Lake Martin 50/50
About the race
The Lake Martin 50/50 is held at Russell Lands in East Central Alabama.
It is designed to be a first ultra for runners transitioning from shorter distances or road marathons to their first 50K or 50-mile endurance event.
Unlike the intentionally grueling Blood Rock races, the Lake Martin course is built to prioritize runner success and a fun, supportive race experience.
Aid stations and support
- Each 25-mile loop features four aid station stops: two at the Heaven Hill Aid Station and two at The Cabin Aid Station.
- Each aid station has water, electrolytes, grab and go snacks, and hot food.
- A medic is present at the start/finish.
Race day timing and briefing
The 50 Mile race will start at 6:30 AM. The 50K Race will start at 6:35 AM. Sunrise will be shortly after the start of the race at 6:40 AM, and sunset is at 6:59 PM.
A short race briefing for all distances will be held at 6:20 AM at the race Start/Finish.
Address and GPS coordinates
Address: 17 Russell Farms Road, Alexander City, AL 35010.
GPS Coordinates: 32.764355, -85.945177
Registration deadlines and shirt cutoff
Race shirts must be ordered by February 14th, and a race shirt cannot be guaranteed after that date.
Registration closes March 4th at 11:59 PM. There is no registration after that date, and no registration at the race.
The course
50 Miles
50K
The race takes place on the private lands of the Russell Forest Trail System, with rolling hills and scenery along the shores of Lake Martin. Each full lap is divided into a North Loop (18.6 miles) and a South Loop (6.4 miles), with runners returning to the Cabin Aid Station between sections. The 50 Mile race is two full laps of the 25.09-mile course, and the 50K is one full lap followed by a repeat of the 6.4-mile South Loop.
Course terrain and elevation
Terrain
- The trails are described as runnable for everyone, including first-time trail runners.
- The course is considered non-technical by Southeast standards, but runners should watch for roots and sections littered with fist-sized chunks of granite.
Elevation
- Each 25.09-mile loop contains over 3,000 feet of elevation gain.
- Most hills are short and gentle (under 100 feet). The only significant climb is the half-mile ascent of Heaven Hill, which gains approximately 200 feet.
- While the hills are short, they are constant and will wear your legs down without the needed endurance.
Location
City insight: Alexander City
Alexander City, known locally as Alex City, is the largest city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, USA, with a population of 14,843 at the 2020 census. It is known for Lake Martin, which has 750 miles of wooded shoreline. The humid subtropical climate brings hot summers and mild winters, so spring and autumn are the best seasons to race.
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