Lake Sonoma 50 is a 50-mile ultramarathon race held near Healdsburg, California. The course circumnavigates the Warm Springs arm of Lake Sonoma on hiking trails. It takes place annually on the second Saturday in April. The race was first run in 2008. In recent years it has become one of the most highly competitive ultramarathons in the United States.
Registration Registration is limited to only 400 runners. As a result, entry into the race is determined by lottery.
Race and elevation profile The Lake Sonoma 50 has a 14 hour time limit, with the gun-time being 6:30am on the day of the race.
According to the official course website, 86% of the course is single track, 9% dirt roads, and the first 2.4 miles on a paved road. There are twelve creek crossings and around 10,500 ft of elevation gain throughout the race.
Aid stations +Aid stations and characteristics Aid station nameMile Next aid station (miles)Cut off timeCrew Access Drop Bags Island View 4.37.3NoNo Warm Springs Creek11.65.3Yes Yes Wulfow16.91.9NoNoMadrone Point 18.86.4Yes NoNo Name Flat 25.25.71:15 PMYes Yes Madrone Point 30.91.9Yes NoWulfow32.85.3NoNoWarm Springs Creek38.07.54:45 PMYes Yes Island View (full)45.54.87:10 PMNoNoFinish 50.298:30 PMYes Yes Stocked with normal ultra aid station fare including GU energy gels and products. The race directors ask that participants limit their drop bag to the size of a small shoe box.
Race rules
Rules: No littering Be nice Have Fun!
If a participant violates the no littering rule or is observed being rude or unsportsmanlike they will be disqualified from the race.
Furthermore, there is a zero tolerance policy regarding the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
No pacers are allowed during the duration of the race.
Western States Endurance Run Golden Ticket race The first two men and women finishers of the Lake Sonoma 50 mile race are rewarded a guaranteed entry into the Western States Endurance run. Because of this it is considered highly competitive in the ultra running community.
Results
Key:
Edition Year Male winner Country Time (h:m:s) Female winner Country Time (h:m:s)152024Francesco Puppi6:30:17Lindsay Allison8:44:11142023Drew Holmen6:44:20Erin Clark7:49:27132022Matthew Seidel7:07:14Brittany Charboneau7:27:14122021Mario Mendoza7:10:13Keely Henninger7:40:20 - 2020race cancelled due to pandemic112019Jared Hazen6:08:29Anna Mae Flynn7:13:55102018 5:51:16 Keely Henninger7:13:55920176:17:55YiOu Wang7:22:3482016 6:00:52 YiOu Wang 7:14:45 7 2015 Alex Varner 6:09:39 Stephanie Howe Violett 7:08:23 6 2014 Zach Miller 6:11:10 Emily Harrison 7:26:15 5 2013 6:14:55 Cassie Scallon 7:47:42 4 2012 Dakota Jones 6:17:27 Joelle Vaught 7:52:44 - 2011race cancelled due to bad weather conditions 3 2010 Hal Koerner 7:08:20 Devon Crosby-Helms 8:26:53 2 2009 Jonathan Olsen 7:30:58 Suzanna Bon 8:43:30 1 2008 Dan Barger 8:24:31 Clare Abram 9:44:13
References