Claims of any race being the toughest, gnarliest, hottest, wettest, most difficult and so on always turn into lively discussions among seasoned trail runners and newbies alike. The difficulty of a race is always in the eye of the beholder, but there is an easy solution. Just try to run all the races and decide for yourself which is hardest:-)
No matter how you look at it, the Stump Jump 50K isn't just a trail race with a rich history, its winning times are also proof that this race is indeed one of the more difficult ones, and not jsut in the southeast. However, if that's not something you're looking for then consider this race for its natural beauty. Steep bluffs, stone features and some amazing bluff line running make for a spectacular race experience.
The Stump Jump 50K is an old school southern trail race in Tennessee featuring technical terrain and enough vert and a couple of steep climbs to put your max heartrate to the test. I'd run this race a couple of times before, but it had been a few years. It's funny how quickly we forget the most challenging parts of a race and only remember the sweet views and the cameraderie on the trails.
This is another must do ultra for any beastcoaster or anyone else looking for a cool place to visit. Chattanooga is a trail running haven offering accommodations for just about any taste as well as some of the best local brewery experiences and places to find some tasty food. If you're ever visiting, check out Chattanooga Brewery for tasty brews, the Crash Pad (modern hostel for outdoor adventurers), Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo (mid range hotel with a cool ambiance), or Sluggos (personal favorite for vegan grub). Various professional sports teams (Chatanooga Lookouts for baseball and Chattanooga FC for soccer) and others provide some great entertainment options along with miles and miles of trails for the avid trail and ultra runner.
Chattanooga, Tennessee is one of our favorite places to visit, so feel free to hit me up with any specific questions about visiting. Hopefully, this video will inspire someone to go out there and see for themselves what this place is all about.