Course

Due to the incredible amounts of snow still on the upper elevations of the course, we are rerouting both the 50K and 50M for the safety of the runners for this year’s race. We tried our best, but Mother Nature just wasn’t listening to our requests for more sunny days.

Both races will now start and finish at the Oak Ridge trailhead. This is where the races usually finish. We will not be using Bennett Pass Sno Park for the start and runners will not run on Bennett Pass road, Gunsight trail, or Cooks Meadow trail.

Everyone will ride the shuttle from Red Barn Park to the start at Oak Ridge trailhead. There is absolutely NO RUNNER DROPOFF option at this small trailhead. Please don’t even try. Bib pickup will occur at Red Barn Park, not at the start line.

Racers will start on a gravel road for a half mile before getting onto the Oak Ridge trail. At the top of Oak Ridge, runners go south on the Surveyor’s Ridge trail. At the Aquaduct aid station, both distances stay on the newer section of the Surveyor’s Ridge trail (instead of following the actual aquaduct like usual – see map closeup image below) and then continue on the Surveyor’s Ridge trail to a parking area near the top of the Dog River trial. You’ll turn around here and head back the way you came. The 50K runners will return exactly the way they came to the finish at Oak Ridge trailhead. The 50M runners will turn off from the Aquaduct aid station and run the 19-mile portion of their course, just like usual. After that section, you’ll return to the Aquaduct aid station and continue back on the Surveyor’s Ridge trail to the finish line.

The elevation gain/loss changes. Instead of a net downhill, you are now net zero, with 5600′ of gain/loss for the 50K and 9000′ for the 50M.

Don’t worry, you’ll still have tons of amazing views of Wy’east, the meadows and prairies, and the orchard valley south of the mountain, and lots more wooded single-track trail.

Map

The 50K course is the red line and the 50M course is the blue line. Click here to see the map.

This closeup shows the normal route from the Aquaduct aid station in orange Xs. The reroute is actually something we’ve been waiting to add. The buried aquaduct is going to be replaced soon and that double-track will not be useable in the future. We worked alongside the 44 Trails Association and the Forest Service for the last several years helping to build the new Surveyors Ridge trail that is the red line inside the C shape that the aquaduct road forms. We’re excited for this excuse to use this trail sooner than expected.

Elevation Profile

50K has 5600′ feet of gain and loss.

50 Mile has 9000′ of gain and loss.

Note that on both of these profiles, all the aid stations are not shown. 

Aid Stations

Aid stations are stocked with at least water, GU electrolyte drink, GU gels, PB&J, potato chips, Fritos, Fig Newtons, pickles, gummy bears, bananas, and M&Ms.

Go Beyond Racing is cupless. You’ll need to bring your own cup for liquid aid at all aid stations.

Pacers

Pacers are not allowed in this race.

Crew/Spectator Access

Small crews can access their runners at the Aquaduct aid station, and only at this aid station. Runners pass through here multiple times, so there is more than one opportunity to see and support racers. Crew can park on the east side of road 17, nouth of where the runners cross the road to get to the Super Connector trail, or where directed by volunteers. Runners receiving aid from crew at any other location will be disqualified.

There is no crew or spectator access at any other aid station.

Driving directions to Aquaduct aid station

Cutoffs

There are three cutoffs in the 50-mile race and one in the 50K. Runners must depart the aid station by the cutoff time to be allowed to continue the race. If you miss a cutoff, you will stay with the volunteers until they close down the aid station and they will transport you to the Red Barn Park.

50K:

The cutoff is at 1:30 p.m. at the Aquaduct aid station (second-time through, at mile 20.2)

50M:

• The first cutoff is at 11:30 a.m. at the Aquaduct aid station (first-time through, at mile 20.2).
• The next cutoff is at 2:00 p.m., your second time through the Bottle Prairie aid station (mile 30.9).
• The final cutoff is 4:30 pm at the Aquaduct aid station (second-time through, mile 39.8).

Drop Bags

There are no drop bags for the 50K. 50-mile racers can have one drop bag for the Aquaduct aid station. You pass through this aid station three times. You will leave your drop bag at Red Barn Park, when you pick up your bib. We will transport your drop bag to the aid station. All drop bags will return to the Red Barn Park when the Aquaduct aid station closes. Don’t forget to retrieve your drop bag before heading home.

Please read our guidelines about drop bags.

You can drop the coat that you wear on the shuttle to the race start, at the starting line. This will be waiting for you at the finish line.