Man Against Horse

Man Against Horse takes place in Prescott, Arizona, on October 17, 2026. Three running distances go off through the morning: the 50-mile (80.5 km) at 6:30 a.m., the 25-mile (40.2 km) at 7:30 a.m., and the half marathon (13.1 miles) at 7:45 a.m. As the name says, runners share the course with horse-and-rider teams.

Sharing trail with horses is the detail to prepare for, and it comes down to etiquette: step aside, make yourself heard as you approach, and pass calmly rather than surging past. The half marathon is a fine entry point into central Arizona trail running, while the 25-mile makes a strong first ultra-length effort for a runner with a marathon behind them. For the 50-mile, budget a 16- to 20-week build with long climbing days and practice at hiking uphill efficiently.