Brian Whitfield’s 50k Race Recap: Desert Rats Trail Running 2025
April 17th, 2025
🗓 Event Overview
Desert Rats 50k by UTMB in Fruita, Colorado, on April 12th, 2025
Q: What was the 2025 Desert Rats 50k like?
A: The 50K takes runners on the stunning Colorado desert in the westernmost part of the state on the Utah border. Just north of the Colorado National Monument, the course takes you over scenic red rock cliffs and dramatic canyons above the iconic Colorado River. Sitting between elevations of 4,500 and 5,400 feet with over 3,400 feet of climbing, this course is exposed, fast, and fun. Running on over 90% single-track trails that vary from butter smooth hero dirt to technical rocky terrain, it has it all. Undoubtedly, some of the best terrain to access during the springtime in Colorado.
I won the race in a time of 3:35:46. Wanted to take down my own course record but the heat would have required more specific heat exposure training. Super fun having my dad out there crewing me, great day seeing friends and enjoying the trails!
Q: Was this a goal race, training race, or first attempt?
A: This is my second time racing here. In 2023 I took the overall win and ran the course record 10 minutes ahead of the previous record holder (Jon Rea) in a time of 3:31:20. This was a training run for me this year and a chance to get an auto qualification into the OCC. This was a good benchmark of my fitness, strategy, and fueling plan. I have intentions of making the 2025 United States Trail Running Team that will be competing this fall at the World Championships in Canfranc, Spain. My next race is the Broken Arrow 46k on June 23rd.
🏃 My Gear Setup
Q: What shoes did you wear?
A: I was deciding between the Nike Ultrafly and the Hoka Tecton. Both are amazing options for happy feet and a fast day. Ultimately, I decided to race in the Nike because it was a lighter color.
Q: Did you make any specific choices in clothing or gear for the race?
A: With the weather nearing highs in the 80s and a UV index around 7/11, I would have aimed for a light colored kit to help minimize heat fatigue but forgot to pack a few items and had to wear darker clothes. All the materials I chose are super breathable and do not cause friction when wet from sweat or water dunks. I pre-applied sunscreen before the race and did not reapply. If I was running longer I would have reapplied. Due to required gear, I used a 5L vest to carry an emergency jacket, reserve nutrition, extra water capacity, sunscreen, and phone. I would have preferred to just use handhelds if required gear wasn't a factor. But the takeaway is that I want a lighter colored vest rather than my dark one to reduce heat absorption on the torso. Same logic applies to my hat, tights, and jersey. I believe it really makes a difference.
Skratch HydraPak 500mL SkyFlask
Hydrapak Softflask 250ml Tall
| Segment | Fuel | Carbs (g) | Sodium (mg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Start- 9.2 | 500ml water + 1 Skratch Hydration Sport Drink Mix (Orange)+ 4 Super High Carb Hydration Drink Mix | 75g drink | 628mg drink | Steady sippin’ finish by 9.2. Ice in pack at 9.2. New bottles from the cooler. |
| #2 9.2-23.3 | 500ml water + 1 Skratch Hydration Sport Drink Mix (Orange) + 2 Super High Carb Hydration Drink Mix, 250ml water + 9 Super High Carb Hydration Drink Mix, 250ml water + Super High Carb Hydration Drink Mix | 128g gel 48g drink 14g drink | 514mg gel 514mg drink 57 mg drink | Ice in pack at 17.7 aid. Steady sippin’ and finish all by 23.3. New bottles from the cooler. |
| #3 23.3-Finish | 500ml water + 1 Skratch Hydration Sport Mix (Orange)+ 3 Super High Carb Hydration Drink Mix (Raspberry) | 62g drink | 571mg drink | New bottle from the cooler. Skipped Ice as I still had some. Steady sippin’ and finish by the finish! |
Total: 327g Carbs, 2284mg Sodium, 2000ml water
💪 How It Went
What went well?
- I stuck to my nutrition plan to a T and executed well. With the variety of flavors and concentrations, I never got any palate fatigue or GI issues.
- Pre-cooling before it got too hot with ice-cold bottles from the cooler and adding ice to the pack was clutch. Helped me literally feel calm, cool, and collected.
- I have picked up a reputation of being a desert racer, but truthfully that's because of the locality of the events to me here in Colorado. Competitive races across the country are expensive to travel to, so competing locally is a great way to hone my skills without breaking the bank as an unsponsored athlete.
- During the week leading into the race, I emphasized proper hydration - drinking Skratch hydration drink mix on all of my easy runs and during the day.
- Starting Wednesday before the race, I was getting in higher than my normal daily carbohydrate consumption of foods like bread, pasta, potatoes.
Where did things get hard?
- The race got hard around mile 17 when the sun came out from the clouds and the heat of the day began to reach its full intensity. I was dealing with some ITBS after Black Canyon 50k this February so I reduced volume in my training which likely contributed to this effect as well.
Race Splits
How did your gear and fueling hold up?
Pretty dialed! For this course, weather conditions, and my nutritional needs, everything felt good! I highly recommend getting a sweat concentration test done and testing out different bottle concentrations to really know yourself. Practice, practice, practice!
🧠 Key Takeaways & Lessons Learned
- Preloading carbs throughout the week helped. Lots of roadtrip snacks + Skratch drinks.
- Big dinner pre race (sweet potato/chicken tacos + Jarritos soda) and carb rich breakfast (2x Skratch Hydration Sport Drink Mix , 1L water + Skratch Cinnamon Oatmeal Bar + bagel.
- Ice in a pack beats ice in the bandana! (closer to the body and no bounce).
- Pacing plan went out the window due to the hot weather. I needed more heat exposure training coming from a colder climate, combatted this with ice and cold bottles.
- Pre-make Skratch Super High Carb Drink Mix the night before to allow mixture to dissolve fully.
- Family as crew is such a nice morale boost!
- Smile lots, have fun, cheer on others, and say thank you to aid station volunteers!
Follow along on Instagram @bwhitfield_
