The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa) vs Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofThe Pistol Ultra (Alcoa) or Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon — which comes out ahead?
The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa) and Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held Favoured
- course flatness
- 0.4%
- flat grade share
- 86.2%
- lower ascent
- 696 m
- climbing density
- 4.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -0 m
- maximum grade
- 12.1%
Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
- course flatness
- Unavailable
- flat grade share
- Unavailable
- lower ascent
- Unavailable
- climbing density
- Unavailable
- net elevation
- Unavailable
- maximum grade
- Unavailable
| Metric | The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa) | Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 86.2% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.4% | Unavailable |
| Uphill share | 7.6% | Unavailable |
| Steep-up share | 0.0% | Unavailable |
| Downhill share | 6.2% | Unavailable |
| Total ascent (m) | 696 m | Unavailable |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.3 m/km | Unavailable |
| Longest climb length (m) | 250 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 9 m | Unavailable |
| Longest climb average grade | 3.4% | Unavailable |
| Total descent (m) | 696 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation (m) | -0 m | Unavailable |
| Max absolute grade | 12.1% | Unavailable |
| Start elevation (m) | 259 m | Unavailable |
| Finish elevation (m) | 259 m | Unavailable |
| Scenic score | 99/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 87/100 ✓ | 84/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 4.3 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)
Scenic score
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 99/100
Conditions
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 87/100 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 | The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa) | Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-13 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2025-12-20 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Alcoa, Tennessee | Lookout Mountain, Tennessee |
| Actual distance | 160.9 km | 80.5 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Not held |
| Course type | Laps | Loop |
| Surface | Mostly flat (for East Tennessee), paved, generally eight Foot Wide greenway with grassy shoulders along sections; lit at night | Predominantly single Track trail; other than about a mile at the start to thin the field, there are no roads. |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Mountainous |
| Terrain | Unavailable | Trail, Mixed |
| Scenery | Waterfront, Lakeside, Forest, Riverside, Parkland | Countryside, Mountain, Historic, Parkland, Forest, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Unavailable | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 696 m | 2,012 m |
| Climbing density | 4.3 m/km | Unavailable |
| Total descent | 696 m | 2,012 m |
| Net elevation | -0 m | Unavailable |
| Max absolute grade | 12.1% | Unavailable |
| Flat grade share | 86.2% | Unavailable |
| GAP factor | 0.4% | Unavailable |
| Cutoff | 32:00:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
Schedule
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-03-13 (legacy event-level date).
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2025-12-20 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Alcoa, Tennessee
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
Actual distance
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 160.9 km
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- 80.5 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Held
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Held
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Not held
Course type
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Laps
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Loop
Surface
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Mostly flat (for East Tennessee), paved, generally eight Foot Wide greenway with grassy shoulders along sections; lit at night
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Predominantly single Track trail; other than about a mile at the start to thin the field, there are no roads.
Elevation character
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Gently Rolling
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Mountainous
Terrain
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Unavailable
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Trail, Mixed
Scenery
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Waterfront, Lakeside, Forest, Riverside, Parkland
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Countryside, Mountain, Historic, Parkland, Forest, Riverside
Atmosphere
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Unavailable
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
Technicality
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Non Technical
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 696 m
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- 2,012 m
Climbing density
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 4.3 m/km
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Total descent
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 696 m
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- 2,012 m
Net elevation
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- -0 m
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Max absolute grade
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 12.1%
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Flat grade share
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 86.2%
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
GAP factor
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 0.4%
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Cutoff
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- 32:00:00
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa)
- Open
- Lookout Mountain 50 Mile, 18 Mile & 10K Trail Races (Chattanooga) Ultramarathon
- Open
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.