Races

Pony Express Trail 100

Faust, UtahOctober

Lookout Campground to Fish Springs and back. One hundred miles of Utah desert dirt road. Three thousand feet up. Wild horses. Crew required. Head west.

127 mi+12,581 ft-12,581 ft30 hours4,423 ft to 7,585 fttech 5/10Checkpoints per race bookFish Springs turnaroundwild horsesfirst 100 friendlyOctober
Distance127 mi
Gain+12,581 ft
Loss-12,581 ft
Altitude4,423 ft to 7,585 ft
Technicality5/10
Air35°F to 85°F
Gradient profileVerified course GPX
  • Start7,123 ft
  • High7,585 ft
  • Low4,423 ft
  • Finish7,123 ft

Field, 2025 · 20-year samplescraped

Starters28
Finish rate68%
Median28:49
Sub-246

Geometryderived

Steepest drop1,955 ft-13.8% over 2.7 mi
Night miles69 misunset near 17:00 local
Longest climb2,700 ft64 mi at 0.8%

Weather at the cruxderived

At hour 9 of race, feels like 19 C (72 F).Sample of 7 race days, medium confidence.At hour 9 of race, apparent temperature P90 is 19 C / 66 F.

Course records

Men15:06:27Jay Aldous2011 scraped
Women17:00:27Andrea White2025 scraped

The cruxFish Springs turnaround at mile 58.2 by 10:00 pm (near mile 65)

Course DNA

The Course

Pony Express Trail 100 runs 100 mi through Faust, Utah. +12,581 ft gain and -12,581 ft loss. Surfaces skew 100% dirt road. Fish Springs turnaround at mile 58.2 by 10:00 pm. High point near 7,585 ft. Low near 4,423 ft. October temps run 35°F to 85°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.

The Work

Train for 12,581 feet of climbing across 100 mi. Back-to-back long runs on similar surfaces. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 30 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.

Kit

October in Faust, Utah: plan for 35°F to 85°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 30 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 100% dirt road: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.

Race Day

Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Fish Springs turnaround at mile 58.2 by 10:00 pm near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.

Results

Pony Express Trail 100 finish lines.

Sources (2)

Pony Express Trail 100