Patapsco Valley 50K

Patapsco Valley 50K takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 24, 2026. Two trail formats are offered: a 50K (31 miles) starting at 7:30 AM and a 25K (15.5 miles) starting at 8:30 AM. The name refers to Patapsco Valley State Park, and the organizer's website points to White Oak Running. The mid-Atlantic setting in late October usually brings cool mornings and fall color along the river valley.

Trails in this valley tend to be rooty and rolling rather than mountainous, which makes the 50K a fair first ultra for runners coming from road marathons in the Baltimore and Washington area. A 16-week build with long runs of 20 to 24 miles on trails, plus some short hill work, covers the basics. The 25K, starting an hour later, is well matched to runners who race halves and want a longer trail challenge without an ultra commitment. Either way, expect wet spots near the river after fall rain.