Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab.
The 50 Mile at the Behind the Rocks Ultra in Moab is built from two loops: after roughly 50 kilometres among Navajo sandstone domes you are back at the start, with 30 more still to run. Preparing for it is less about raw distance than about the moment you set off again, on tired legs and technical ground.
Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish sit in the Behind the Rocks trail area at a little over 1,600 metres, among domes and fins of Navajo sandstone. Underfoot the course moves between smooth doubletrack, technical doubletrack and challenging singletrack, and that mix decides all day how fast you can actually run.
The first loop is the harder one. After a little over twelve rolling kilometres the course drops almost 400 metres to its lowest point at kilometre 25. From there every metre has to be regained: first a ramp with pitches around 20 percent, then from kilometre 31 two long climbs with barely a break between them. Only at kilometre 37 are you back up high. One more climb from kilometre 43.5 carries you back towards the start.
The second loop, around 30 kilometres long, never goes back down into the low ground, but it is no cool-down. Around kilometres 61 and 65 come two short, steep kicks. From kilometre 73 you face the last sustained climb, and after it the course runs mostly downhill to the finish.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 9.8 | 1.1 km | 6.3 % | 14.7 % | +66 m | — |
| km 25 | 1.5 km | 7.7 % | 19.7 % | +116 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 31 | 2.1 km | 5.9 % | 11.1 % | +120 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 33.3 | 2.6 km | 6.1 % | 12.7 % | +161 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 43.5 | 1.8 km | 5.4 % | 9.6 % | +97 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 60.7 | 1 km | 6.3 % | 14.6 % | +62 m | — |
| km 65.2 | 1.7 km | 6.2 % | 14.9 % | +107 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 73.4 | 1.8 km | 5.5 % | 9.6 % | +97 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027.
Start under control
Spend your energy in the order the course demands it, not by the clock. The rolling opening kilometres and the long descent after them both run too fast too easily, and you pay for each from kilometre 25, when almost all the lost height comes back over a little more than twelve kilometres.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 31 and 37. Pick a rhythm for the two long climbs that you can hold to the top, and walk the steep pitches briskly instead of forcing a run. If you can still eat and drink through this block, you have something left for the second loop.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap comes at kilometre 50. You return to where the day began, with 30 kilometres and three noticeable climbs still ahead. Decide beforehand what you will do there and how long it may take. Since the event is cup-less, your own drinking vessel belongs in that plan.
Training plan for Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
For 50 miles with around 1,500 metres of climbing, age-group runners are out for roughly ten to fourteen hours. Most of that is steady aerobic work, broken again and again by short strength efforts on steep pitches. The question is not whether you can run fast but how long your form can carry that pattern.
Train race pace
Two phases decide the day: the long way back up from kilometre 25, and setting off again after kilometre 50. So put the climbing of your long runs into their final third, and practise hiking uphill as a skill of its own. Also build in sessions that pass your car or your front door and then send you back out for an hour or more. Two long runs on consecutive days reproduce the fatigue of the second loop well.
Rehearse the course
The mix of smooth doubletrack, technical doubletrack and singletrack demands sure footing that still works after many hours. Train on uneven ground whenever you can, and add deliberate downhill running: the long descent to the low point loads the quads well before the climbs arrive. Strength work for calves, ankles and hips supports both.
Arrive fresh
Three more things belong in the build. The start lies a little above 1,600 metres, so if you are travelling from lower ground, steer by effort rather than pace. Race day is 3 April, which means many of your long runs fall in winter. And because the event is cup-less, practise drinking from your own vessel on long sessions.
Courses
Download the Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab dynamically
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Everything about Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab.
How long is Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027?
Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 is 80.47 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 have?
Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 has around 1,503 m of elevation gain over 80.47 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027?
Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 is classified as Hilly, averaging 18.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 20% of the route is flat, 35% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 have?
The hardest climb of Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 starts at kilometre 33.3, runs for 2.6 km at an average of 6.1% and gains 161 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 a loop course?
Yes, Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 course?
Yes. The Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027?
Preparation for Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 should account for 80.47 km, 1,503 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027?
The pacing strategy for Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 should reflect 80.47 km, 1,503 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 take place?
Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 takes place on April 3, 2027.
Where does Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 take place?
Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 takes place in Moab, United States.
Which distances does Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 offer?
Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027 offers 4 distances — 50 Mile: 80.47 km; 50K: 50 km; 30K: 30 km; 10 Mile: 16.09 km.
How do I register for Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: madmooseevents.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
