Ultra Running Hub Nathrop, CO, United States · Sunday, September 27, 2026
Fixed Distance 50K
Sawatch Ascent 50km Race
11 days to go
50 km Distance
3,300 m Climbing
7.5 Grit · Hardcore
What the course asks
Climbing rate 66 m / km
Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.
Time limit 11 hours
13:12 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. More forgiving than 62% of 50K races. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →
Field size ~166 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.
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 18°C
Night low 3°C
Rainfall Mostly dry
Daylight 12 h 00 m of light
Regional 2001-2020 average for September — NASA POWER, grid elevation 2991 m. Not a forecast.
The Aid Station
Course-specific beta from the community
This is a mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.
With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 50 km of trail with 3,300 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes66 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 Poles3,300 m of ascent to walk up.
- GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Course Notes
A classic, high-alpine, vert-heavy Colorado 50k! Get some miles on the Colorado Trail and run all the way to 13,150' feet in elevation!
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.