How hilly is the Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon?
The Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon is described as mountainous. The course listing puts the climb at 1,679 m.
Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon
This race edition
- Race date
- Date not confirmed for this distance
- Race timezone
- Timezone not confirmed
- Edition status
- Status not confirmed
Entry options
2026 edition
Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.
Official event website ↗Data current as of
Decision summary
Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon at a glance
- Cut-off average pace
- 12:00/km
- Typical conditions
- 45/100
- Evidence depth
- 47 verified facts
10:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.
Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast
Source facts available
Route details
Known course facts at a glance
Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon has known course details for its ultramarathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.
- Official distance
- 50 km
- Terrain
- Trail, Road, Mixed
- Scenery
- Mountain, Forest, Countryside, City, Parkland, Riverside
Quick answers
What runners ask first
Where does the Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon route go?
The Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon route starts at Manor Parking Area, Cunningham Falls State Park (6709 Cunningham Falls Park Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788) and finishes at Manor Parking Area, Cunningham Falls State Park (out-and-back returns to the start). Underfoot, expect rocky, technical but runnable singletrack, mostly shaded under tree canopy, with several stream crossings. It passes Cunningham Falls State Park, Frederick City Watershed, Gambrill State Park, High Knob and Catoctin Mountain. Four aid stations along the out-and-back: Manor (start/finish), Delauter Road, Hamburg Road and High Knob (turnaround).
What should runners know on race day for the Catoctin 50k Trail Run & Half Cat (Frederick) Ultramarathon?
3.
Race character
Scenery
- Mountain
- Forest
- Countryside
- City
- Parkland
- Riverside
Atmosphere
- Wilderness
- Competitive
Terrain
- Trail
- Road
- Mixed
- Elevation character
- Mountainous
- Technicality
- Very Technical
- Source-stated ascent
- 1,679 m
- Net elevation
- 0 m
Entry, logistics and records
Records and field
- Men's course record
- 4:38:59 (Serge Arbona)
- Women's course record
- 5:39:01 (Gina Slaby)
- Field size
- 50K limited to 200 runners; 25K (Half Cat) limited to 130 runners.
- Field cap
- 200
Entry requirements
- Entry status
- Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
- Cut-off
- 50K intermediate cutoffs: Delauter Rd (6 mi) 10:05 AM, Hamburg Rd (9 mi) 11:05 AM, High Knob turnaround (16 mi) 12:45 PM, Hamburg Rd inbound (22 mi) 2:45 PM, Delauter Rd inbound (25 mi) 3:45 PM; final Manor finish cutoff 6:00 PM (10-hour limit).
- Qualification status
- No qualifying standard required; open trail ultra with first Come registration until each field cap is reached.
Race day logistics
- Aid stations
- 3
- Medal
- Finishers receive the prestigious wallet-size 'Cat Card' (50K) or 'Half Cat Card' (25K) instead of a medal.
- Finisher tee
- T-shirt included for runners registered by May 20; late entries after May 21 may not receive merchandise.
Access and course status
- Start
- Manor Parking Area, Cunningham Falls State Park (6709 Cunningham Falls Park Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788).
- Finish
- Manor Parking Area, Cunningham Falls State Park (out-and-back returns to the start).
Course facts
- Course type
- Out And Back
- Surface
- Rocky, technical but runnable singletrack, mostly shaded under tree canopy, with several stream crossings.
- Landmarks
- Cunningham Falls State Park, Frederick City Watershed, Gambrill State Park, High Knob, Catoctin Mountain, Delauter Road, Hamburg Road
- Notable features
- Race directed by Kevin Sayers since 1999
- the event is known for its old-school, low-key character and is associated with the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club community
- Four aid stations along the out-and-back: Manor (start/finish), Delauter Road, Hamburg Road and High Knob (turnaround). Deceptively hard course where runnable terrain is mixed with technical, rocky sections that constantly change your stride
What are typical race-day conditions?
- 22°CTypical temperature
- 14 kphTypical wind
- 5 mmTypical rainfall
- 45Favourability /100