50K Pace Charts

A sub-4 hour 50K is an ambitious goal requiring exceptional training and race experience. This pace demands consistent sub-7:40-minute miles with minimal walking breaks. Depending on the terrain, race-day conditions, and your preparation, this may be an entirely unrealistic goal or completely in your wheelhouse.

Key Challenge: The difference between 4:00 and 3:55 often comes down to aid station efficiency and mental toughness in the final 10K.

A sub-5 hour 50K is an aggressive goal requiring significant training and race experience. This pace demands consistent sub-9:40-minute miles with minimal walking breaks. Depending on the terrain and race-day conditions, you may want to add additional time to your target pace.

Key Challenge: Maintaining steady effort when fatigue hits around mile 20-22, where even experienced ultrarunners see their pace drop.

A 6-hour 50K represents a solid performance goal for experienced runners transitioning to ultras or seasoned ultra runners seeking consistent improvement. This pace allows strategic walking on hills while maintaining strong forward momentum on flats and downhills. Depending on the 50k course's elevation profile, runners should aim for a marathon PR around 4:15-4:30 and be comfortable with run-walk strategies that don't compromise their target average pace.

Key Challenge: Success depends on mastering efficient run-walk transitions and not getting lured into unsustainable early pace.

A 7-hour 50K is an excellent first ultra goal that balances ambition with achievability. This pace incorporates significant walking while still maintaining steady progress, making it accessible to marathon finishers of various abilities.

Key Challenge: Banking time early through consistent splits provides crucial cushion for the inevitable slowdown in later miles of the race.

An 8-hour 50K suits runners prioritizing completion and enjoyment over speed, or those treating the race as a supported long training run. This conservative approach allows for extended aid station stops, photo opportunities, and course appreciation without stressing about finishing times. It's ideal for newer ultra runners or those stepping up from shorter distances who want to focus on learning ultra-specific skills like fueling and pacing management.

Key Challenge: The key is resisting the urge to 'race' early and instead treating this as practice for longer ultra distances or future races. Don't go out too fast at the expense of finishing!

A 9-hour 50K provides a comfortable timeline for beginners, hikers transitioning to running events, or runners using very conservative pacing for guaranteed completion. This pace naturally incorporates significant walking and allows for full enjoyment of aid station offerings and social aspects. Success depends more on consistent forward movement and proper fueling than traditional running fitness.

Key Challenge: Maintaining consistent forward momentum becomes more important than pace. Avoid getting lured into unsustainable early pace.

A 10-hour 50K accommodates a hiking-focused approach while still maintaining the structure of a running event. This timeframe suits first-time ultra participants who prefer walking-dominant strategies, runners combining the event with photography or sightseeing, or those using the race as a supported adventure rather than a performance goal. The generous time allowance removes pressure and emphasizes experience over speed.

Key Challenge: Success comes from embracing the hiking mindset while still respecting cutoff times and course closure schedules.