Valkyrie Trail Race.
The 50K is the longest distance at the Valkyrie Trail Race, a women-focused trail event in Cheyenne Mountain State Park near Colorado Springs. The course brings you back past the start four times before it finishes there, so your preparation has to be built around the final loop, not the first.
Valkyrie Trail Race 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start sits at the trailhead just past the visitor centre, heading first through open meadows on smooth crushed limestone before winding singletrack climbs towards the park's higher ground. You begin a little above 1,800 metres, the top of the course is just under 2,100, and the whole day stays inside that band.
The route is assembled from two loops that both return to the start. The big one climbs for just over three kilometres from km 3, then gives the height back across about seven. The small one is more compact: nearly three kilometres up, a little over four down. The running order is big, small, big, small, small.
That puts the weight of the race late. The second big lap brings the steepest average section around km 26, and the two closing small loops begin their climbs at km 34 and km 41. Those two ascents alone supply almost a third of the roughly 1,200 metres of climbing, and they arrive with well over 30 km already in your legs.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.9 | 0.8 km | 5.3 % | 9.9 % | +42 m | — |
| km 2.8 | 3.3 km | 5.8 % | 13 % | +188 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 13.7 | 2.9 km | 6 % | 11.6 % | +175 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 21.4 | 0.9 km | 5.1 % | 9.5 % | +43 m | — |
| km 23.3 | 2.2 km | 5.5 % | 11.5 % | +120 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 25.6 | 0.9 km | 7.5 % | 12.5 % | +67 m | — |
| km 34.1 | 2.9 km | 6 % | 11.9 % | +176 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 41.1 | 2.9 km | 6 % | 11.9 % | +176 m | Cat. 3 |
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 Valkyrie Trail Race.
Start under control
Divide the race by loops rather than kilometres. The first big lap feels easiest, and that is exactly where excess speed costs the most, because four more long climbs follow the one from km 3. Treat its ramps of up to 13 percent the way you could still treat them after 40 km.
Hold your rhythm
The day is settled from km 34. The same loop twice in a row, each with almost three kilometres of climbing, rewards steady work uphill and gives nothing back for reserves you only hoped you had. Anyone still running at the top can use the descents; everyone else loses time in both directions.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap stands at the start itself. Around km 41 you pass right by the finish and have to head out again, so decide in advance how you will handle that moment. Altitude adds to it: the same pace costs more here than at sea level, so race by effort and leave the watch alone.
Training plan for Valkyrie Trail Race: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect six to nine hours on your feet. This is mainly a long aerobic effort, but it never settles: under a tenth of the course is flat, and you are constantly switching between climbing and running downhill. If you will be hiking, practise strong power hiking as a discipline of its own.
Train race pace
The yardstick is the final two climbs. Arrange your long runs so the vertical sits in the last third, and finish them with two ascents of around three kilometres at roughly six percent. Back-to-back efforts like these reproduce the end of the race better than any evenly hilly long run.
Rehearse the course
You cover more ground downhill than up, and most of it is runnable, which means a long load on the quads. Practise quick descending on tired legs, on winding singletrack where you can, and place it deliberately at the end of your biggest days.
Arrive fresh
The 8 May date puts your longest runs in March and April. If you do not live at altitude, remember the entire race happens between 1,800 and 2,100 metres, and arrive a few days early if you can. Aid-station mileage is in the organiser's separate guide, so rehearse your fuelling for the full duration against it.
Courses
Download the Valkyrie Trail Race course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Valkyrie Trail Race 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 Valkyrie Trail Race.
How long is Valkyrie Trail Race?
Valkyrie Trail Race 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 Valkyrie Trail Race have?
Valkyrie Trail Race has around 1,184 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Valkyrie Trail Race?
Valkyrie Trail Race is classified as Hilly, averaging 24.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 9% of the route is flat, 35% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 10% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Valkyrie Trail Race have?
The hardest climb of Valkyrie Trail Race starts at kilometre 2.8, runs for 3.3 km at an average of 5.8% and gains 188 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Valkyrie Trail Race a loop course?
Yes, Valkyrie Trail Race is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Valkyrie Trail Race course?
Yes. The Valkyrie Trail Race 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 Valkyrie Trail Race?
Preparation for Valkyrie Trail Race should account for 50 km, 1,184 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 Valkyrie Trail Race?
The pacing strategy for Valkyrie Trail Race should reflect 50 km, 1,184 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 Valkyrie Trail Race take place?
Valkyrie Trail Race takes place on May 8, 2027.
Where does Valkyrie Trail Race take place?
Valkyrie Trail Race takes place in Colorado Springs, United States.
Which distances does Valkyrie Trail Race offer?
Valkyrie Trail Race offers 6 distances — 50K: 50 km; Marathon: 42.2 km; 30K: 30 km; Half Marathon: 21.1 km; 8 Mile: 12.88 km; 4 Mile: 6.44 km.
How do I register for Valkyrie Trail Race?
Registration runs through the organiser: madmooseevents.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
