, has been the site of one of the most storied ultra endurance events in American history: the Bunion Derby in 1928, a 3,400-mile race from Los Angeles to New York City.
Route 66 UltraRun
The 2022 Route 66 UltraRun is expected to be the first in a series of runs along the historic route. It will be capped at 100 participants with a race cutoff of 60 hours. Route 66 scenic highlights will include the Giganticus Headicus, a 14-foot-tall Tiki head in Antares; burros in the streets of Oatman, the Grand Canyon caverns and much more.
“Route 66 has become a symbol of the American people’s heritage of travel and their legacy of seeking a better life,” Ulrich said. “This race recognizes and celebrates the history of the Mother Road, the boom years of family road trips after WWII, and its decline after the interstate system bypassed mom-and-pop motels, restaurants and shops.”
Alzheimer’s disease & Macy
A 69-year-old former trial attorney and ultra endurance athlete since 1986, Macy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. Since that time, he and his wife have participated in Alzheimer’s Association educational programs and support groups, and have looked to the Association for support. Macy is one of 76,000 Coloradans, 150,000 Arizonans and 6.5 million people across the country living with the incurable disease.
For more information on the programs and services provided at no charge by the Alzheimer’s Association, go to
alz.org or call the Association’s free 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia.™ For more information, visit www.alz.org or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.