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Trail runners at The Naturalist 2026 on Franklin, NC
SeriesPast race

The Naturalist 2026

Saturday, October 3, 2026

8:00 AM · 25K & 50K · Franklin, NC

Jump to resultsAbout this race
Distance
28mi
Climb
6,200ft
High point
5,286ft
Low point
2,054ft

Profile of the 50K course

ABOUT THE NATURALIST

Climb the Bartram. Earn Wayah Bald.

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.

THE FINISHERS

50K

Women, top 3

  1. 1st
    Deanna Doane5:29:42 · age 28 · Jacksonville Beach, FL
  2. 2nd
    Kathryn Cushen5:45:55 · age 34 · Marietta, GA
  3. 3rd
    Lauren Cater6:25:18 · age 38 · Missoula, MT

Men, top 3

  1. 1st
    Canyon Woodward4:09:36 · age 33 · Franklin, NC
  2. 2nd
    Randy Elliott5:01:48 · age 42 · Brevard, NC
  3. 3rd
    Charlie King5:26:20 · age 37 · Waynesville, NC
Age-group winners, 50K
Age-group winners, 50K
AgeWomenMen
<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

25K

Women, top 3

  1. 1st
    Sarah Baldwin2:39:00 · age 30 · Franklin, NC
  2. 2nd
    Jewly Hight3:04:19 · age 45 · Nashville, TN
  3. 3rd
    Martha Ross3:22:27 · age 25 · Asheville, NC

Men, top 3

  1. 1st
    Brian Atkinson2:03:25 · age 34 · Asheville, NC
  2. 2nd
    Jack Ballard2:28:27 · age 26 · Asheville, NC
  3. 3rd
    Dominick Laporte2:30:34 · age 39 · Black Mountain, NC
Age-group winners, 25K
Age-group winners, 25K
AgeWomenMen
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

RUNNING ORDER

50K, 51 men finishers, showing top 20

  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
    Overall 4Age 33Waynesville, NC
  5. 5Ashley Doty5:33:16
    Overall 6Age 41Asheville, NC
  6. 6Sam Smetana5:35:11
    Overall 7Age 37Sylva, NC
  7. 7Andrew Rice5:47:41
    Overall 9Age 25Asheville, NC
  8. 8Steffen Flender5:51:09
    Overall 10Age 47Bammental
  9. 9Cory Spychalski6:16:39
    Overall 11Age 37FRANKLIN, NC
  10. 10David Wolters6:16:41
    Overall 12Age 47Lebanon, TN
  11. 11Matheson Post6:19:16
    Overall 13Age 20Otto, NC
  12. 12Kevin Mershon6:29:42
    Overall 15Age 42Waynesville, NC
  13. 13Jason Strauss6:30:47
    Overall 17Age 42Charlotte, NC
  14. 14Jesse Johnson6:32:28
    Overall 18Age 51Otto, NC
  15. 15Andrew Maske6:35:46
    Overall 20Age 27Claremont, NC
  16. 16Nathan McAllister6:53:39
    Overall 22Age 19Franklin, NC
  17. 17Jake Kiser6:56:11
    Overall 23Age 55Athens, GA
  18. 18Ryan Hamdorff6:57:41
    Overall 24Age 41Ladson, SC
  19. 19Adam Moats6:59:20
    Overall 26Age 47Piedmont, SC
  20. 20Nick Hughes6:59:53
    Overall 27Age 35Waynesville, NC

And 31 more men finishers. Full results on UltraSignup below.

25K, 38 men finishers, showing top 20

  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
    Overall 4Age 55Biltmore Lake, NC
  5. 5Sean Blanton2:40:24
    Overall 6Age 40The Bluff, GA
  6. 6Jonathan Harris2:45:49
    Overall 7Age 36Franklin, NC
  7. 7Sheridan Byers2:57:18
    Overall 8Age 45Pisgah Forest, NC
  8. 8Eli Baldy3:16:26
    Overall 10Age 26Maryville, TN
  9. 9Chris McLain3:18:18
    Overall 11Age 40Asheville, NC
  10. 10Aaron Kenyon3:19:54
    Overall 12Age 38Fuquay Varina, NC
  11. 11Calin Schumacher3:21:16
    Overall 13Age 32Gaffney, SC
  12. 12Mike Armstrong3:32:47
    Overall 16Age 51Holly Springs, NC
  13. 13Andy Lyness3:38:46
    Overall 18Age 43Marietta, GA
  14. 14Jeremy Hyatt3:45:27
    Overall 20Age 49Sylva, NC
  15. 15Alex Morice3:46:10
    Overall 21Age 60Horse Shoe, NC
  16. 16Zachary Prytula3:53:35
    Overall 24Age 33Knoxville, TN
  17. 17Shane Corbett3:59:22
    Overall 26Age 39Loganville, GA
  18. 18Russell Hawkins4:04:33
    Overall 27Age 42Franklin, NC
  19. 19Kenneth Corrigan4:05:34
    Overall 29Age 31Boca Raton, FL
  20. 20Joel Collins4:05:40
    Overall 30Age 44Franklin, NC

And 18 more men finishers. Full results on UltraSignup below.

Full results on UltraSignup

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

Schedule for the day
TimeWhat happens
Fri 5:00 – 8:00 PMPacket pickupAt Outdoor 76, Main Street
6:30 – 7:30 AMRace-day check-inOn site
8:00 AMRace startIn front of Outdoor 76 on Main Street
1:00 – 3:00 PMFood served
4:00 – 6:00 PMLive music

AID STATIONS

  1. Mile 3.5

    Wallace Branch

    Limited aid

    5.5 mi to the next one

  2. Mile 9

    Harrison Gap

    Cutoff 11:00 AMWater, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks

    5.5 mi to the next one

  3. Mile 14.5

    Wayah Bald summit

    Cutoff 2:00 PMWater, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks

    5 mi to the next one

  4. Mile 19.5

    Harrison Gap (return, 50K only)

    Cutoff 3:00 PMWater, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks

    5.5 mi to the next one

  5. Mile 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

THE NATURALIST ARCHIVE

2 races
  1. 2026
    The Naturalist 2026
  2. 2025
    The Naturalist 25K & 50K

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?