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Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge race photo

Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USApr 11, 202750km · 21.1km
Ildar Sagdejev ( Specious ) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date in 176 days
Apr 11, 2027 Sun
City · Distance
Durham · 50km · 21.1km
Entry fee
$50From the 2026 edition
Status
SoonTBD ~ Sun, April 11, 2027See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 17, 2026
Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge race photo
Ildar Sagdejev ( Specious ) · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

Run the singletrack of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in spring.

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.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

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

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

Full recap

Scott Runs n’ Stuff · 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 enter Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge — registration routes

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

Half

Entry cost $50

13-Mile · until Feb 27, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Ultra

Entry cost $80

until Feb 27, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform RunSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge course map and elevation

Your 50km

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

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
Time limit3.5h
Show more

13M 3.5h 50K 8h

not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Riverside High School, Durham, NC

Start · Google Maps

The distances are 13-Mile and 50+-KM.

The race starts at Riverside High School, Durham, NC, at 7:00 a.m. local time.

Typical race-season temperature: around 15°C (59°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge race bib

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

Source · checked Aug 23, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

GoDurham bus stop 'Rose Of Sharon at Riverside High School' (Route 1)

Start/finish is at Riverside High School, 3218 Rose of Sharon Rd, Durham, NC. GoDurham Route 1 stops directly at 'Rose Of Sharon at Riverside High School,' about a 5-minute walk to the school/venue.

Weekend/early-morning service is limited. Per prior edition (2026): race held Sunday, April 12, 2026. 2027-04-11 (a Sunday) is consistent with the event's typical mid-April Sunday scheduling, not treated as a conflict.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start - Riverside High School (start and finish both at the school)

12M and 50K courses both start and finish at Riverside High School.

Map
Source · checked Aug 23, 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 Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M &

50K Challenge reached its 17th edition in 2026.

It starts and finishes at Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina.

Course uses singletrack sections of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) along the Eno River and is described as a classic trail course with roots,

rocks, sharp turns and log obstacles.

However, sections of course were changed in 2026 because of construction at Blue Jay Point County Park, so the exact route may vary slightly from year to year.

The 50K starts at 7:00 a.m., and the 13-mile (12-mile) event starts at 8:30 a.m. Time limit are 8 hours and 3 hours 30 minutes, respectively.

Registration is handled through RunSignUp.

Bib and packet pickup is available from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. the day before the race at Bull City Running's downtown store,

and on race morning at the venue from 6:15 to 8:30 a.m. Aid stations are placed approximately every 3–4 miles and provide water, sports drink, gels and snacks.

50K runners may leave a drop bag at the turnaround and finish.

Pets, headphones, unofficial pacer and strollers are prohibited.

Times are local to Durham. 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 Durham University Medical Center

Hotel · 4.7km

9.3/10(358)
View on Booking.com

Durham Airport Pickup (Intui.travel)

Pre-booked pickup service, scheduled according to your flight (check the price when booking) · Check the price and book

View on Intui.travel

Home2 Suites By Hilton Durham University Medical Center

Hotel · 4.7km

9.2/10(242)
View on Booking.com

Durham Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Hotels near the Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge start line in Durham

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Hampton Inn & Suites Durham University Medical Center

Hotel · 4.7km

9.3/10(358)
View on Booking.com

Home2 Suites By Hilton Durham University Medical Center

Hotel · 4.7km

9.2/10(242)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Durham Airport Pickup (Intui.travel)

Pre-booked pickup service, scheduled according to your flight (check the price when booking) · Check the price and book

View on Intui.travel

Durham Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

What to see in Durham after the race

Seeing Durham with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Durham.

Total cost and budget for Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Durham runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge

FAQ
When does Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, April 11, 2027 in Durham, NC, United States.

What is the time limit for Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge 2027?

13M 3.5h 50K 8h. (From the 2026 edition)

What distances does Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge 2027 offer?

Half · Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge 2027 start?

Riverside High School, Durham, NC. (From the 2026 edition)

What is the Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13M & 50K Challenge 2027 course like?

The distances are 13-Mile and 50+-KM.

The race starts at Riverside High School, Durham, NC, at 7:00 a.m. local time.

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