Ultra Running Hub Swoope, VA, United States · Saturday, September 19, 2026
Fixed Distance 50K
Grindstone 50 Km
3 days to go
50 km Distance
1,550 m Climbing
4.8 Grit · Challenging
What the course asks
Climbing rate 31 m / km
Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.
Time limit 9 hours
10:48 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. Tighter than 71% of 50K races. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →
Field size ~239 Large. Rarely out of sight of another runner.
DUV results for the 2025 edition (50km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, September
Daytime high 25°C
Night low 13°C
Rainfall Showers likely
Daylight 12 h 20 m of light
Regional 2001-2020 average for September — NASA POWER, grid elevation 583 m. Not a forecast.
The Aid Station
Course-specific beta from the community
This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 50 km of trail with 1,550 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes31 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
- Race Nutrition50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
- Trekking Poles1,550 m of ascent to walk up.
- GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.