Course section
The Gut
1.02 – 1.25 mi · 2,050 to 2,550 ft — where runners break
Distance
1.02 – 1.25 mi
Elevation
2,050 – 2,550 ft
Gain
+500 ft
Character
Steep loose scree gully
The Gut is the demoralizing section above The Cliffs — a steep, loose gully that funnels racers upward through the final push to Race Point. By the time athletes reach this section, they've already climbed 2,000 feet and scrambled up cliff bands. The Gut rewards fitness over technique and is where gaps between leaders and the mid-pack typically widen decisively.
Why it's called The Gut
The name is apt — this section requires gut-level effort at a point in the race when most runners have little left. The loose scree offers poor footing going up, demanding constant energy to stay upright while climbing steeply.
Where the race splits
Leaders push through The Gut in a sustained burn; mid-pack runners often need to pause or slow significantly. The combination of altitude (2,000+ feet), steep terrain, and accumulated lactic acid makes this section a fitness filter.
The descent through here
On the way back down, The Gut is even more dramatic — runners essentially free-fall through the loose scree, using controlled sliding and quick foot placement to avoid falling. The scree sprays as athletes descend at terrifying speed.
Pro tip
Spectatoring The Gut requires a hike up the lower mountain. It's worth it — you see both the struggle going up and the controlled chaos coming down, and you're close enough to hear athletes working.
Other course sections
The Roots
0.0 – 0.6 mi · 95 to 700 ft — the mountain begins
The Cliffs
0.82 – 1.02 mi · 1,450 to 2,050 ft — hands required
Race Point
1.55 mi · 3,022 ft — the turnaround at the top
The Scree Run
1.55 – 2.0 mi · 3,022 to 1,250 ft — what people remember
The Chute
2.0 – 2.25 mi · 1,250 to 600 ft — mud, water, and the final drop