Rhodes, South Africa · Saturday, July 11, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

Rhodes 52 km Trail Run

Race completed

52 km Distance

2,560 m Climbing

6.4 Grit · Hardcore

30.7952° S, 27.9645° E© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 49 m / km Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.

Time limit 9 hours 10:23 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. Tighter than 74% of 50K races. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~64 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (52km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, July

Daytime high 13°C

Night low -1°C

Rainfall Dry — rain unlikely

Daylight 10 h 16 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for July — NASA POWER, grid elevation 1714 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.

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 52 km of trail with 2,560 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes49 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition52 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles2,560 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 52 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

Adidas

Terrex Speed Ultra

★★★★★ 4.5

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

Maurten

Gel 100

Hydrogel technology for 25g carbs per gel with minimal GI distress.

$3.5 ★★★★★ 4.7

Salomon

ADV Skin 12

Industry-standard 12L race vest with front flask pockets and minimal bounce.

$180 ★★★★★ 4.8

Black Diamond

Distance FLZ

Lightweight folding trekking poles with FlickLock Z adjustment. 340g per pole.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.7

Suunto

Vertical

Titanium GPS watch with solar charging, offline maps, and 140-hour GPS battery.

$630 ★★★★★ 4.5

All gear guides →

Course Notes

The Rhodes Run, South Africa's iconic breathtaking trail run, is staged in the tranquil beauty of the southern Drakensberg mountains surrounding the Victorian-era hamlet of Rhodes.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.