The Ivy Trek Ultra

The Ivy Trek Ultra is held in Quitman, Mississippi, on September 26, 2026. Organized by Time2Run, the event offers three trail distances with staggered starts: a 50K (31 miles) at 6:30 a.m., a 25K (about 15.5 miles) at 7:00 a.m., and a 12.5K (about 7.8 miles) at 7:15 a.m. The three distances double up neatly, with the 25K twice the shortest option and the 50K twice that again, which makes it easy to compare your options.

The 12.5K is a good entry into trail racing for runners who usually stick to 5Ks and 10Ks, and the 25K offers a step up for those comfortable at half marathon distance. The 50K is a solid first ultra, especially with an early start that gets the bulk of the running done in the morning. Train with 12 to 16 weeks of consistent mileage, a weekly long run on trails, and a hydration routine you have tested on long days. For the 50K, add a few runs in the four-hour range to test your fueling.