Way Too Cool 50K, live.

Western States trails in the foothills above the American River

The 36th Way Too Cool 50K starts at 8am on Saturday 6 March 2027 in Cool, California, together with a 10 mile trail race.

Way Too Cool 50K is a trail race in the Sierra foothills of Northern California, put on by NorCalUltras with race director Julie Fingar, and its organisers call it the most sought after 50K in the United States. The 2027 race on 6 March is the 36th annual running, and registration for 2027 is open on Race Roster.

The 50K starts and finishes at the Cool Fire Station. The course is 98 percent trail, mostly singletrack, with no two way traffic and more of the Western States trail than in earlier years. It climbs 4,799 feet and drops 4,209 feet, with creek crossings, rolling hills and five aid stations. A timing split at mile 8 lets supporters follow early progress.

The 10 mile race starts at 8am with the 50K and follows its first 8 miles back to the Cool Fire Station. It then takes singletrack out to an aid station at the turnaround and returns to the finish, with 1,161 feet of gain. It is a good first taste of the event for newer trail participants.

Pacers, trekking poles and dogs are not allowed on course. After the finish the race serves soup and its signature frog cupcake, and around two hundred volunteers help run the weekend. Supporters can watch the start and finish at the fire station.

On Livebib you can follow a participant who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry. This is not the organiser's timing, and the official results come from Way Too Cool 50K.