Sage Burner Trail Races

Sage Burner Trail Races are held in Gunnison, Colorado, on October 3, 2026. Three trail distances go off in quick succession: the 50K (31 miles) starts at 8:00 AM, the 28K (about 17.4 miles) at 8:15 AM and the 15K (about 9.3 miles) at 8:30 AM.

Gunnison sits well above 7,000 feet, and altitude is the first thing to plan for at any of these distances. Your pace will be slower than at sea level, your breathing harder on the climbs, and hydration matters more in the dry mountain air. The sagebrush terrain the name points to usually means open, exposed trails rather than forest cover, so sun protection is worth thinking about even in October. The 15K is a good introduction to high-country trail racing, the 28K a solid intermediate goal, and the 50K a first ultra for runners who are comfortable on rolling terrain with sustained climbs. Give yourself 12 weeks for the shorter distances and 16 weeks with back-to-back long runs for the 50K, and if you live at low elevation, arrive early or keep your effort conservative from the start.