Pumpkin Butt 50K Race Report

Race: Pumpkin Butt 50K

Runner: Matt Anthony

Race Date: 10/27/2024

Location: Kennesaw Mountain, GA

Result: 8 hours, 42 minutes and 34 seconds; Overall: 14th; DP: 11th

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/12761111809

Matt Anthony completing the Pumpkin Butt 50K with his pumpkin in hand!
Matt Anthony completing the Pumpkin Butt 50K with his pumpkin in hand!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
  1. Race size and feel: The Pumpkin Butt 50K was a small race with really wonderful people, which made it feel more like a fancy group run.
  2. The difficulty: This course was hard! Going 5 times up and over the top of the mountain, with super rocky, “stair-step” trails, required me to dig deep early on not to drop out when I had the chance at the end of each loop!
  3. It was weird! You were required to carry a pumpkin on one lap, spinning a “wheel of misfortune” at the aid station.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

None – the “bad” parts were well advertised!

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Carrying the pumpkin? Or for folks not from around here, all the cannon and signs commemorating this civil war battle would’ve seemed pretty strange!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I managed my fueling well, taking in about 1900 calories between aid station food (grilled cheese, quesadilla, PB&J), gels (Huma and Veloforte coffee gels) and my secret weapon, those two packs of mini pancakes from Costco! Mentally, I was also pretty strong: the uphills got challenging and it was truly a one-foot-in-front-of-the-other situation.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

The Pumpkin Butt 50K is a “quad killer”, so practice running road downhills hard! Each loop, there is a 1.5 mile road downhill, as well as gnarly, rocky downhills, lots of not-designed-for-running super rocky trails, and by the end each “step” was a killer.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Be aware of the rockiness and vert of 1/3 of the route.

Putting the pumpkins in the Pumpkin Butt 50K!
Putting the pumpkins in the Pumpkin Butt 50K!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes! You can see Atlanta in the distance while running through trees in a forest.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

I’d say!

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

For sure, it’s organized and well-run. This was the Pumpkin Butt 50K’s 20th year, so they have know how to put on a great event!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I was 14 out of 17, so I’m not sure that this question applies to me!

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

To run the Pumpkin Butt 50K, you have to be a member of GUTS, the Georgia Ultra Trail Association, but if you are, it’s free! Yep, the Pumpkin Butt 50K is a FREE RACE!

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

There was tons of food with lots of variety: clearly planned by an ultrarunner!

Weather and typical race conditions

A bit hotter than usual, probably a low of 60 degrees and a high of 75. It was foggy and overcast most of the day; when the sun did break out, it was blazing.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

A (small) pumpkin!

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, you share the trail with lots of other runners, walkers, etc, so people can see you and join you anywhere on the course. At the aid station at the start/finish of each loop, there was a bit of a party that would be fun for spectators to hang out at too.

How’s the Swag?

It’s a FREE RACE! So there was no swag, but I did win an nice GUTS t-shirt for completing my pumpkin lap!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5! I definitely recommend the Pumpkin Butt 50K!

Matt Anthony is a Team RunRun-coached athlete. If you’re looking for a coach, check out our directory of excellent TRR coaches here! You can browse by budget, goals, location, or level. For each coach, read real runner reviews plus learn more about the coach’s history, philosophy, and publications.