New Haven, CT, United States · Sunday, May 3, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

The Blue 2 Blue Challenge

Race completed

50 km Distance

2,800 m Climbing

6.7 Grit · Hardcore

41.3081° N, 72.9282° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 56 m / km Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.

Field size ~21 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.

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 20°C

Night low 9°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 14 h 02 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 149 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2026	50km	21	Matt Pacheco · 05:37:40	Erin MacFarlane · 08:14:38
2025	50km	18	Lee Davis · 06:06:44	Kehr Davis · 06:51:33
2024	50km	22	Justin Kousky · 05:29:34	Marie Arnesson Galler · 06:43:16
2023	50km	19	Lee Davis · 06:11:29	Julia Maurer · 07:48:53
2022	50km	15	Yoseph Levin · 06:08:23	Jamie Miller · 08:08:57
2021	50km	20	Daniel Bates · 06:03:22	Jamie Miller · 07:40:16
2020	50km	35	Justin Kousky · 05:48:14	Deborah Livingston · 06:59:47
2019	50km	16	David Stango · 05:58:49	Stacey Clark · 07:23:20

The field grew 17% between 2025 (18) and 2026 (21). 19% 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 mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.

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 2,800 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 56 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 2,800 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

Adidas

Terrex Speed Ultra

RunRepeat found the Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra to have a grippy outsole and great lockdown, while iRunFar noted that the shoe works on a variety of trail conditi…

★★★★★ 4.5

Adidas

Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

RunRepeat found the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra to be perfect for midfoot and forefoot strikers, while iRunFar noted that the shoe feels incredibly effici…

★★★★★ 4.5

Tailwind

Endurance Fuel

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

$25 ★★★★★ 4.8

Nathan

VaporKrar 12L

12L race vest co-designed with ultra champion Rob Krar, with insulated bladder pocket.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.6

Komperdell

Carbon Ultralight Vario 4

4-section folding carbon poles with compact pack size for mandatory gear.

$160 ★★★★★ 4.5

Garmin

Enduro 3

Ultra-endurance GPS watch with solar charging and 300+ hour battery in GPS mode.

$900 ★★★★★ 4.8

All gear guides →

Overview

The Blue 2 Blue Challenge is a 50k trail race in New Haven, CT, first run in 2019. This fixed-distance event has been held for 8 editions, with 21 finishers at the latest edition in 2026.

With 2800 meters of elevation gain over 50 kilometers, this race climbs 56 meters per kilometer, making it a demanding course. The organizer, Live Loud Trail Runs, describes the trails as "technical and gnarly," including the Regicides and Quinnipiac Trails. The field size is smaller than 33% of its 2713 peer 50k races.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.