Upchuck 50K

The mission of Wild Trails is to encourage and promote a healthy and active lifestyle through trail running and other forms of outdoor recreation and advocate to protect and preserve land (natural spaces) used for such activities. Its objectives are: To encourage and promote the sport of trail running as a means to healthy living, wellness, and enhanced quality of life.One of the most uniquely named races in the world, the Upchuck features some very tough climbs and primitive trail running. The race is point-to-point on the Cumberland Trail, north of Chattanooga along the Cumberland Plateau, starting on Leggett Road and finishing in the city of Soddy-Daisy. It was founded on the experience of two local runners who were on a weekend training run. They stopped at a convenience store about halfway through the 31-mile route. Runner A ate lightly while Runner B ate heartily. Soon after, Runner B proceeded to disgorge his meal on the trail, while Runner A watched in disgust. The Upchuck is a no frills, no-wimps run capable of pushing even experienced trail runners to their limit.

The Upchuck 50K is heralded as an underground and low-key race of sorts, in that it stays small in nature by design, and has minimal aid stations or course markings other than the ubiquitous white blazes on trees that mark the Cumberland Trail, which it follows for its entirety. It is a point to point course which traverses three major river gorges – Rock Creek, Possum Creek, and Soddy Creek, each providing incredible terrain which had a unique feel compared to the other gorges. The Upchuck 50K is one of the toughest trail races in the country, and in just a few years has become a cult-classic, and a sought-after hardman notch in the belt. It tackles some of the most wild and technical terrain in the Cumberlands. The race entires are limited, with an admission process. and race day is bare bones, no sponsors, just “you, alone in the woods.”