Ida Grove, IA, United States · Saturday, August 1, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

Trail of the Dragon 50 Km

Race completed
50 km Distance
not publishedn/a Climbing
2.5 est Grit · Entry level

Calculated from 50 km alone — the organiser has not published an elevation profile. Read 2.5 as a floor, not a verdict.

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42.3450° N, 95.4717° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Time limit 15 hours 18:00 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 Climbing is unpublished, so this pace is a ceiling on the effort, not a measure of it. Among the most forgiving 50K cut-offs we track. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →
Field size ~18 Tiny. You will run alone for most of it.

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, August

Daytime high 29°C
Night low 17°C
Rainfall Showers likely
Daylight 14 h 30 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for August — NASA POWER, grid elevation 402 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 50 km of trail.

  • Trail Running Shoes50 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
  • Race Nutrition50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
  • Hydration VestsFlask capacity for 50 km, without the bounce.
  • HeadlampsA 15 h limit puts you out there after dark.
  • GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 50 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

Nitecore

UT32

Dual-beam trail running headlamp (1100 lumens) with spot and flood beams.

$100 ★★★★★ 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

Course consists of 10 mile loops thru the rolling hills of Moorehead Park on well marked and well maintained single track dirt trails and mowed meadow trails.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.