⏵ Course guide · Staten Island Greenbelt trail race
NYC Trail Mix runs 50 Mile, 50K, and half marathon distances on repeating single-track loops through the Staten Island Greenbelt, from the Greenbelt Nature Center. I will walk you through the loop structure, the cutoffs, and a pacing and fueling plan for each distance, with free calculators along the way to dial in your own numbers.
These facts come from the official registration page for the current edition. Elevation gain was not published there at the time of writing, so check the official race page for that before you commit.
Every distance starts and finishes at the Greenbelt Nature Center, running through Blood Root Valley, High Rock Park, and La Tourette Park on largely single-track trail with minimal road crossings.
A single lap of the Greenbelt loop, starting at 8:00 AM. It hits 2 aid stations along the way (High Rock and the finish at the Nature Center), making it a genuine single-track trail half rather than a road course with a trail label.
Starting at 7:00 AM, the 50K runs the loop twice, visiting 5 aid stations across the two laps: High Rock and La Tourette each pass, plus the Nature Center at the start, midpoint, and finish. You will see the same technical terrain a second time, which is a real advantage for pacing your second lap.
The earliest start at 6:00 AM, running 3 loops and visiting 8 aid stations total. By your third lap you will know every root and rise on the course, which matters as fatigue sets in over 50 miles of Staten Island single track.
The number that matters most is 3:00 PM: you need to be back at the Nature Center by then to start your final loop, or you will not be allowed to continue.
For the 50 Mile, that gives you a 9 hour window from your 6:00 AM start to cover your first 2 loops (33.2 miles) before starting the final one. For the 50K, you have 8 hours from your 7:00 AM start to cover your first loop (15.5 miles) before the same cutoff applies to your second and final lap. Build your early pacing around clearing that checkpoint with real margin, since technical single track can slow a tired runner more than flat terrain would.
⏵ Free tools to plan your effort
With aid stations at High Rock, La Tourette, and the Nature Center, on top of frequent Nature Center passes, plan your intake around those known stops.
Aim for roughly 40 to 70 grams of carbohydrate per hour and sodium in the 300 to 600 mg per liter range, scaled toward the higher end for the 50 Mile given the longer time on feet. Mid-November in Staten Island tends to run cool, so fluid needs are usually lower than a summer race, but keep to a drinking schedule rather than relying on thirst alone.
⏵ Build your fueling plan
Get a carb, sodium, fluid, and caffeine plan per hour built for your weight and a mid-November Staten Island trail effort with the free ultra fueling calculator. Browse the rest of the free running tools at the tools hub.
⏵ Train for it with Summit Line
Get a training plan built around YOUR fitness and the Staten Island Greenbelt's technical single track. Summit Line reads your real training, builds the durability multiple loops of this terrain demand, and rehearses your fueling so race day is something you execute, not guess at.
All three distances start and finish at the Greenbelt Nature Center on Staten Island and are built from repeated loops through the Greenbelt. The half marathon is a single 13.1 mile loop, the 50K is 2 loops of 15.5 miles each, and the 50 Mile is 3 loops of 16.6 miles each. Each pass through the Nature Center gives you a natural checkpoint to refuel and reassess.
There is a 3:00 PM cutoff at the Nature Center aid station for starting your last lap, and an overall 7:00 PM cutoff for the day. That works out to 13 hours for the 50 Mile (6:00 AM to 7:00 PM) and 11 hours for the 50K (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM). The 3:00 PM checkpoint is the one to watch closely if you are running behind pace, since it decides whether you get to start your final loop at all.
The course runs almost entirely on single track through the Staten Island Greenbelt, passing through Blood Root Valley, High Rock Park, and La Tourette Park, with minimal road crossings. Elevation gain is not published by the race, but the terrain is real New York City woodland trail, rooty and technical in stretches, so treat it as a genuine trail effort rather than a fast park loop.
A well-marked repeating loop with 5 aid stations on the 50K (8 on the 50 Mile) and a start/finish you pass every lap is a forgiving setup for a first attempt at either distance. The single-track technical terrain means it is not the easiest possible course, but the frequent aid and the ability to see your crew or drop bags every loop makes the logistics simple.
Early-bird pricing lists the 50 Mile at $170, the 50K at $130, and the Half Marathon at $105. Registration closes Thursday, November 12 at 11:59 PM ET, and prices for ultra distances commonly rise closer to race day, so register early if the current price matters to your decision.
Start and finish are at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave, Staten Island, with additional parking available at the Rec Center and nearby lots on Brielle Ave. Plan to arrive early enough to park and get settled before your distance's start time, especially if you are running the 6:00 AM 50 Mile.
The race benefits the Greenbelt Conservancy, the nonprofit that helps steward the Staten Island Greenbelt trail network the course runs through. Your entry fee supports the same trails you are racing on.
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<a href="https://runsummitline.com/guides/nyc-trail-mix">The NYC Trail Mix course guide</a><iframe src="https://runsummitline.com/embed/race/nyc-trail-mix" style="width:100%;max-width:420px;height:180px;border:0;" loading="lazy" title="NYC Trail Mix course guide by Summit Line"></iframe>This guide is independent and for planning only. Dates, cutoffs, and pricing come from the official registration page and can change year to year, so confirm the current specifics with Redpoint Productions before you register or run. The fueling and pacing advice is general and not medical advice.
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