Dead Horse Ultra

Dead Horse Ultra takes place in Moab, Utah, on November 14, 2026, organized by Mad Moose Events. Four trail distances are staggered through the morning: the 50-mile at 6:00 AM with about 4,500 feet of climbing, the 50K (31 miles) at 7:00 AM with about 3,000 feet, the 30K (18.6 miles) at 8:00 AM with about 2,000 feet, and the 15K (9.3 miles) at 8:30 AM.

Moab in November means cool temperatures, dry air and the mix of slickrock, sand and jeep road that makes desert running unique. The elevation numbers are moderate for the distances, so the 50K and 50-mile are reasonable goals for runners moving up from shorter ultras, and the 30K is a good introduction to desert trail. Train on rocky, uneven ground and practice steady hydration even in cool weather. Give yourself 16 weeks for the 50K and 20 for the 50-mile, with back-to-back long runs late in the build.