Muir Beach, CA, United States · Saturday, August 15, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

Tamalpa Headlands 50K

Race completed

51 km Distance

2,100 m Climbing

5.7 Grit · Challenging

37.8661° N, 122.5899° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 41 m / km Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.

Field size ~260 Large. Rarely out of sight of another runner.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (31.5mi) — 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 23°C

Night low 12°C

Rainfall Dry — rain unlikely

Daylight 13 h 40 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for August — NASA POWER, grid elevation 87 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 51 km of trail with 2,100 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes41 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition51 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles2,100 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 51 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

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

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

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

Komperdell

Carbon Ultralight Vario 4

4-section folding carbon poles with compact pack size for mandatory gear.

$160 ★★★★★ 4.5

COROS

APEX 2 Pro

GPS running watch with 75-hour GPS battery, topo maps, and training metrics.

$500 ★★★★★ 4.7

All gear guides →

Course Notes

The Start & Finish for the race is at Rodeo Beach, only minutes from downtown San Francisco, the Tamalpa Headlands 50K is a scenic tour of Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, Tennessee Valley, Pirates Cove, and Rodeo Beach.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.