Elizabeth Furnace 50K
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Elizabeth Furnace 50 km
The Elizabeth Furnace 50 km is a mountainous trail event on the northern Massanutten range. The course distance is listed as 30.5 miles with about 6,400 feet of total ascent and descent. The route is primarily rocky, technical single-track with some fire roads and is almost entirely forested.
The course includes two staffed aid stations: Mudhole Gap (about 10.3 miles) and Elizabeth Furnace (about 21.8 miles). Aid is relatively limited; runners provide most of their own food and supplies. Competitors may leave sealed, labeled food bags at check-in to be available at the two aid stations. Participants are also asked to contribute a single common aid station item such as Gatorade, sodas, cookies, or similar.
Because the event is held in mid-March, weather can be unpredictable and snow or mud are possible. The Mudhole Gap section has five stream crossings that can become significant under wet conditions. The course uses blaze markings only and contains many turns; the Tuscarora Trail section and Meneka Peak require extra navigation care since the route crosses itself in places. A GPX file and a printable turnsheet are available; the turnsheet will not be provided at the start.
There is one cutoff: runners arriving at the Elizabeth Furnace aid station after 2:30 PM will be asked not to continue. Parking at the Signal Knob parking lot can be tight on a mid-March day. Medical care is not provided on course; runners are responsible for their own health and safety and should note that emergency response may be delayed in this remote terrain. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
