Pelham, AL, United States · Saturday, December 5, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

Blood Rock 55 km Race

80 days away

55 km Distance

1,800 m Climbing

5.5 Grit · Challenging

33.2857° N, 86.8100° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 33 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 12 hours 13:05 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. More forgiving than 61% of 50K races. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~73 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (55km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, December

Daytime high 13°C

Night low 2°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 10 h 04 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for December — NASA POWER, grid elevation 171 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 55 km of trail with 1,800 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes33 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition55 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles1,800 m of ascent to walk up.
HeadlampsA 12 h limit puts you out there after dark.

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Adidas