Ultra Running Hub Belmont, NC, United States · Saturday, August 14, 2027
Black Copperhead Sting 50K
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2026 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
Regional 2001-2020 average for August — NASA POWER, grid elevation 202 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50km | 54 | Dave Magdeburger · 05:20:13 | Brenda Johnson · 05:34:26 |
| 2025 | 50km | 42 | Josiah Sinard · 05:16:28 | Elizabeth Roske · 07:04:47 |
| 2024 | 50km | 21 | Aaron Widman · 06:13:08 | Caitlin Burke · 06:38:40 |
| 2023 | 50km | 16 | Kevin Kelley · 05:04:39 | Jessica Thornton · 06:42:29 |
| 2022 | 50km | 10 | Joseph Hiatt · 05:45:58 | Angela Lorraine · 07:40:20 |
| 2021 | 50km | 18 | Joseph Hiatt · 05:58:19 | Elianna Bier · 08:03:09 |
| 2020 | 50km | 27 | Juan Tisera · 05:27:28 | Karen Padula · 06:04:56 |
| 2019 | 50km | 27 | Phillip Wertz · 05:54:41 | Amy Hamilton · 06:17:11 |
The field grew 29% between 2025 (42) and 2026 (54). 26% of the 2026 field were women.
DUV results for the 2026 edition (50km) — 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
This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 50 km of trail with 915 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 50 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
- Race Nutrition 50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 50 km, without the bounce.
- GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Overview
The Black Copperhead Sting 50K in Belmont, NC, first run in 2019, offers 915 meters of elevation gain over 50 kilometers, averaging 18.3 meters of climb per kilometer. This places it among the steeper 50K trail races. The latest edition in 2026 saw 54 finishers.
Runners will complete 10 loops of a 3-mile course. Each loop features around 300 feet of elevation gain on rooty, rolling mountain bike trails with twists and switchbacks. The field size is larger than 61% of its 2664 peer 50k races.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.