The Rubicon

The Rubicon takes place near Oxbow Reservoir, California, on October 24, 2026. Three trail distances are on offer, all with serious vertical: a 43-plus-mile race (69.2 km) starting at 9:00 AM with about 19,300 feet of climbing, a 30-plus-mile race (48.3 km) starting at 7:15 AM with about 12,700 feet of climbing, and a 15-plus-mile race (24.1 km) starting at 7:15 AM with about 6,700 feet of climbing. The name points to the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada.

These elevation figures are extreme for the distances, so treat each option as a mountain race rather than a standard ultra. Even the 15-plus-mile has more climbing than many 50Ks. Your training should revolve around long climbs, technical descents, and hiking with poles if they are allowed. If you are choosing the 43-plus-mile, a 20-week build with back-to-back mountain long runs and vertical gain tracked weekly is a sensible plan. Plan generous cutoffs in your pacing, and expect the descents to be as demanding as the climbs.