Sawmill Trail Runs

Sawmill Trail Runs takes place in Pine, Colorado, on December 5, 2026, put on by Human Potential Running. Three trail formats are listed: a 16-Mile (about 26 km) and an 8-Mile (about 13 km), both starting at 8:00 AM, plus a 50K (about 31 miles) that goes off earlier, at 7:00 AM. No elevation gain figures are provided for any of the courses, so plan your pacing with caution rather than from the distances alone.

The staggered start for the longest distance is common on events like this and means runners of every format end up sharing the same stretches of singletrack. The 8-Mile is a reasonable introduction to trail racing; the 16-Mile calls for a habit of two- to three-hour outings on uneven ground; the 50K is aimed at runners already comfortable with the short ultra distance. Early December in the Colorado foothills means you should prepare for cold, possibly snowy footing: build your training on trails, include hiking on climbs, and rehearse your layering and nutrition before race day.