PB potential
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon vs Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofTamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon or Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon — which comes out ahead?
Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and course flatness.
Route comparison snapshot
Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 11.6%
- flat grade share
- 16.8%
- lower ascent
- 1,966 m
- climbing density
- 39.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -1 m
- maximum grade
- 43.2%
Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 5.7% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 19.8% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 4,960 m
- climbing density
- 30.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -1,506 m
- maximum grade
- 39.2%
| Metric | Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon | Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| PB potential | Unavailable | 73/100 |
| Flat grade share | 16.8% | 19.8% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 11.6% | 5.7% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 37.3% | 32.9% |
| Steep-up share | 28.2% | 21.4% |
| Downhill share | 45.9% | 47.3% |
| Total ascent (m) | 1,966 m | 4,960 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 39.3 m/km | 30.8 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 3,280 m | 5,560 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 311 m | 746 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 9.5% | 13.4% |
| Total descent (m) | 1,967 m | 6,466 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -1 m | -1,506 m |
| Max absolute grade | 43.2% | 39.2% |
| Start elevation (m) | 14 m | 1,900 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 14 m | 394 m |
| Median finish context (s) | Unavailable | 25:42:15 |
| Beginner-friendliness | Unavailable | 60/100 |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 76/100 ✓ | 9/100 |
Flat grade share
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 19.8% Favoured
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 5.7% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 39.3 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Median finish context (s)
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Beginner-friendliness
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Scenic score
Conditions
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 76/100 Favoured
Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon | Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-15 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-27 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Muir Beach, California | Olympic Valley to Auburn, California |
| Actual distance | 50 km | 161 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Point To Point |
| Surface | Mixed terrain: single Track trail, fire roads, and brief sections along Highway 1 | Trail |
| Elevation character | Mountainous | Mountainous |
| Terrain | Beach, Trail | Trail |
| Scenery | Coastal, Countryside, Mountain, Forest, Waterfront, Parkland | Mountain, Riverside, Historic, Forest, Canyon |
| Atmosphere | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Competitive | Unavailable |
| Technicality | Technical | Very Technical |
| Total ascent | 1,966 m | 4,960 m |
| Climbing density | 39.3 m/km | 30.8 m/km |
| Total descent | 1,967 m | 6,466 m |
| Net elevation | -1 m | -1,506 m |
| Max absolute grade | 43.2% | 39.2% |
| Flat grade share | 16.8% | 19.8% |
| GAP factor | 11.6% | 5.7% |
| Cutoff | 10:00:00 | 30:00:00 |
| Field cap | 250 | 369 |
| Latest finishers | Unavailable | 322 |
| Entry model | Open | Ballot |
Schedule
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-08-15 (legacy event-level date).
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-27 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Muir Beach, California
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Olympic Valley to Auburn, California
Actual distance
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 50 km
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 161 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Held
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Held
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Held
Course type
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Loop
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Mixed terrain: single Track trail, fire roads, and brief sections along Highway 1
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Trail
Elevation character
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Mountainous
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Mountainous
Terrain
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Beach, Trail
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Trail
Scenery
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Coastal, Countryside, Mountain, Forest, Waterfront, Parkland
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Mountain, Riverside, Historic, Forest, Canyon
Atmosphere
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Competitive
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Technicality
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Technical
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Very Technical
Total ascent
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 1,966 m
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 4,960 m
Climbing density
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 39.3 m/km
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 30.8 m/km
Total descent
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 1,967 m
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 6,466 m
Net elevation
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- -1 m
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- -1,506 m
Max absolute grade
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 43.2%
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 39.2%
Flat grade share
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 16.8%
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 19.8%
GAP factor
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 11.6%
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 5.7%
Cutoff
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 10:00:00
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 30:00:00
Field cap
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- 250
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 369
Latest finishers
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- 322
Entry model
- Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon
- Open
- Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon
- Ballot
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.
Common questions
Which is flatter, Tamalpa Headlands 50K Ultramarathon or Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon?
Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.