Way Too Cool 50 Kilometer facts for kids

The Way Too Cool 50K is a super long running race, also known as an ultramarathon. This exciting event happens every year in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. The race starts and finishes in a small town called Cool. It usually takes place in early March and first started way back in 1990.

Race Course

The Way Too Cool 50K race course is mostly on special paths. These paths include "single-track trails," which are narrow paths just wide enough for one person, and "fire roads," which are wider dirt roads often used by fire trucks.

The race follows parts of the famous Western States Trail Ride route. This trail goes through two counties in California: El Dorado County and Placer County. Along the way, runners climb and descend a lot! The course has more than 4,800 feet (1,500 m) of up and down hills. The total distance of the race is 31 miles (50 km).

How to Join the Race

If you want to run the Way Too Cool 50K, you need to sign up early! Registration usually opens in early December. Because so many people want to run, runners are chosen by a "lottery" system. This means names are drawn randomly, like a raffle, to decide who gets a spot.

It's a tough race, but most runners finish it! More than 95% of the people who start the Way Too Cool 50K actually complete the entire course.