THE NATURALIST 25K & 50K

25K & 50K · Franklin, NC

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

1Tina Muir· 374:52:45
2Sarah Baldwin· 292:42:44
3Jessica Kawamura· 365:35:11

Men — Top 3

1Devon Brodmyer· 234:34:21
2Canyon Woodward· 322:12:26
3Kyle Boykin· 304:41:24

Age-group winners · 50K

Age	Female	Male
<20	—	Owen Hess6:32:18
20-29	—	Devon Brodmyer4:34:21
30-39	Tina Muir4:52:45	Kyle Boykin4:41:24
40-49	Cera Jones5:38:08	Jon Estep6:23:07
50-59	Jennifer Westbrook7:12:30	Dan Stoner5:47:45
60-69	—	Jim Boeyer6:46:38

Age-group winners · 25K

Age	Female	Male
<20	Lydia Holland3:51:14	—
20-29	Sarah Baldwin2:42:44	Rhett Bolick2:34:48
30-39	April Moore3:33:11	Canyon Woodward2:12:26
40-49	Sally Bray3:19:43	Sheridan Byers2:25:34
50-59	Leslie Garrison4:23:56	Jerad Crave2:31:58
60-69	Norma Rainwater4:33:48	Johnny Garner3:40:57

50K · 34 men finishers

1Devon Brodmyer4:34:21
Overall #1Age 23Brevard, NC
2Kyle Boykin4:41:24
Overall #2Age 30atlanta, GA
3Jonathan Harris4:50:46
Overall #3Age 35Franklin, NC
5Matt Koons5:10:56
Age 39Johnson City, TN
8Luke Porter5:39:39
Age 25Greenville, SC
9Zach Coggins5:41:33
Age 39Franklin, NC
10Dan Stoner5:47:45
Age 51Greenville, SC
11Cory Spychalski5:49:45
Age 36FRANKLIN, NC
13Wilson Webster6:22:13
Age 20memphis, TN
14Jon Estep6:23:07
Age 42asheville, NC
15Jonathan Mays6:23:43
Age 51Gainesville, FL
16Preston Jackson6:24:12
Age 35Sylva, NC
17Andrew Kerhoulas6:24:50
Age 38Hendersonville, NC
18Nathaniel Herron6:25:08
Age 45Clarkesville, GA
20Owen Hess6:32:18
Age 19Knoxville, TN
21Nathan Taylor6:38:20
Age 49Gilbert, SC
22Jim Boeyer6:46:38
Age 62Martin, GA
23Eric Wrenn6:50:33
Age 52Wilmington, NC
26Seth Koon7:00:46
Age 43Arden, NC
27Wesley Stokes7:08:42
Age 28Raeford, NC

Men Place	Overall	Name	From	Age	Time
1	#1	Devon Brodmyer	Brevard, NC	23	4:34:21
2	#2	Kyle Boykin	atlanta, GA	30	4:41:24
3	#3	Jonathan Harris	Franklin, NC	35	4:50:46
4	#5	Matt Koons	Johnson City, TN	39	5:10:56
5	#8	Luke Porter	Greenville, SC	25	5:39:39
6	#9	Zach Coggins	Franklin, NC	39	5:41:33
7	#10	Dan Stoner	Greenville, SC	51	5:47:45
8	#11	Cory Spychalski	FRANKLIN, NC	36	5:49:45
9	#13	Wilson Webster	memphis, TN	20	6:22:13
10	#14	Jon Estep	asheville, NC	42	6:23:07
11	#15	Jonathan Mays	Gainesville, FL	51	6:23:43
12	#16	Preston Jackson	Sylva, NC	35	6:24:12
13	#17	Andrew Kerhoulas	Hendersonville, NC	38	6:24:50
14	#18	Nathaniel Herron	Clarkesville, GA	45	6:25:08
15	#20	Owen Hess	Knoxville, TN	19	6:32:18
16	#21	Nathan Taylor	Gilbert, SC	49	6:38:20
17	#22	Jim Boeyer	Martin, GA	62	6:46:38
18	#23	Eric Wrenn	Wilmington, NC	52	6:50:33
19	#26	Seth Koon	Arden, NC	43	7:00:46
20	#27	Wesley Stokes	Raeford, NC	28	7:08:42

+ 14 more men finishers — full results on UltraSignup below

25K · 48 men finishers

1Canyon Woodward2:12:26
Overall #1Age 32Franklin, NC
2Sheridan Byers2:25:34
Overall #2Age 44Pisgah Forest, NC
3Jerad Crave2:31:58
Overall #3Age 50Asheville, NC
4Rhett Bolick2:34:48
Age 22Asheboro, NC
6John Dooley2:45:14
Age 40Chattanooga, TN
7Jeremy Cavender2:47:49
Age 39Franklin, NC
8Sam Smetana2:51:27
Age 36Sylva, NC
9Will Mitchell2:53:31
Age 27Dahlonega, GA
10Nathan Ellis2:56:32
Age 38Asheville, NC
12Christopher Hedden3:00:37
Age 24Franklin, NC
13Chris McLain3:07:06
Age 39Asheville, NC
14James McKenzie3:11:47
Age 28Niota, TN
16John Henderson3:16:03
Age 45Cartersville, GA
17David Nicholson3:17:48
Age 56Atlanta, GA
18Addison Baldy3:19:02
Age 22Knoxville, TN
20David Wolters3:21:43
Age 46Lebanon, TN
21Hisakatsu Sone3:24:47
Age 34Augusta, GA
22Dalton Allen3:24:56
Age 34Cullowhee, NC
23Steve Phalen3:26:29
Age 43Asheville, NC
24Jimmy Yokel3:27:57
Age 29Lyman, SC

Men Place	Overall	Name	From	Age	Time
1	#1	Canyon Woodward	Franklin, NC	32	2:12:26
2	#2	Sheridan Byers	Pisgah Forest, NC	44	2:25:34
3	#3	Jerad Crave	Asheville, NC	50	2:31:58
4	#4	Rhett Bolick	Asheboro, NC	22	2:34:48
5	#6	John Dooley	Chattanooga, TN	40	2:45:14
6	#7	Jeremy Cavender	Franklin, NC	39	2:47:49
7	#8	Sam Smetana	Sylva, NC	36	2:51:27
8	#9	Will Mitchell	Dahlonega, GA	27	2:53:31
9	#10	Nathan Ellis	Asheville, NC	38	2:56:32
10	#12	Christopher Hedden	Franklin, NC	24	3:00:37
11	#13	Chris McLain	Asheville, NC	39	3:07:06
12	#14	James McKenzie	Niota, TN	28	3:11:47
13	#16	John Henderson	Cartersville, GA	45	3:16:03
14	#17	David Nicholson	Atlanta, GA	56	3:17:48
15	#18	Addison Baldy	Knoxville, TN	22	3:19:02
16	#20	David Wolters	Lebanon, TN	46	3:21:43
17	#21	Hisakatsu Sone	Augusta, GA	34	3:24:47
18	#22	Dalton Allen	Cullowhee, NC	34	3:24:56
19	#23	Steve Phalen	Asheville, NC	43	3:26:29
20	#24	Jimmy Yokel	Lyman, SC	29	3:27:57

+ 28 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, tracing William Bartram's late-1700s exploration route along the historic Bartram Trail. The race launches from downtown Franklin, North Carolina and climbs relentlessly toward Wayah Bald. The 25K finishes at the Wayah Bald summit; the 50K circles Wayah Bald and returns via the same trail.

25K: ~5,500 ft elevation gain, finishing at Wayah Bald summit. 50K: 8,500+ ft elevation gain, looping around Wayah Bald and returning. Route begins at 35 E Main Street in downtown Franklin, NC, follows the Bartram Trail through Wallace Branch, then ascends to Wayah Bald.

Cutoffs — Mile 9 (Harrison Gap): 11:00 AM · Mile 14.5 (Wayah Bald): 2:00 PM · Mile 19.5 (Harrison Gap return, 50K only): 3:00 PM

Awards — Awards presented post-race. All participants receive a free custom pint glass as a keepsake.

Field limit: 150 total entrants across both distances. Parking at Wayah Bald is limited; free return shuttle to start is provided for 25K finishers. Runners exceeding cutoffs forfeit aid station services and race resources and may affect future eligibility. No refunds or deferrals. Runners Manual, GPX file, and map overlay (viewGPX.com) available. Post-race food from Woof Street Bistro.

Schedule

Friday Oct 2, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Check-in
Outdoor 76, downtown Franklin
Saturday Oct 4, 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM
Race-day check-in
8:00 AM, Saturday Oct 4
Race start (25K & 50K)
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Post-race festival
Food, craft beer, food trucks
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Live music — set 1
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Live music — set 2

Aid stations

Mi 3.5
Mi 3.5
Wallace Branch
Limited aid: water, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks
Mi 9Cutoff 11:00 AM
Mi 9
Harrison Gap
Cutoff 11:00 AM
Standard aid: water, electrolyte drinks, fruit, energy bars, snacks
Mi 14.5Cutoff 2:00 PM
Mi 14.5
Wayah Bald Summit
Cutoff 2:00 PM
Standard aid
Mi 19.5Cutoff 3:00 PM
Mi 19.5
Harrison Gap (return)
Cutoff 3:00 PM
50K only — standard aid
Mi 25
Mi 25
Wallace Branch (return)
50K only — limited aid