It is a high-altitude 50k race in Colorado, with substantial cumulative elevation gain.
Runners follow the Colorado Trail up to an elevation of 13,150 feet.
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.
Sawatch Ascent 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.
Race reports: 1
Eric Cote
“I still have no regrets about my decision.”
At Sawatch Ascent 50km, the runner struggled with lingering fatigue from the previous day’s run and nausea whenever eating. After enjoying the scenery over 12km, the runner stopped, having missed the time limit by 10 minutes.
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.
The start takes place at Co Rd 321, Nathrop, CO at 7:30 AM local time.
Participant benefits
Not yet confirmed in the official race guide
Where and when to collect your Sawatch Ascent 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
Pick up your bib at the expo
Pick up the tickets in advance at the Buena Vista Community Center two days before the competition. It was not specified whether it would be received on the day of the competition (Sunday).
