Lake Sonoma 50 Mile
Saturday, April 8th 2023 - 6:30am Start
LS50 has secured more entry spots!
Open registration will be begin at 9:00am PST on Dec. 5th.
Registration will remain open until all additional spots are filled.
About the Course
It’s sneaky hard, so save something for the second half. The hills aren’t major, but they are relentless and take a toll…all while providing beautiful scenery along the way. The course now starts and finishes in the green space next to the Lake Sonoma Visitor Center. This means runners begin the course with a steep trail climb, but also end with a speedy downhill finish! Additionally, there are three more major climbs throughout the middle of the course, which many runners choose to hike. If you’re wiped out, the last 12 miles can go on forever, so save some juice for the end you will pick up a lot of places in the last two or three hours. The course is 98.4% trail and 1.6% road. The race starts at 6:30 am and has a 14-hour time limit.
For the top runners, it’s pretty easy to get sucked into a speedy start (even going uphill). Somebody will go out crazy hard, and it’s really difficult to let them go. Try to find a balance between being reckless and not being so conservative that you’re never in the hunt. The second half should be a bit faster than the first half, thanks to the new downhill finish.
The Lake Sonoma 50 Mile race is the U.S. Team qualifier event for the 2023 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships – 86km Long Trail race event, held Friday, June 9th, 2023 in Innsbruck, Austria.
The top 3 eligible men and top 3 eligible women at the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile will have an opportunity to accept a spot on the U.S. Team for the Long Trail event.
To learn more about the World Championships and selection criteria, visit:
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Prize Money
The Lake Sonoma 50 Mile will be offering prize money reaching five deep for both the men’s and women’s field. All funds will be issued in US Dollars.
- 1st: $2,000
- 2nd: $1,000
- 3rd: $750
- 4th: $500
- 5th: $250
Aid Stations
Aid stations will be stocked with the normal ultra fare, and will have GU Energy Gels, GU Liquid Energy and GU Roctane Energy Drinks.
Note: The first two aid stations (South Lake & Island View) will be water only. You will not have to go down to the campsite on the way out, but you will on the way back. Wulfow is also a water-only aid station.
Please monitor your fluid requirements carefully and note that there are fairly long stretches between aid. If it’s warm you will likely need more than one bottle in the afternoon. Every runner must carry at least one water bottle.
Drop Bags will be transported to the No Name Flat aid station and to Warm Springs Creek. Please try to limit the size of your drop bag to no larger than a small shoebox. We are happy to allow for drop bags, but not particularly interested in moving all your worldly possessions.
Crew Driving Directions
From the start to Warm Springs Creek: Return to Stewart Point-Skaggs Springs Road. Turn right and follow it for 11 miles to the intersection of Old Skaggs Springs Road. Turn right on Old Skaggs Springs Road and follow it for 3 miles to the gate. (Note that this entire 14 miles is on a very scenic country road that twists and turns. If you are prone to car sickness this might possibly be an issue.) Park here and walk a half-mile further down the road to the aid station.
From Warm Springs Creek to Liberty Glen (Madrone Point): Return up Old Skaggs Springs Road for 3 miles to the stop sign. Turn left onto Stewart Point-Skaggs Springs Road and follow it for 11.5 miles to the stop sign at Rockpile Road. Turn left and follow Rockpile Road for 3.2 miles to the Liberty Glen Campground Road. Turn left and follow this for 0.5 miles.
After the entrance station, turn left and follow the road to the Group Campground E. Park here and walk about 200 yards up the service road to the top of the hill where the course comes in. The Madrone Point aid station is another mile down the service road but you can crew your runner from this spot. Allow 45 minutes to drive here from Warm Springs Creek.
Liberty Glen to No Name Flat: Return to your car, and drive back up the hill to Rockpile Road. Turn right and follow Rockpile Road for a little over a mile back to the well-signed No Name Flat trailhead parking area on your right.
