Your First 50K or 50-Mile?
Compare Each Endurance Challenge Race | Compare Endurance Challenge Races to Other Ultras | Video: Tackling the Downhills | Athlete Tip - Mountain Race Course | Athlete Tip - Running in the Dark | Athlete Tip - Running in the Cold
Compare Each Endurance Challenge Race: 50K & 50-Mile Comparison
Overall Difficulty – Ranked from most difficult to least:1. Bear Mountain, NY: Relentlessly steep – potentially the most difficult 50-miler east of the Mississippi and definitely one of the most challenging in the country.
2. San Francisco, CA: Fire road sections and stunning scenery offset the fact that this is a bear of a course: relentless ups and downs, with some very technical sections.
3. Seattle-Bellingham, WA: Big climbs, steep sections, and dicey mud combine to make this a true test.
4. Madison, WI: Rarely a flat spot, with rollers that will always tax the calves or quadriceps – very run-able stretches will make road-runners feel right at home.
5. Washington, DC: Along with Madison, a great first-time ultramarathon, with gently undulating terrain, scenic vistas over the Potomac, and some rock scrambling thrown in for good measure.
Compare Endurance Challenge Races to Other Ultras: Make sure you choose the right race for your ability level and training
To better frame the difficulty of each course, we have compiled a list of other, well-known and well-established 50K and 50-Mile ultramarathon in the country that compare favorably to these Endurance Challenge events.| Endurance Challenge Event | 50K | 50-Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic Regional Washington DC | Promised Land 50K (VA) Strolling Jim 40 (TN) Nipmuck Trail Marathon (CT) Laurel Highlands 50K (PA) |
JFK 50 (MD) Tusseyback 50 (PA) Bull Run Run 50 (VA) Mountain Masochist 50 (VA) Mohican 50 (OH) |
| Midwest Regional Madison, WI | Ice Age 50K (WI) H.U.F.F. 50K (IN) Strolling Jim 40 (TN) Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon (SD) |
Ice Age 50 (WI) McNaughton Park 50 (IL) Mohican 50 (OH) Kettle Moraine 38 (WI) |
| Championship San Francisco, CA (Marin Headlands) | Headlands 50K (CA) Diablo 50K (CA) Nine Trails 38 (CA) Bighorn 50K (WY) Quad Dipsea (CA) |
Ice Age 50 (WI) McNaughton Park 50 (IL) Mohican 50 (OH) Kettle Moraine 38 (WI) |
| Northwest Regional Seattle-Bellingham, WA | Chuckanut 50K (WA) Bighorn 50K (WY) |
White River 50 (WA) Where’s Waldo 100K (OR) |
| New England Regional Bear Mountain, NY | Escarpment Trail Run (NY) Mountain Mist 50K (AL) Stump Jump 50K (NC) |
Massanutten Mountain 100 (VA) Hellgate 100K (VA) Mount Mitchell 40 (NC) Zane Grey 50 (AZ) |
Nikki Kimball Video: Tackling the Downhills
Training to Run a Mountain Race Course
The North Face® Athlete Tip - Diane Van DerenTraining for a mountain course it is best to train in the mountains itself. Then again, some runners don’t have this access to run in such terrain. Don’t worry – you can still find trails that mimic the hills and the course that will be run. Some runners use a treadmill with a steep incline to give them the feel of running uphill. It’s important to condition yourself for the uphills AND downhills. Practice how your footing is affected by running rocky terrain. In general, running a mountain course takes more energy and requires closer attention to the trail for footing. To me, running the mountain trails is always entertaining and being able to use all your senses when running captures the beauty of the sport.
Running in the Dark
The North Face® Athlete Tip - Diane Van DerenThe key to running in the dark—whether before sunrise or after sunset—is using the correct lighting system to keep from injuring yourself. When I train at night, I use a headlamp with three or more LEDs plus a lamp that is strapped around my waist. This way I have more shadows on the trail and I’m able to measure the height of obstacles better. A reliable lighting system also results in less fatigue on the eyes. When running on the roads, you must wear reflective clothing. Make sure that not only you can see clearly but also they can see you!
Running in the Cold
The North Face® Athlete Tip - Diane Van DerenOne should never be discouraged from running in the cold so long as they have the proper clothing and footwear. Living in Colorado, I tend to run a lot on snowy evenings and freezing mornings. The key is dressing in layers with clothing that wicks moisture away from the skin. Do not get let your inner layers get wet. I wear The North Face® long underwear tops and bottoms followed by an El Cap shirt (also The North Face®), with a fleece top, and a waterproof, breathable DIAD jacket. I’ll also wear waterproof pants over the long underwear. Gore-Tex® is a great layer to have on top for warmth and to keep dry. I adjust my body temp by wearing a hat: if the body begins to get warm, I just take off my hat and let the heat escape. Finish up the ensemble with a good pair of wind-blocking gloves and you should be able to run in extremely cold conditions...and actually enjoy it!