A Finish Worth the Finish

At Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance, everything we do is guided by a simple idea: we are an all-volunteer, never-for-profit, grassroots organization serving as stewards of the passionate trail running community we’re fortunate to have here in Pennsylvania.

That philosophy shapes our races with Eagleton Trail Challenge, Ironstone 100K, and Eastern States 100 as well as events like SHEastern States and Eastern States: Blackout. We have always believed that if we ask people to give so much of themselves to these events with all he training, the sacrifice, the long hours, the doubts, the choices, the stubborn commitment to keep showing up... then every part of the experience should feel worthy of that effort.

So when we asked what kind of finish line arch we wanted, the answer became clear pretty quickly. We could have gone with the standard sterile metal truss. We could have used the same inflatable arch that appears at everything from local 5Ks to ultramarathons across the country. We could have slapped a sponsor logo on some giant corporate-branded inflatable and called it a day.

But none of that felt like us.

The finish line is not just another piece of race equipment. It is the place where months, and sometimes years, of work, hope, suffering, compromise, and determination finally come to a head. It is where runners arrive carrying the full weight of what it took to get there. That moment deserves more than something generic. It deserves thoughtfulness. It deserves character. It deserves a finish line that reflects the same spirit we try to bring to every event we put on.

So beginning with the Ironstone 100K Class of 2026, and at our events going forward, your finish will be greeted by something we hope is wholly unique, deeply meaningful, and worthy of the journey that brought you there.

And with that, I’d like to share the words of Christopher Esh of The Wooden Buddha, the artist behind this work:

As I thought about how I wanted to accomplish this, I kept coming back to this crazy standing dead maple tree that did about a full twist every 10 feet. It was about 30 feet total with the top snapped off. I’ve been looking at it for over 10 years, trying to figure out what I could do with it. It was too crooked to saw on my sawmill. It was also probably a 1 in a million tree. My intention with the project was unique, gnarly, and special. Just like all the trail runners that make it to the finish line. I had to shape the rough logs with a chainsaw and carve them and sand them. I also had to make it modular and mobile for easy set up and take down. Hence I made a detachable axle to easily move the side towers. The crest was done about half by machine and half by hand. Everything finished in oil for protection. My hope is that this honors the accomplishment of crossing that line after all those miles on those gnarly PA trails!