Ashburnham, MA, United States · Saturday, May 8, 2027

Fixed Distance 50 mi

TARC Wapack and Back 50 Mile Trail Race

234 days away
80 km Distance
not publishedn/a Climbing
4.0 est Grit · Challenging

Calculated from 80 km alone — the organiser has not published an elevation profile. Read 4.0 as a floor, not a verdict.

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42.6362° N, 71.9078° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Time limit 14 hours 10:30 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. Climbing is unpublished, so this pace is a ceiling on the effort, not a measure of it. About average for a 50 mi. Measured against 455 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →
Field size ~9 Tiny. You will run alone for most of it.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, May

Daytime high 19°C
Night low 8°C
Rainfall Showers likely
Daylight 14 h 20 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 205 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 80 km of trail.

  • Trail Running Shoes80 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
  • Race Nutrition80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
  • Hydration VestsFlask capacity for 80 km, without the bounce.
  • HeadlampsA 14 h limit puts you out there after dark.
  • GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 80 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

Spring Energy

Awesome Sauce

Real food gel with 180 calories. Rice-based with natural flavors.

$4 ★★★★★ 4.6

Salomon

ADV Skin 12

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

$180 ★★★★★ 4.8

Petzl

NAO RL

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

$150 ★★★★★ 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 race starts at the Mt. Watatic trailhead on Rt 119 and runs the length of the Wapack trail from south to north, then returning south.

Similar races

Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.