Mouth of Wilson, VA, United States · Saturday, May 1, 2027

Fixed Distance 50 mi

Grayson Highlands 50 Mile Race

212 days away

80 km Distance

2,900 m Climbing

8.4 Grit · Hardcore

36.5896° N, 81.3365° 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 14 hours 10:30 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. About average for a 50 mi. Measured against 471 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~124 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

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 22°C

Night low 11°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 13 h 39 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 741 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2026	50mi	124	Brian Beal · 08:28:29	Annette Stevens · 10:18:24
2025	50mi	132	Patrick Wachter · 07:27:56	Kristine Jones · 09:10:22
2024	50mi	129	Isaiah Norton · 08:31:09	Rebecca Johnson · 10:49:45
2023	50mi	90	Justin Scheid · 07:25:47	Annette Stevens · 10:15:57
2022	50mi	93	Bradley Orr · 07:29:02	Amanda Presgraves · 07:52:52
2021	50mi	122	Caleb Bowen · 06:55:07	Aden St. Charles · 08:20:04
2020	50mi	61	Andrew Butterworth · 07:01:04	Krista Kowalczyk · 09:05:17

The field shrank 6% between 2025 (132) and 2026 (124). 26% of the 2026 field were women.

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.

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 80 km of trail with 2,900 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 36 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition 80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles 2,900 m of ascent to walk up.
Headlamps A 14 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

Salomon

Endurance Fuel

All-in-one calorie and electrolyte drink mix. 200 calories per serving.

$25 ★★★★★ 4.8

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

Nitecore

UT32

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

$100 ★★★★★ 4.5

All gear guides →

Overview

The Grayson Highlands 50 Mile Race, organized by Run Bum Tours, is a trail race held in Mouth of Wilson, VA each May, with the next edition on May 1, 2027. This 50-mile event covers 80 kilometers and features 2900 meters of elevation gain, making for a climb rate of 36.3 meters per kilometer.

With a time limit of 14 hours, runners must maintain a pace tighter than 60% of 50-mile races, at 10.5 minutes per kilometer. The field size for this race is larger than 79% of its 50-mile peers, drawing a substantial number of participants to its seven editions since 2020.

Similar races

Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.