Baker Trail UltraChallenge

Run a 50 mile ultramarathon in 14 hours!

Overview

Baker Trail 3 x 50 BLACK.png The Baker Trail UltraChallenge is a 50-mile ultramarathon on the Baker Trail. Unlike the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, this is a footrace; the "challenge" is for you or your relay team to win, or at least finish within 14 hours! The next UltraChallenge is set for Saturday, August 23, 2025. The race starts at 6:30 AM; the deadline for finishing is 8:30 PM. Individuals as well as relay teams of up to 5 members may register.

In 2024 the race traversed the Central section of the trail, the second leg in the three-leg series. In 2025 we'll run the South section. Each year, a piece of a unique three-piece medal will be awarded to all individual finishers. When a participant has completed all three sections, they'll receive a handsome commemorative holder to display all three medals.

Registration

Registration opens February 1, 2025.

The Course

The Baker Trail is marked as a typical hiking trail. Yellow blazes on trees, telephone poles, fence posts, guard rails, and so on indicate the path.

Unlike many hiking trails, the Baker Trail is not always a footpath through the woods. In many areas, it follows dirt or paved country roads, some with narrow shoulders. As with road running everywhere, you must always be alert and cautious.

Because of the varying terrain, the UltraChallenge is more mentally demanding than similar ultras. You must always be watching for the blazes in order to stay on the course. In places, the Trail will be following a road only to abruptly turn off the road into the woods. Therefore, if you haven't seen a blaze in a few minutes, you may be off course and should backtrack to the last blaze and determine where you went wrong.

Plenty of runners will go off-course at least once during the day. If you expect -- and accept -- that you will, too, it won't be quite as frustrating. The key to a successful race is to realize it quickly.

Forum

Discuss, comment on, or ask questions about the UltraChallenge on our Facebook page.

Past Events

2024 UltraChallenge: "Two for Tanner" | Split Times
2023 UltraChallenge: "A Record Year" | Split Times
2022 UltraChallenge: "Goldstein Goes for Gold" | Split Times
2021 UltraChallenge: "Humidity, Heat, Huber" | Split Times
2020 UltraChallenge: "Burkholder Makes It Two" | Split Times
2019 UltraChallenge: "Love Your Enemy" | Split Times
2018 UltraChallenge: "A Rough Stretch" | Split Times
2017 UltraChallenge: "Good Day for a Relay" | Split Times
2016 UltraChallenge: "A Day of Changes" | Split Times
2015 UltraChallenge: "New York FTW" | Images | Split Times
2014 UltraChallenge: "A Damp Course" | Images | Split Times
2013 UltraChallenge: "Expect the Unexpected" | Images | Split Times
2012 UltraChallenge: "Nelson Makes it Two" | Images | Split Times
2011 UltraChallenge: "Nelson Conquers All" | Images | Split Times
2010 UltraChallenge: "A Great Day to Run" | Images | Split Times
2009 UltraChallenge: "Cook Cooks Baker" | Images | Split Times
2008 UltraChallenge: "Not Even Close" | Images | Split Times
2007 UltraChallenge: "Tough Crowd" | Images | Split Times
2006 UltraChallenge: "A Hot One" | Images | Split Times
2005 UltraChallenge: "The Birth of an Ultra" | Images | Split Times

Volunteers

We need volunteers on UltraChallenge Day! We will need people throughout the day, from morning registration to aid stations along the trail to the finish. People can volunteer for as few as two hours. What's in it for a volunteer? As a thank-you, all volunteers receive a coveted Marshal t-shirt and the gratitude of many strangers!

Articles

UltraRunning Magazine: "Courage is Contagious: Women and Ultrarunning"
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "50-mile race an ultra challenge"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Ultramarathoner means going farther (inside yourself) than you ever thought possible"

Other Events

Laurel Highlands Ultra, 50k or 70 miles
Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50, 50 miles