Sun Mountain 50M & 50K.
The Sun Mountain 50M & 50K in Winthrop, Washington, looks friendly on paper: mostly gentle, runnable trails and old ranch roads. The 50-mile course still makes a very long day of it, climbing to almost 1,500 metres and saving its steepest ramps for the final third. What you have to prepare above all is running on tired legs.
Sun Mountain 50M & 50K 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at Big Twin Resort and Campground. For the first 29 kilometres the course is shared with the 50K and stays low. Two early climbs reach just over 800 metres, then the route drops back to around 620 metres by kilometre 16. The real mountain begins at kilometre 22. Three climbs totalling almost 1,000 metres of ascent, the longest of them 5.6 kilometres, carry you to the high point at kilometre 38.
Then comes the longest descent of the day, about 16 kilometres and more than 700 metres down. Kilometre 55 brings the first late ramp, a little over a kilometre at almost 15 percent. Rolling running around 800 metres follows before kilometre 69 asks for another 300-plus metres in just under three kilometres. From there the course falls by over 500 metres in the last six kilometres, back to the campground.
The race takes its character from the changing surface: singletrack, wider trails, old ranch roads and quiet dirt and paved roads, including almost eight kilometres of pavement. The route passes through Moccasin Lake Ranch and Sun Mountain and goes over the summit of Patterson Mountain. The ground stays mostly mellow; the difficulty comes from the steep pitches in both directions and the sheer quantity of runnable kilometres.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.4 | 0.9 km | 10.8 % | 20.7 % | +94 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 5.8 | 2.2 km | 6.7 % | 13.4 % | +145 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 19.3 | 1.4 km | 6.8 % | 15.5 % | +96 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 22.6 | 4.6 km | 9 % | 21.2 % | +411 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 29.5 | 5.6 km | 7.1 % | 19.6 % | +398 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 36.5 | 1.8 km | 8.6 % | 20.5 % | +155 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 55.7 | 1.3 km | 14.7 % | 25.2 % | +184 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 69.2 | 2.9 km | 11.4 % | 22.7 % | +327 m | Cat. 2 |
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 Sun Mountain 50M & 50K.
Start under control
The first 22 kilometres are the most delicate, precisely because they feel so easy: good ground, short climbs, and the real work still ahead. Run them well below the pace on offer and start hiking the steep bits early. On the long ascent to kilometre 38, alternate evenly between running and brisk walking instead of squeezing every gentler stretch.
Hold your rhythm
The race is not decided at the high point but from kilometre 55. Push the long descent before it and you pay on the ramp at almost 15 percent, then again on the final climb. Let the speed come downhill without forcing it or braking hard, because the closing kilometres are steeper still and need intact quads.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap is the runnability itself. On technical ground the terrain forces you to ease off; here you have to prescribe those breaks yourself. Six aid stations sound generous, yet a whole climb can sit between two of them. So eat and drink to a plan before the mountain begins.
Training plan for Sun Mountain 50M & 50K: 12-week build
Build the base
For age-group runners, roughly 11 to 16 hours is a realistic window. It is a calm aerobic effort interrupted again and again by hard hiking, since a little over 40 percent of the course climbs. Because the ground rarely slows you down, the load runs almost without a break, and that density is what makes the distance demanding here.
Train race pace
Two phases need specific preparation: the long ascent to kilometre 38 and the two late ramps. The ascent takes endurance on a hill, so build sessions with an hour or more of climbing, part running and part hiking. The ramps take the ability to work steeply uphill after many hours: put hard climbs deliberately at the end of long runs, not at the start.
Rehearse the course
The descents matter just as much. The 16 kilometres after the high point and the steep finale hit quads that are already loaded. Downhill running therefore belongs in your long sessions regularly, backed by strength work for legs and trunk. Two long runs on consecutive days, the second with plenty of ascent, come closest to the final third of the race.
Arrive fresh
The early May date places the build in winter and spring, so schedule your longest sessions in good time. Train on mixed surfaces: almost eight kilometres of pavement between singletrack and ranch road call for a shoe and a stride that handle both. And practise eating and drinking on the move, so that six aid stations still help you twelve hours in.
Courses
Download the Sun Mountain 50M & 50K course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Sun Mountain 50M & 50K 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 Sun Mountain 50M & 50K.
How long is Sun Mountain 50M & 50K?
Sun Mountain 50M & 50K 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 Sun Mountain 50M & 50K have?
Sun Mountain 50M & 50K has around 2,402 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 Sun Mountain 50M & 50K?
Sun Mountain 50M & 50K is classified as Mountainous, averaging 30.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 13% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 16% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Sun Mountain 50M & 50K have?
The hardest climb of Sun Mountain 50M & 50K starts at kilometre 22.6, runs for 4.6 km at an average of 9% and gains 411 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Sun Mountain 50M & 50K a loop course?
Yes, Sun Mountain 50M & 50K is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Sun Mountain 50M & 50K course?
Yes. The Sun Mountain 50M & 50K 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 Sun Mountain 50M & 50K?
Preparation for Sun Mountain 50M & 50K should account for 80.47 km, 2,402 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 Sun Mountain 50M & 50K?
The pacing strategy for Sun Mountain 50M & 50K should reflect 80.47 km, 2,402 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 Sun Mountain 50M & 50K take place?
Sun Mountain 50M & 50K takes place on May 1, 2027.
Where does Sun Mountain 50M & 50K take place?
Sun Mountain 50M & 50K takes place in Winthrop, United States.
Which distances does Sun Mountain 50M & 50K offer?
Sun Mountain 50M & 50K offers 3 distances — Sun Mountain 50M: 80.47 km; Sun Mountain 50K: 50 km; Sun Mountain 25K: 25 km.
How do I register for Sun Mountain 50M & 50K?
Registration runs through the organiser: rainshadowrunning.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
