Sterling Squatch Half Marathon.
The 10 Miler is the shorter race at the Sterling Squatch Half Marathon near Ellenville, and it wastes no time getting into the Gunks: more than five kilometres of unbroken climbing from the gun, rock and roots on top, then the same slope back down. Prepare for that climb and that descent more than for the distance.
Sterling Squatch Half Marathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
There is no half marathon on the programme despite the name, and length says little on this course anyway. From the valley at just over 100 metres you go straight into the main climb, which banks around 470 metres of gain in a little over five kilometres. The route then keeps stepping upward to its high point of nearly 680 metres around km 9, with a short, properly steep kick just past km 8 along the way.
From there the loop closes. The course drops to about 560 metres by km 11 and soon rejoins the way you came up. The last five kilometres are the first five in reverse: around 400 metres of descent with barely a break. Flat ground is rare on the whole lap.
The Gunks turn this into a technical mountain route. Rock, roots and cliffs define the trail, broken up by stretches of crushed gravel where your feet can stop thinking for a while. Aid is at Smiley and Maratanza.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 5.5 km | 8.5 % | 12.9 % | +472 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 6.1 | 1.5 km | 4.1 % | 9.1 % | +63 m | — |
| km 8 | 0.9 km | 4.3 % | 13.6 % | +38 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 Sterling Squatch Half Marathon.
Start under control
The start is the most dangerous moment here. You take fresh legs into a climb averaging over eight percent and lasting 40 minutes or more, with no warm-up stretch at all. Run it so that you are still breathing calmly at the top, and hike the steep pitches on purpose instead of being towed along by the runners around you.
Hold your rhythm
Up high it is tempting to chase lost time, but the ground will not hand it back. Rock and roots demand attention, and the small steps up to the high point are not recovery; they simply extend the climb.
Spend what is left
The 10 Miler is decided in the last five kilometres, where quads matter more than lungs. Whoever can still place their feet cleanly passes people; whoever went too hard early has to brake. Note the rocky pitches and roots on the way up, because you will meet them again heading down. The six-hour limit leaves plenty of room at this length, so there is no reason to gamble up top.
Training plan for Sterling Squatch Half Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 2:15 to 3:30 hours depending on fitness and footwork. That sounds like a lot for 16 km, but the trail is climbing or falling for almost all of it. The effort comes in two halves: a long aerobic push just under threshold on the climb, then broken ground and a sustained eccentric load on the quads.
Train race pace
The first half calls for long climbs in one piece. Build sessions of 30 to 45 minutes of continuous uphill work, mixing running with brisk hiking. Runners who only know short hill reps underestimate how long this ascent lasts.
Rehearse the course
The descent shapes the result and deserves training of its own. Run longer downhills regularly, later in the build on tired legs too, and add strength work for quads and calves. A session that finishes with a steep downhill run is the closest match to the last five kilometres.
Arrive fresh
Then there is footwork: rock and roots are only learned on that kind of ground, so put at least one weekly session on rough trail. With the race on 24 April, this block falls in late winter, so work out early where you will find steep vert and technical terrain in the months before.
Courses
Download the Sterling Squatch Half Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Sterling Squatch Half Marathon dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Sterling Squatch Half Marathon.
How long is Sterling Squatch Half Marathon?
Sterling Squatch Half Marathon is 16.09 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 Sterling Squatch Half Marathon have?
Sterling Squatch Half Marathon has around 584 m of elevation gain over 16.09 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Sterling Squatch Half Marathon?
Sterling Squatch Half Marathon is classified as Mountainous, averaging 35.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 6% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 25% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Sterling Squatch Half Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Sterling Squatch Half Marathon starts at kilometre 0.1, runs for 5.5 km at an average of 8.5% and gains 472 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Sterling Squatch Half Marathon a loop course?
Yes, Sterling Squatch Half Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Sterling Squatch Half Marathon course?
Yes. The Sterling Squatch Half Marathon 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 Sterling Squatch Half Marathon?
Preparation for Sterling Squatch Half Marathon should account for 16.09 km, 584 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 Sterling Squatch Half Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Sterling Squatch Half Marathon should reflect 16.09 km, 584 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 Sterling Squatch Half Marathon 2027 take place?
Sterling Squatch Half Marathon 2027 takes place on April 24, 2027.
Where does Sterling Squatch Half Marathon 2027 take place?
Sterling Squatch Half Marathon 2027 takes place in Ellenville, United States.
Which distances does Sterling Squatch Half Marathon offer?
Sterling Squatch Half Marathon offers 2 distances — 10 Miler: 16.09 km; 25K: 25 km.
How do I register for Sterling Squatch Half Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: sassquadtrailrunning.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
