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Dirt Cheap Stage Race presented by Darn Tough Vermont 2026

Date
Race weekend: Friday to Sunday, November 13 to 15, 2026
Start time
5:00 PM start (New York)
Entry fee
From $30 · goes up to $105 on Oct 7, 2026
Included with entry
Includes a hoodie or sweatshirt
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Official race website

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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
Friday, Nov 13, 2026
Dirt Cheap Stage Race SeriesOtherNov 13, 20265:00 PM$95$105 after Oct 7, 2026–
Stage 1 - Pond Road Time Trial5KNov 13, 20265:00 PM$30$35 after Oct 7, 2026–
Saturday, Nov 14, 2026
Stage 2 - Devil's Bathtub 5 MileOtherNov 14, 202610:00 AM$35$38 after Oct 7, 2026–
Sunday, Nov 15, 2026
Stage 3 - The Epic Stage 11 MileOtherNov 15, 20268:00 AM$38$41 after Oct 7, 2026–

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

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The Other fee goes up to $105 on Oct 7, 2026.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • Dirt Cheap Stage Race Series: $95 until Oct 6, then $105 until Nov 12.
  • Stage 1 - Pond Road Time Trial: $30 until Oct 6, then $35 until Nov 11.
  • Stage 2 - Devil's Bathtub 5 Mile: $35 until Oct 6, then $38 until Nov 13.
  • Stage 3 - The Epic Stage 11 Mile: $38 until Oct 6, then $41 until Nov 11.

Online registration closes Nov 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in New York ($30).

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in New York runs 39:22, about 12:40 a mile, based on 23 races with published results. Women typically finish in 42:52 and men in 34:33.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:59 AM, and the Dirt Cheap Stage Race Series starts at 5:00 PM. The start sits about 640 feet above sea level.

Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.

Start location and course

Mendon Ponds Park, Mendon, NY 14472

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.

Stage 2 - Devil's Bathtub 5 Mile

262
finishers
53:53
median (9:48 /mi)
32:08
winning time
43% / 57%
women / men
median 53:5335:321:31:38
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Stage 1 - Pond Road Time Trial

254
finishers
39:34
median (13:11 /mi)
24:07
winning time
43% / 57%
women / men

Stage 3 - The Epic Stage 11 Mile

235
finishers
2:10:22
median (11:51 /mi)
1:21:14
winning time
45% / 55%
women / men

Aggregated from official results (YellowJacket Racing) for Dirt Cheap Stage Race presented by Darn Tough Vermont. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at Dirt Cheap Stage Race presented by Darn Tough Vermont?

At the 2025 Stage 2 - Devil's Bathtub 5 Mile, the fastest tenth finished in 40:41 or better, the top quarter in 46:58, and half the field in 53:53; the last tenth came in after 1:13:43.

At the 2025 Stage 1 - Pond Road Time Trial, the fastest tenth finished in 29:54 or better, the top quarter in 33:53, and half the field in 39:34; the last tenth came in after 58:03.

At the 2025 Stage 3 - The Epic Stage 11 Mile, the fastest tenth finished in 1:38:04 or better, the top quarter in 1:53:41, and half the field in 2:10:22; the last tenth came in after 3:03:47.

Third place by age group, 2025 Stage 2 - Devil's Bathtub 5 Mile
AgeWomenMen
Under 20n/a37:40
20-2948:0536:08
30-3944:2437:54
40-4947:4439:52
50-5951:5643:11
60-6959:3646:58

Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.

What would my time get me?

Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.

Finishers by year

Up 304 percent since 2021.

All events combined, from official results.

How fast is it?

Slower than most New York trail 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 33:53, against 30:12 in a typical New York trail 5K, so times here run 12 percent slower.

Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.

Typical race-day weather

Around November 13 the day usually runs from 35°F at dawn to 49°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 33% of days. Cold snaps dip to 28°F and hot years reach 61°F.

Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.

From the race's page

What the organizers of Dirt Cheap Stage Race presented by Darn Tough Vermont cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

Packet Pickup Info

Please plan to attend the Pre-Race Packet Pick-up! There is Packet Pick-up at the race site, but this is EXTREMELY ILL ADVISED to wait until race day. Pre-Race Packet Pick-up will be available: Thursday, November 12 from 10am-6pm at Fleet…

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
Mendon Ponds Park, Mendon, NY 14472Map
Course
Trail
Start elevation
About 640 feet
Included with entry
Finisher Hoody
Distances
5K, Other
Editions
2026 (Nov 13, 2026), 2025 (Nov 7, 2025), 2024 (Nov 8, 2024), 2023 (Nov 3, 2023), 2022 (Nov 4, 2022), 2021 (Nov 12, 2021)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is Dirt Cheap Stage Race presented by Darn Tough Vermont?
It is a race weekend, Friday to Sunday, November 13 to 15, 2026: Other, 5K on Friday; Other on Saturday; Other on Sunday.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $105 on Oct 7, 2026.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Nov 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for New York?
At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in New York ($30).
Do runners get a shirt or medal?
Entry includes a hoodie or sweatshirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
What distances can I run?
5K, Other.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2025, 262 runners finished the Stage 2 - Devil's Bathtub 5 Mile; the median finish was 53:53 and the winner ran 32:08.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 33:53, against 30:12 in a typical New York trail 5K, so times here run 12 percent slower.
Where does it start?
Mendon Ponds Park, Mendon, NY 14472.

From the organizers

Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap Stage Race

A Trail Running Stage Race Over 3 Days

3 Mile Trail Run / 5.5 Mile Trail Run / 11 Mile Trail Run

STAGE #1 - Friday, November 13, 2026, at 5:00-6:00pm Start - 3 Mile Pond Road (Headlamps req'd if racing in the dark)

STAGE #2 - Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10:00am Start - 5.5 Mile Devils Bathtub, with the infamous stair climb finish.

STAGE #3 - Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 8:00am Start - The 11 Mile EPIC Stage

Please Note: A participant cap may be implemented at any time

Read the full description on RunSignup