Cat's Tail Trail Marathon

Cat's Tail Trail Marathon takes place in Shandaken, New York, on September 26, 2026, starting at 7:00 a.m. It is a single 26-mile trail run (41.8 km), just shy of a full marathon, set in the Catskill Mountains. There are no shorter options, so the field is made up of runners ready to spend a long day on mountain trails.

This format suits trail runners who already handle half marathons on technical ground and want to move up, or experienced ultrarunners looking for a hard tune-up before a fall 50K or 50-mile. Treat it as a mountain effort rather than a road marathon: your finishing time will depend far more on climbing and descending skill than on flat speed. Build your training around 14 to 16 weeks of hill repeats, weekend long runs with meaningful vertical gain, and practice on rocky, rooty trails so your ankles and quads are ready. Plan to carry your own fuel and water for stretches between aid.