Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay logo

Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay 2027

Date
Saturday, April 24, 2027
Start time
5:00 AM start (Detroit)
Entry fee
From $10 · goes up to $170 on Nov 2, 2026
Included with entry
Includes a shirt
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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
50 Mile Ruck50 MileApr 24, 20275:00 AM$160$170 after Nov 2, 2026–
50 Mile RelayRelayApr 24, 20276:27 AM$100$110 after Nov 2, 2026384
Pacer–Apr 24, 20276:27 AM$10–
Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Mile50 MileApr 24, 20276:27 AM$160$170 after Nov 2, 2026325
50K Ruck50KApr 24, 20277:30 AM$135$145 after Nov 2, 2026–
Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Kilometer50KApr 24, 20278:30 AM$135$145 after Nov 2, 2026200
Virtual 50KVirtual50KApr 24, 2027$55–
Virtual 50 MileVirtual50 MileApr 24, 2027$55–

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

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The 50 Mile fee goes up to $170 on Nov 2, 2026.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • 50 Mile Ruck: $160 until Nov 1, then $170 until Feb 1, then $180 until Apr 23.
  • 50 Mile Relay: $100 until Nov 1, then $110 until Feb 1, then $120 until Apr 22.
  • Pacer: $10 until Apr 23.
  • Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Mile: $160 until Nov 1, then $170 until Feb 1, then $180 until Apr 22.

Online registration closes Apr 23, 2027, unless the race fills first.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:36 AM, and the 50 Mile Ruck starts at 5:00 AM. The start sits about 600 feet above sea level.

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

Start location and course

6400 Main St, Caseville, MI 48725

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.

Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Mile

110
finishers
10:35:54
median (12:43 /mi)
6:17:54
winning time
28% / 72%
women / men
median 10:35:546:19:5514:55:06
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Kilometer

104
finishers
6:31:08
median (12:35 /mi)
3:33:12
winning time
56% / 44%
women / men

50 Mile Relay

38
finishers
8:29:33
median (10:11 /mi)
6:11:41
winning time
72% / 28%
women / men

Aggregated from official results (Trivium Racing) for Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay?

At the 2026 Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Mile, the fastest tenth finished in 8:21:47 or better, the top quarter in 9:09:10, and half the field in 10:35:54; the last tenth came in after 12:42:03.

At the 2026 Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Kilometer, the fastest tenth finished in 4:34:29 or better, the top quarter in 5:23:37, and half the field in 6:31:08; the last tenth came in after 8:44:17.

At the 2026 50 Mile Relay, the fastest tenth finished in 7:06:26 or better, the top quarter in 7:51:11, and half the field in 8:29:33; the last tenth came in after 9:56:54.

Third place by age group, 2026 Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Mile
AgeWomenMen
20-298:56:578:31:42
30-398:57:557:42:19
40-4910:34:329:38:23
50-59n/a11:34:52

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 2026.

Finishers by year

Down 34 percent since 2024.

All events combined, from official results.

Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay 50 Mile year by year

From 2024 to 2026, the field went from 190 to 110 finishers, and the median time rose from 10:34:29 to 10:35:54.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
2026110 (+5%)10:35:54under 8:21:476:17:54
2025105 (-45%)10:52:21under 8:35:147:00:10
202419010:34:29under 8:20:446:24:56

From each year's official results for the 50 Mile; virtual options are left out.

How fast is it?

Faster than most US 50-mile races

The fastest quarter of the 2026 50-mile race field finished under 9:09:10, against 9:47:37 in a typical US 50-mile race, so times here run 7 percent faster.

  • 50K: Faster than most US 50Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2026 50K field finished under 5:23:37, against 5:37:54 in a typical US 50K, so times here run 4 percent faster.

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 April 24 the day usually runs from 39°F at dawn to 57°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 35% of days. Cold snaps dip to 31°F and hot years reach 71°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 Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

Aid Stations

This is a cup-less event. You will be provided a collapsible cup at packet pick up to use at the aid stations if you will not be using your own hydration source. Note: Aid Stations locations and options available may change slightly due to…

Schedule and packet pickup

Drop Bags

We will have a bag check area at the start of both races and at the packet pick up on Friday, April 23rd. A bag to use for bag check will be provided to all athletes at check in. For security reasons, this is the only bag that will be…

Schedule and packet pickup

Event Schedule

Mandatory Virtual Pre Race Athlete Meetings. You must attend one of three clinics, Date and times TBA. Relay teams, please designate one-two members to attend. Friday, April 23rd. Packet Pickup at Thumb Brewery, 2pm-7pm: 6758 Pine St…

Course

50 Mile Course

50 Mile Ultra & 50 Mile Relay teams will run a point-to-point course starting in Harbor Beach, Michigan and finishing in Caseville, Michigan! The 50 Mile course is point-to-point, starting at sunrise in Harbor Beach, Michigan and finishing…

50 Mile Course, from the Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay page

Course

50K Course

This out-and-back course starts and finishes on the beach at Caseville County Park. The course uses mostly unimproved and gravel roads. With ~220' of elevation gain it's a fun, fast race! Course Map. Click here to view the course on…

50K Course, from the Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay page

Course

Alternate Driving Route

We’ve created a custom map in Google My Maps that shows the course, aid stations & exchange points, and the intended driving routes between them. Crew, spectator, and Relay team vehicles supporting the relay MUST follow the alternative…

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
6400 Main St, Caseville, MI 48725Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 600 feet
Included with entry
Jacket; T-Shirt
Distances
50K, 50 Mile, Relay
Editions
2027 (Apr 24, 2027), 2026 (Apr 25, 2026), 2025 (Apr 26, 2025), 2024 (Apr 20, 2024)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay - 50 Mile, 50K, & 50 Mile Relay?
Saturday, April 24, 2027, starting at 5:00 AM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $10 before processing fees, and rises to $170 on Nov 2, 2026.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Apr 23, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Do runners get a shirt or medal?
Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
What distances can I run?
50K, 50 Mile, Relay.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2026, 110 runners finished the Thumb Coast Ultra 50 Mile; the median finish was 10:35:54 and the winner ran 6:17:54.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2026 50-mile race field finished under 9:09:10, against 9:47:37 in a typical US 50-mile race, so times here run 7 percent faster.
Where does it start?
6400 Main St, Caseville, MI 48725.
Is there a course map?
Yes, the organizers publish the route on Strava; the link is under Start location and course.

From the organizers

Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay – April 24, 2027

Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay is a one-of-a-kind spring ultramarathon in Michigan’s Thumb. On Saturday, April 24, 2027, runners and ruckers will take on the challenge of racing from Lake Huron in Harbor Beach to Saginaw Bay in Caseville in the 50 Mile division—or team up with friends for the 50 Mile Relay. The 50K features a flat out-and-back course starting and finishing in Caseville.

Read the full description on RunSignup