Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run.
The Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run near Mount Solon goes by 60K but measures closer to 62, with almost 2,500 metres of climbing in the August heat. Its signature is the ending: the biggest climb of the day only starts after 48 kilometres at the Grooms Ridge aid station, and preparing for this race means preparing to still have legs there.
Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From North River Gap the course climbs with no warm-up. Four ascents stack up over the first twelve kilometres, lifting you from just under 500 to above 1,250 metres, the first of them averaging 14 percent for a little over two kilometres. You then stay above 1,100 metres until around kilometre 26, broken by a longer rise from kilometre 17 that leads to the Reddish Knob aid station at kilometre 21.6.
Then the terrain tips over. The trail loses some 700 metres over about 15 kilometres down to Wolf Ridge at kilometre 36.5, and what follows is no quiet valley stretch but a run of ups and downs with an intermediate high near 700 metres. Kilometre 48.6 brings Grooms Ridge, the race's junction: miss the cut-off and you are sent onto the Party Route and are soon at the finish.
Everyone else now climbs 376 metres in just over three kilometres, with pitches beyond 20 percent, and a further steep kilometre comes from kilometre 54.7. From around 950 metres the trail then returns to the start, sharply at the end. The loop is remote, and that is part of its severity: the three stations leave long sections where you look after yourself. The course changed in 2022, so older race reports may describe a different loop.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.6 | 2.2 km | 14 % | 24.3 % | +313 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 4.7 | 0.9 km | 13 % | 18.3 % | +120 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 6 | 2.2 km | 9.1 % | 22.1 % | +198 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 9.4 | 2.2 km | 10.9 % | 21.4 % | +236 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 17.2 | 2.9 km | 6.1 % | 14.5 % | +175 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 37.2 | 2.5 km | 4.4 % | 14.2 % | +109 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 48.7 | 3 km | 12.4 % | 22.4 % | +376 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 54.7 | 1 km | 9.8 % | 26.4 % | +98 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 Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run.
Start under control
This course asks you to hold back while you are fresh. The four ascents to kilometre 12 are for hiking, not running: on pitches around 20 percent a jog saves little time and spends a lot of what you will need later. The first station also waits until kilometre 21.6, so everything you drink before then is on your back.
Hold your rhythm
The trap comes next. From Reddish Knob to Wolf Ridge the trail mostly falls, your legs feel good and speed arrives by itself. You pay for that stretch much later, when your quads have to carry the Grooms Ridge climb after burning themselves out on the brakes. Take it with short steps and well under what feels possible.
Spend what is left
The day is decided from kilometre 48.6. Grooms Ridge is both the cut-off and the last station, so refill everything there: nearly 14 kilometres and two steep sections remain. Hike the climb evenly without stopping, and save something for the last six kilometres, which drop hard just when your muscles have the least control left.
Training plan for Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect nine to thirteen hours depending on your form. It is nothing like a steady endurance effort: steep hiking at a high heart rate alternates with long descents that load the muscles more than the lungs. Your aerobic base has to carry many hours of work, and your legs also have to absorb some 2,450 metres of braking.
Train race pace
The central question is whether you can still move evenly up a twelve percent climb after 50 kilometres. So put the hardest climb of your longest sessions deliberately in the final quarter, rather than ticking it off fresh at the start. Fast uphill hiking is a skill of its own here: practise it on gradients above ten percent until you can hold that pace for 30 minutes and longer.
Rehearse the course
Descending matters just as much. Around half the course falls, and two long drops sit inside the race. Build sustained descents into long runs regularly, ideally in the second half of the session, so your quads know the load before they start to fade on race day.
Arrive fresh
Heat and remoteness belong in training, not just in the race plan. With more than 21 kilometres to the first station you need to know how much you drink per hour in warm conditions and how that weight feels on a climb. So train in your race-day kit, schedule long runs in warm parts of the day in the weeks before 14 August, and do some of them with no resupply along the way.
Courses
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Everything about Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run.
How long is Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run?
Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run is 62.28 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 Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run have?
Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run has around 2,461 m of elevation gain over 62.28 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run?
Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run is classified as Mountainous, averaging 39.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 8% of the route is flat, 22% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 21% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run have?
The hardest climb of Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run starts at kilometre 48.7, runs for 3 km at an average of 12.4% and gains 376 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run a loop course?
Yes, Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run course?
Yes. The Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run 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 Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run?
Preparation for Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run should account for 62.28 km, 2,461 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 Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run?
The pacing strategy for Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run should reflect 62.28 km, 2,461 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 Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run take place?
Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run takes place on August 14, 2027.
Where does Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run take place?
Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run takes place in Mount Solon, United States.
Which distances does Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run offer?
Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run offers 2 distances — Martha Moats Baker 60K: 62.28 km; Martha Moats Baker Party Route: 50.21 km.
How do I register for Martha Moats Baker Memorial Run?
Registration runs through the organiser: new.vhtrc.org. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
