Ultra Running Hub Montana City, MT, United States · Saturday, August 1, 2026
HURL Elkhorn 50 km Endurance Run
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 1650 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50km | 75 | Matthew Caraway · 06:00:58 | Jennifer Lichter · 05:32:31 |
| 2025 | 50km | 62 | Riley McCarthy · 05:39:38 | Chandra Mccarthy · 06:44:33 |
| 2024 | 50km | 52 | Travis Meade · 06:11:06 | Renae Parker · 05:54:01 |
| 2023 | 52km | 56 | Matt Hoffman · 05:16:39 | Erin Moyer · 05:41:29 |
| 2022 | 52km | 52 | Grant Barnette · 04:55:56 | Marilee Woyth · 05:42:18 |
| 2019 | 52km | 67 | Justin Klebe · 06:43:09 | Karen Vandenborre · 07:06:31 |
| 2018 | 52km | 68 | Andrew Leichtnam · 05:50:56 | Stacie Bruno · 06:55:42 |
| 2017 | 50km | 84 | David Bresnahan · 05:37:22 | Erica Swanson · 07:27:43 |
| 2016 | 50km | 65 | Kenneth O'Donnell · 06:36:49 | Debbie Isen · 06:54:17 |
| 2015 | 50km | 69 | Ian Engerbretson · 06:18:32 | Ashley Arnold · 06:22:27 |
The field grew 21% between 2025 (62) and 2026 (75). 36% 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 mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.
With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 50 km of trail with 2,250 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 45 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 2,250 m of ascent to walk up.
- GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Overview
The HURL Elkhorn 50 km Endurance Run takes place in Montana City, MT, each August. This trail race, organized by the Helena Ultra Runners League, has a decade of history, with its first edition held in 2015.
The course features 2250 meters of elevation gain over 50 km, making for 45 meters of climb per kilometer. This is a higher climb-to-distance ratio than found in many 50k races. With 75 finishers in its latest edition, this race draws a larger field than 71% of its 2664 peer 50k events.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.