Mouth of Wilson, VA, United States · Saturday, May 1, 2027

Fixed Distance 50 mi

Grayson Highlands 50 Mile Race

227 days away

80 km Distance

2,900 m Climbing

8.4 Grit · Hardcore

36.5896° N, 81.3365° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 36 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 14 hours 10:30 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. About average for a 50 mi. Measured against 455 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~124 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, May

Daytime high 22°C

Night low 11°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 13 h 39 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 741 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 80 km of trail with 2,900 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes36 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles2,900 m of ascent to walk up.
HeadlampsA 14 h limit puts you out there after dark.

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

Salomon