Ultra Running Hub Volcano, HI, United States · Thursday, December 31, 2026
Go Big 50 km Race
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2024 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, December
Regional 2001-2020 average for December — NASA POWER, grid elevation 482 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50km | 3 | Patricia Mills · 05:45:00 | Karen Smidt · 05:14:33 |
| 2023 | 50km | 3 | Miles Heater · 05:54:00 | Sara Anderson · 05:51:00 |
| 2022 | 50km | 9 | John Melbourne · 04:00:48 | Kathryn Ryder · 06:25:00 |
| 2021 | 50km | 2 | John Lee · 05:16:00 | Lynne Mattix · 05:37:00 |
| 2021 | 50km | 23 | Fernando Cabada, Jr. · 02:50:23 | Cat Bradley · 03:32:53 |
| 2020 | 50km | 9 | Billy Barnett · 03:37:00 | Bree Brown · 03:44:00 |
The field has held steady: 3 in 2023, 3 in 2024. 33% of the 2024 field were women.
DUV results for the 2024 edition (50km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Course notes
- terrain This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
- gear With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 50 km of trail with 1,200 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 24 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
- Race Nutrition 50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
- Trekking Poles 1,200 m of ascent to walk up.
- GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Overview
Held in Volcano, HI, the Go Big 50 km Race demands a pace that few standard ultramarathons require. Its 6-hour limit enforces a cut-off tighter than 98% of 50k peers, giving runners a required pace of 7.2 minutes per kilometre to stay in the event.
The route combines 1200 metres of elevation gain—averaging 24 metres of climbing per kilometre—with entirely paved running from Volcano Village down to Black Sands Beach. Despite the continuous tarmac, that profile leaves little room to coast against one of the strictest clocks in the distance category.
It also remains an exceptionally quiet starting line. With a field smaller than 94% of 50k races, participants share the road with only a handful of competitors over the full 50 kilometres.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.