Pigtails Challenge 50 Km

Race completed

50 km Distance

900 m Climbing

3.9 Grit · Challenging

47.4829° N, 122.2171° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 18 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 10 hours 12:00 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. About average for a 50K. Measured against 1034 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~15 Tiny. You will run alone for most of it.

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, May

Daytime high 17°C

Night low 8°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 15 h 25 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 110 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2026	50km	15	Craig Romano · 05:38:23	Amanda Rasmussen · 05:33:21
2025	50km	28	Robert Irr · 03:29:03	Shannon Rolbiecki · 05:28:40
2024	50km	10	Jens Hansen · 04:55:54	Amy Mohelnitzky · 05:59:02
2023	50km	23	Matthew Logan · 03:46:05	Stefanie Bernosky · 05:17:50
2022	50km	12	Brandon Eddards · 04:15:01	Hannah McLean · 05:10:08
2019	50km	29	Yon Yilma · 03:16:01	Tabatha Collins · 05:28:35
2018	50km	19	Jon Priestman · 04:37:50	Tattie Bailey · 04:57:16
2017	50km	20	Steve Slaby · 03:50:02	Gina Slaby · 03:50:15
2016	50km	23	Steve Walters · 04:55:56	Maureen Anderson · 04:45:01

The field shrank 46% between 2025 (28) and 2026 (15). 80% 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

⛰️ 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 50 km of trail with 900 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.

Salomon

Sense Ride 5

RunRepeat found the Salomon Sense Ride 5 to have immaculate lockdown and a smooth and stable ride, making it confident on moderate trails and steep downhills. I…

★★★★★ 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

Maurten