West Portsmouth, OH, United States · Saturday, October 3, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

Shawnee 50 km Trail Run

17 days to go

50 km Distance

1,800 m Climbing

5.2 Grit · Challenging

38.7584° N, 83.0291° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 36 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 16 hours 19:12 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. Among the most forgiving 50K cut-offs we track. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~40 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.

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, October

Daytime high 19°C

Night low 7°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 11 h 45 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for October — NASA POWER, grid elevation 261 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 50 km of trail with 1,800 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes36 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 Poles1,800 m of ascent to walk up.
HeadlampsA 16 h limit puts you out there after dark.

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

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

Skratch Labs

Sport Hydration Mix

Clean electrolyte drink mix with real fruit flavor. Low sugar.

$20 ★★★★★ 4.5

Nathan

VaporKrar 12L

12L race vest co-designed with ultra champion Rob Krar, with insulated bladder pocket.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.6

Black Diamond

Distance FLZ

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

$170 ★★★★★ 4.7

Petzl

NAO RL

1500-lumen reactive lighting headlamp with 15-hour runtime. Automatic brightness adjustment.

$150 ★★★★★ 4.7

All gear guides →

Course Notes

With some of the most secluded wilderness and most rugged terrain in the Midwest, the Shawnee 50 will be a good old fashion pure and authentic ultra marathon. You'll be challenged both physically and mentally by the rugged terrain and remoteness.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.