Siuslaw Dunes.
Siuslaw Dunes, near Florence on the Oregon coast, is a point-to-point 50K where the ground matters more than the climbing: open dunes, forest singletrack, remote beach and creek crossings take turns under your feet. Preparing for it means less work on hills than on strength and patience over soft footing.
Siuslaw Dunes 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
A shuttle takes you out to the start at Waxmyrtle Campground, and from there every kilometre leads to the finish at the East Woahink Day Use Area in Honeyman State Park. The opening stays close to sea level. Only from kilometre 13.6 does the ground rise, in four short pushes that reach the day's high point of about 95 metres just past kilometre 16. The steepest of them runs half a kilometre at almost ten percent.
After that the course drops away again, and until about kilometre 36 very little happens in height. This stretch is defined by what changes underfoot: open sand, singletrack through coastal forest, remote beaches and tree islands, the pockets of woodland inside the dune field, and later the park trails. At some creeks volunteers on stand-up paddleboards help you across, or you wade through yourself. Aid is at Tahkenitch Creek, Waxmyrtle and Cleawox.
The second group of hills arrives late. Kilometres 39.7 and 40.3 bring two steep ramps of a little over 30 metres each, and two gentler ones follow up to kilometre 43.6. From there the ground falls into Honeyman State Park, and the last kilometres stay almost level.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 13.6 | 1 km | 4.9 % | 14.2 % | +51 m | — |
| km 15.1 | 0.3 km | 7.5 % | 11 % | +22 m | — |
| km 15.6 | 0.5 km | 9.6 % | 23.2 % | +48 m | — |
| km 16.4 | 0.4 km | 9.3 % | 19.6 % | +32 m | — |
| km 39.7 | 0.3 km | 10.8 % | 16.2 % | +35 m | — |
| km 40.3 | 0.4 km | 7.8 % | 13.8 % | +33 m | — |
| km 42.2 | 0.4 km | 4.8 % | 9.8 % | +18 m | — |
| km 43.3 | 0.4 km | 4.3 % | 6.3 % | +15 m | — |
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 Siuslaw Dunes.
Start under control
Plan this run by effort, not by kilometre splits. Roughly half the course is flat, yet the same effort gives a very different pace on open sand than on a forest path, and each change of ground resets the sums. Keep the work even and let the watch wander. Where the footing firms up, accept the easier running without turning it into a chase.
Hold your rhythm
The first trap sits between kilometres 13.6 and 16.7. Your legs are still fresh, the ramps look short, and running all of them is tempting. Hike the steepest metres briskly instead, because anything you overspend here goes missing in the long middle section, where soft ground makes every stride more expensive.
Spend what is left
The race is decided at kilometre 39.7. After nearly forty kilometres on yielding ground, the two steep ramps meet tired calves, and only beyond them does it show who can still run. With something left at this point, the falling stretch into the park is yours. Stay calm at the creeks too: a short stop at the water costs less than a frantic surge after it.
Training plan for Siuslaw Dunes: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect six to nine hours as an age-group runner, because sand holds your pace well below what the distance suggests. The effort is mostly aerobic and steady, broken by two short clusters of hills. The real load is muscular: yielding ground returns less with each push-off, and over hours that adds up in the calves, feet and hips.
Train race pace
Build your long runs so that the hard work comes late. Two thirds of the way through a session, add a group of short, steep climbs and then keep running for another half hour. That mirrors kilometres 39.7 to 43.6 and tells you whether you can get back into a run after the ramps. Practise strong uphill hiking there as well, since you will already need it around kilometre 15.
Rehearse the course
The surface is best trained directly: run on sand regularly or, if you have none nearby, on soft forest ground or loose gravel. Start with short sections and extend them slowly, because calves and Achilles tendons need time to accept the new load. Strength work for ankles, calves and hips rounds this off and steadies your stride over changing ground.
Arrive fresh
The race falls in late February, so the core of your build lands in winter, and the long runs should still happen on terrain rather than on the road. Test shoes and socks wet and with sand inside them, since that is how you carry on after a creek crossing. As parts of the course are remote, carrying your own food belongs in every long session.
Courses
Download the Siuslaw Dunes course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Siuslaw Dunes dynamically
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Everything about Siuslaw Dunes.
How long is Siuslaw Dunes?
Siuslaw Dunes is 50 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 Siuslaw Dunes have?
Siuslaw Dunes has around 571 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Siuslaw Dunes?
Siuslaw Dunes is classified as Rolling, averaging 11.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 51% of the route is flat, 22% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Siuslaw Dunes have?
The hardest climb of Siuslaw Dunes starts at kilometre 13.6, runs for 1 km at an average of 4.9% and gains 51 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Siuslaw Dunes a loop course?
No, Siuslaw Dunes is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Siuslaw Dunes course?
Yes. The Siuslaw Dunes 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 Siuslaw Dunes?
Preparation for Siuslaw Dunes should account for 50 km, 571 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 Siuslaw Dunes?
The pacing strategy for Siuslaw Dunes should reflect 50 km, 571 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 Siuslaw Dunes 2027 take place?
Siuslaw Dunes 2027 takes place on February 27, 2027.
Where does Siuslaw Dunes 2027 take place?
Siuslaw Dunes 2027 takes place in Florence, United States.
Which distances does Siuslaw Dunes offer?
Siuslaw Dunes offers 3 distances — Siuslaw Dunes 50K: 50 km; Siuslaw Dunes 20 Mile: 32.19 km; Siuslaw Dunes 12K: 12 km.
How do I register for Siuslaw Dunes?
Registration runs through the organiser: daybreakracing.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
