Franklin, NC, United States · Saturday, October 3, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

The Naturalist Trail Race

2 days to go

50 km Distance

3,200 m Climbing

7.3 Grit · Hardcore

35.1823° N, 83.3815° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 64 m / km Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.

Field size ~48 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.

DUV results for the 2025 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, October

Daytime high 20°C

Night low 8°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 11 h 48 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for October — NASA POWER, grid elevation 672 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2025	50km	48	Devon Brodmyer · 04:34:22	Tina Muir · 04:52:45
2023	50km	36	Matt Koons · 04:58:54	Laurel Awald · 05:18:09
2021	50km	16	Aaron Saft · 06:22:04	Amy Ross-Johnson · 05:43:01
2019	50km	35	Canyon Woodward · 05:02:03	Laura Yale · 06:53:37
2018	50km	31	Nathan Holland · 05:10:23	Anna Purcell · 06:32:30
2017	50km	34	Robert Adams · 04:41:40	Ally Murphy · 07:21:44
2016	50km	28	Daniel Hamilton · 04:50:49	Chelsea Zacher · 07:18:23
2015	50km	21	Daniel Hamilton · 04:43:22	Chelsey Woods · 06:12:47

The field grew 33% between 2023 (36) and 2025 (48). 29% of the 2025 field were women.

DUV results for the 2025 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 3,200 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 64 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 3,200 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

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

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

Spring Energy