Ultra Running Hub Custer, SD, United States · Saturday, August 15, 2026
Fixed Distance 50K
Lean Horse Ultra-Marathon 30 Mile
Race completed
48 km Distance
800 m Climbing
3.6 Grit · Challenging
What the course asks
Climbing rate 17 m / km
Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.
Time limit 12 hours
15:00 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. More forgiving than 78% of 50K races. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →
Field size ~57 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.
DUV results for the 2026 edition (30mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, August
Daytime high 27°C
Night low 12°C
Rainfall Mostly dry
Daylight 14 h 03 m of light
Regional 2001-2020 average for August — NASA POWER, grid elevation 1592 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 48 km of trail with 800 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes48 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
- Race Nutrition48 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration VestsFlask capacity for 48 km, without the bounce.
- HeadlampsA 12 h limit puts you out there after dark.
- GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 48 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Course Notes
Out-and-back course on the George S. Mickelson Trail in Black Hills National Forest. Surface: trail, bike path, former railroad line.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.