pacertrip.

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

MD Heat Trail Race

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Elkridge
US

Race date Aug expected: August 2027
City · Distance: Elkridge · 50km
Entry fee: $95From the 2026 edition
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date August 2027 · expected · Soon

2026Date Aug 15, 2026 · Entry fee $90 · Start 07:00

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 9, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Except for a short section through the parking lot, the entire course is on trails.

The course follows rolling singletrack, crosses a creek twice, and has more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain.

There are two distances: 50K and 25K. The 50K runs two laps of the 25K course.

A post-race celebration with craft beer and food follows in the finish area.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

philipkperkinsRan in 2015 · Finish time 6:44:21

“In hindsight, I ran the first half too hard.”

At the MD HEAT 50km, the runner fell on rocky, root-covered trails. An overly hard first half and insufficient fueling slowed the second lap, but the runner pushed through to finish in 6 hours, 44 minutes, and 21 seconds.

Read the original on Chasing 10K

perrystrails

“I made it to the finish line eventually, finishing the slowest 50k I've ever run.”

At MD Heat 50 km, heat, humidity and a fall nearly convinced the runner to quit, but their companion's encouragement kept them going. Even after removed course markers caused a wrong turn later on, they kept moving and finished.

Read the original on Perry's Trails

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Full recap

Chris Bruno · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

Ultra

Entry cost $95

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

25K

Entry cost $90

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 50km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00

START

Elkridge, MD

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Patapsco Pickall Area, 8125 Johnnycake Rd

Finish · Google Maps

The start and finish are at Shelter 707 in the Patapsco Valley area.

Course follows rolling singletrack and crosses a stream twice.

Highly technical, rocky sections alternate with smooth, runnable sections.

There are three out-and-back sections.

The first climbs to Valley Overlook, where runners receive a wristband at the top.

You must show this wristband at finish to be recognized as an official finisher, and you may keep the wristband.

The other two are mandatory out-and-back sections leading to aid station in the latter part of course.

Aid station volunteers check each runner's bib number and record whether they have passed through.

The 50K completes two loops of the 25K course.

The locations and spacing of aid station are the same on both loops,

and runners must receive a Valley Overlook wristband on each loop, so you will have two wristbands by the finish.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNo public transit.
IC cardElkridge, MD is served by several MTA Maryland bus routes (409, 501, 320, 408) and is about a 2-minute walk…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit. Start/finish is at Patapsco Valley State Park, Pickall Area, 8125 Johnnycake Rd, Elkridge, MD, at Shelter #707.

Per official race site (mdheatrace.com/start). On-site parking adjacent to pavilions/start-finish area — carpooling encouraged.

No public transit realistically serves this state park area.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start — Shelter #707 in the Pickall Area.

Per official race site.

Map

Start shuttle

No shuttle service mentioned.

IC card

Elkridge, MD is served by several MTA Maryland bus routes (409, 501, 320, 408) and is about a 2-minute walk from the Dorsey MARC commuter rail station, which connects to Baltimore and Washington DC. MTA fares use the CharmPass app or a physical CharmCard; there's no direct tap-to-pay bank card acceptance yet.

For the trail venue itself a car remains the most practical choice.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The 2026 race takes place on Saturday, August 15.

The 50K starts at 7:00 a.m., and the 25K starts at 9:00 a.m. Park access opens at 6:00 a.m.

There is no strict time limit, but 50K runners who finish their first loop after noon will not be sent out for the second loop.

The organizers describe this as five hours allotted per loop.

During the race, 50K runners may drop down to the 25K.

Aid station are located at approximately 2 miles, 5.25 miles, 8 miles, 11.5 miles, and 16 miles.

They offer Tailwind, water, and the usual sweet and salty snacks.

No gels are provided, so runners who need gels should bring their own.

Registration closes at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 14, the day before the race.

Entry fee is $95 for the 50K and $90 for the 25K;

including tax and fees, the totals are $103.43 and $98.12, respectively.

Parking is beside the start/finish and the pavilion, but spaces are limited.

The organizers recommend carpooling.

The finish area has two large pavilions, restrooms, and water.

Times are local to Elkridge. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hampton Inn & Suites Baltimore/Woodlawn

Hotel · 4.0km

7.5/10(570)

View on Booking.com

Arlington｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

$61

MD Heat Trail Race

About MD Heat Trail Race — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run