The Rut Mountain Runs 28k

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• Big early climb with 1060m gain. Hold your pace, save your legs for later.
• 293m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Steep 58% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
• High point at 3392m. Control your HR at altitude.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 12.3km, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 26.1km.
• Start · 0.0km–1.3km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.3km–10.3km · Climb of 1057m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Work · 10.3km–20.5km · Descent of 293m averaging 15%, climb of 618m, descent of 791m averaging 28%, high point 3392m. Plus 2 more climbs and 1 descent. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Fade · 20.5km–26.1km · Plus 1 more climb and 1 descent. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 26.1km–27.8km · Descent of 320m averaging 19%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.

Course

The course climbs 2375m+. With 85m/km of climbing, the course is exceptionally steep, with long hiking-grade sections. By gradient, 49% of the distance is uphill, 48% downhill and 3% flat. The longest climb runs 10.3km at an average 10.3% grade (1057m of vertical). The longest descent runs 4.1km at an average 9.6% grade (397m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 57.6% over 0.4km. The steepest descent drops at 33.2% over 0.3km. Flat-equivalent effort: 50.0 FlatKM.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Lone Mountain (3397m), 16.5km from the start.

Poles

Trekking poles are worth taking: about 5.9km of the course favours them.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 30 of 100), with 37% of the load in the first half: 2 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 12.3km, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 26.1km.
• #2 · 10.3–12.3 km · 293 m D−, -14.7% · 15.5 km ahead → control
• #1 · 16.5–19.2 km · 791 m D−, -28.4% · 8.6 km ahead → your pace
• 20.5–24.7 km · 397 m D−, -9.6% · 3.2 km ahead → your pace
• 26.1–27.8 km · 320 m D−, -18.9% · 0.0 km ahead → free

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 0°C to 9°C, with around 8°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 29%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 3% of days around this date.

Results

743 finishers completed the 2026 edition. Men's winner: Cam Smith (United States) in 3:06:40. Women's winner: Camila Noe (United States) in 3:49:28.