Bad Beard Events
Trail runners at The Naturalist 2026 on Franklin, NC
← THE NATURALIST SERIES
Past race
Saturday, October 3, 2026· 8:00 AM

THE NATURALIST 2026

25K & 50K · Franklin, NC
View results ↗About this race
50K course28 mi · 6,200 ft gain · 2,054–5,286 ft

About The Naturalist

The same trails William Bartram — “The Naturalist” — walked in the late 1700s. You start in downtown Franklin, NC and climb the Bartram Trail from Wallace Branch to Wayah Bald, roughly eleven miles of going up. The 25K carries over 5,500 feet of climbing. The 50K carries over 8,500.

Results

THE FINISHERS

Women — Top 3
  1. 1Deanna Doane· 285:29:42
  2. 2Sarah Baldwin· 302:39:00
  3. 3Kathryn Cushen· 345:45:55
Men — Top 3
  1. 1Canyon Woodward· 334:09:36
  2. 2Brian Atkinson· 342:03:25
  3. 3Randy Elliott· 425:01:48
Age-group winners · 50K
AgeFemaleMale
<20—Nathan McAllister6:53:39
20-29Deanna Doane5:29:42Andrew Rice5:47:41
30-39Kathryn Cushen5:45:55Canyon Woodward4:09:36
40-49Claire Dufresne7:54:50Randy Elliott5:01:48
50-59Angela Jean Hill6:45:45Jesse Johnson6:32:28
60-69—Jim Boeyer7:13:04
Age-group winners · 25K
AgeFemaleMale
20-29Martha Ross3:22:27Jack Ballard2:28:27
30-39Sarah Baldwin2:39:00Brian Atkinson2:03:25
40-49Jewly Hight3:04:19Sean Blanton2:40:24
50-59Kate Birthright3:51:23Scott Atkins2:38:21
60-69—Alex Morice3:46:10

50K · 51 men finishers

  1. 1Canyon Woodward4:09:36
    Overall #1Age 33Franklin, NC
  2. 2Randy Elliott5:01:48
    Overall #2Age 42Brevard, NC
  3. 3Charlie King5:26:20
    Overall #3Age 37Waynesville, NC
  4. 4Joel Bulthuis5:27:46
    Age 33Waynesville, NC
  5. 6Ashley Doty5:33:16
    Age 41Asheville, NC
  6. 7Sam Smetana5:35:11
    Age 37Sylva, NC
  7. 9Andrew Rice5:47:41
    Age 25Asheville, NC
  8. 10Steffen Flender5:51:09
    Age 47Bammental
  9. 11Cory Spychalski6:16:39
    Age 37FRANKLIN, NC
  10. 12David Wolters6:16:41
    Age 47Lebanon, TN
  11. 13Matheson Post6:19:16
    Age 20Otto, NC
  12. 15Kevin Mershon6:29:42
    Age 42Waynesville, NC
  13. 17Jason Strauss6:30:47
    Age 42Charlotte, NC
  14. 18Jesse Johnson6:32:28
    Age 51Otto, NC
  15. 20Andrew Maske6:35:46
    Age 27Claremont, NC
  16. 22Nathan McAllister6:53:39
    Age 19Franklin, NC
  17. 23Jake Kiser6:56:11
    Age 55Athens, GA
  18. 24Ryan Hamdorff6:57:41
    Age 41Ladson, SC
  19. 26Adam Moats6:59:20
    Age 47Piedmont, SC
  20. 27Nick Hughes6:59:53
    Age 35Waynesville, NC
+ 31 more men finishers — full results on UltraSignup below

25K · 38 men finishers

  1. 1Brian Atkinson2:03:25
    Overall #1Age 34Asheville, NC
  2. 2Jack Ballard2:28:27
    Overall #2Age 26Asheville, NC
  3. 3Dominick Laporte2:30:34
    Overall #3Age 39Black Mountain, NC
  4. 4Scott Atkins2:38:21
    Age 55Biltmore Lake, NC
  5. 6Sean Blanton2:40:24
    Age 40The Bluff, GA
  6. 7Jonathan Harris2:45:49
    Age 36Franklin, NC
  7. 8Sheridan Byers2:57:18
    Age 45Pisgah Forest, NC
  8. 10Eli Baldy3:16:26
    Age 26Maryville, TN
  9. 11Chris McLain3:18:18
    Age 40Asheville, NC
  10. 12Aaron Kenyon3:19:54
    Age 38Fuquay Varina, NC
  11. 13Calin Schumacher3:21:16
    Age 32Gaffney, SC
  12. 16Mike Armstrong3:32:47
    Age 51Holly Springs, NC
  13. 18Andy Lyness3:38:46
    Age 43Marietta, GA
  14. 20Jeremy Hyatt3:45:27
    Age 49Sylva, NC
  15. 21Alex Morice3:46:10
    Age 60Horse Shoe, NC
  16. 24Zachary Prytula3:53:35
    Age 33Knoxville, TN
  17. 26Shane Corbett3:59:22
    Age 39Loganville, GA
  18. 27Russell Hawkins4:04:33
    Age 42Franklin, NC
  19. 29Kenneth Corrigan4:05:34
    Age 31Boca Raton, FL
  20. 30Joel Collins4:05:40
    Age 44Franklin, NC
+ 18 more men finishers — full results on UltraSignup below
Full results on UltraSignup ↗
How the day ran

RACE DAY DETAILS

The Naturalist Trail Race — 25K & 50K is part of Outdoor 76’s Fall Celebration. The historic Bartram Trail traces the same footsteps William Bartram explored in the late 1700s. You start in downtown Franklin, head out to Wallace Branch, and climb from there toward Wayah Bald. Every 2026 entrant gets a custom pint glass to take home.

Distances offered

  • 25K — roughly 5,500 feet of climbing. Finish atop Wayah Bald, then catch a free shuttle back to the start.
  • 50K — over 8,500 feet of climbing. Circle Wayah Bald, refill, and descend the Bartram Trail back to town.

After you finish

Live music, craft beer, food trucks and awards, back at Outdoor 76 on Main Street.

Schedule
  1. Fri 5:00 – 8:00 PM
    Packet pickup
    At Outdoor 76, Main Street
  2. 6:30 – 7:30 AM
    Race-day check-in
    On site
  3. 8:00 AM
    Race start
    In front of Outdoor 76 on Main Street
  4. 1:00 – 3:00 PM
    Food served
  5. 4:00 – 6:00 PM
    Live music
Aid stations
  1. Mi 3.5
    Wallace Branch
    Limited aid
  2. Mi 9Cutoff 11:00 AM
    Harrison Gap
    Water, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks
  3. Mi 14.5Cutoff 2:00 PM
    Wayah Bald summit
    Water, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks
  4. Mi 19.5Cutoff 3:00 PM
    Harrison Gap (return, 50K only)
    Water, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks
  5. Mi 25
    Wallace Branch (return, 50K only)
    Water, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks
What to bring
  • RequiredAt least 1 litre of water for the Wayah Bald climb
All editions

THE NATURALIST ARCHIVE

  1. 2026
    THE NATURALIST 2026●
  2. 2025
    THE NATURALIST 25K & 50K→
Volunteers staffing a Bad Beard aid station
Crew passing nutrition to runners mid-course
Crew up

Volunteer with Bad Beard Events

Our races run on volunteer power — course marshals, aid stations, packet pickup, finish-line cheer squads.

You don't need experience. Bring a thermos, decent layers, and a willingness to clap loudly. We'll plug you in.

Interested in being a volunteer?