Chuck Wood and Crista Borras

The Larry Schwartz award is part of the UMCA Year-Rounder Challenge. All you need to do is sign up for the Year-Rounder and submit your centuries — we'll do the rest. Centuries can be either Organized centuries or Personal rides that you design yourself (explained below).

Year-Rounder participants receive:

• an e-book Century Tips on training, nutrition, equipment and technique;
• an e-newsletter, sharing tips and stats;
• a bi-monthly Year Rounder column by Crista Borras and Chuck Wood, who ride centuries every weekend;
• a section at ultracycling.com devoted to the best century stories sent in by riders;

If you reach the goal, we'll award you a Larry Schwartz medal.

Although the goal is a century a month, it might be too snowy or icy some months; so we'll allow two make-up rides. For example, if you get snowed out in January, just do two centuries in February.

You don't have to ride alone — UMCA members lead HUB rides in many parts of the country. These are low-key rides — no t-shirts, no catered rest stops - just friends out for a day on the bike. Hub Directory

To get started, download the membership form, fill it out and add in 10 bucks for the Year-Rounder, put on your wool jersey and head out the door! If you're already a UMCA member, use the Registration Form.

The Year-Rounder was inspired by the Big Dog Challenge and honors Larry Schwartz, who finished first in the UMCA Mileage Challenge in 2001, was second in 2002, and was leading in 2003 when he was struck and killed by a school bus. Read about Larry Schwartz, a member of the Ultracycling Hall of Fame.

Rules Summary:
For routing reasons some centuries are just under 100 miles. In the Y-R a century is a ride of 90 - 149 miles.

An "Organized" century is a ride with: a name, designated start/finish location and starting time(s), route plan, organizer, and advance publication of the ride or ride series in club newsletters, etc.

A "Personal" century is a personally designed ride. For credit, you must complete at least 90 miles in a 12-hour period including off the bike time (and maintain an 8.33 mph average after that). Personal centuries provide century-length riding opportunities for riders in seasons or locales where Organized centuries are sparse.

Any Y-R ride counts toward the Larry Schwartz award — brevets, double centuries and ultra events.

The Y-R year is January 1 through December 31. Because up to two make-up rides are allowed for the Larry Schwartz award, riders can still start as late as March.

Riders in any country may participate.

Complete rules and ride submission.

Sign me up! Registration Form

Questions? Contact John Lee Ellis, Y-R chair, year-rounder @ ultracycling.com