I ran the Palo Duro Trail Run 20K in 2017. (It is now a 25K.) The race also offers 50K and 50 mile options. Although I hurt my foot during this race and ended up out of commission for most of the rest of 2017, I still loved this race. The 20K version was one loop of the course. The 50 K was 2 of those same loops plus a single, extra, loop to give runners the full 50K distance. I am not sure whether the 50 mile course used the same loop.

I loved this race because it was a great mix of climbing and gentle descents, some softer trail areas alonga river and some very rocky, harder, areas. The course was perfect for those of us who walk the uphills and run the downhills because most of the uphills would have been difficult to actually "run" but most of the flat areas and a lot of the downhills were very runnable.

The race was very well-run and well-organized. I finished 3rd Masters Female and was handed my award (an awesome embroidered duffel bag) at the finish line. The race organizers were on top of all that was happening at all times during the race, and everything about this race was easy. The course ran right through the middle of the start-finish area, so the 50K and 50 mile runners were cheered on by anyone and everyone as they passed through.

I have heard that the weather can be a factor - it was about 100 degrees the year before I ran it - but in 2017 the weather was perfect. Still, be aware that if you're planning to run this event, you should be prepared for any type of weather, from very warm to very cold, since it is October. Also, the 50K and 50 mile finishers got some cool finisher jackets, id that is something that piques your interest. :)