Added in 1975, the third stage of the race is an eight-mile (13 km) foot race down the Mount Baker Highway, from the upper Mount Baker ski area to the Shuksan Department of Transportation station. The runners drop over two thousand feet in elevation. To further the difficulties, the racers are running on hard asphalt. The running leg has been the most unchanged of the events. The first two years' running leg was five miles (8 km) long. The third year running was seven miles (11 km). The fourth year, in 1979, the running leg was extended to eight miles (13 km) and has remained unchanged since that time.