Oregon Trail Series - which is the hardest?

Each short race in Oregon Trail Series has its quirks and challenges.  Hagg Lake (sometimes) had mud.  Peterson Ridge Rumble, which is actually 60km and not included in this analysis, has flats.  The Mac has plenty of climbs, which I like to think of as justified walking breaks.  Siskiyou out and back has got altitude and heat.  Finally, McKenzie River is so beautiful it’s hard to keep your eyes on the course, which is kind of important in the sections with the nasty jagged lava rocks. 

Cumulative elevation gain for each of the Oregon Trail Series 50km races, McKenzie River is not listed.

The Mac has the most cumulative elevation gain of any of the Oregon Trail Series, and the finishing times reflect it, as shown by the average median finishing time for each of the 50kms in the Oregon Trail Series.  Hagg Lake is the fastest in the Oregon Trail Series, followed closely by McKenzie River.  Siskyou Out and Back and The Mac are about 25 and 37 minutes slower than Hagg Lake respectively. 

Median finishing time averaged over the last few years for Hagg Lake and all Oregon Trail Series 50km races relative to Hagg Lake.

These numbers are fairly consistent for those finishing at the 1/3 point in the field, ½ way, and 2/3 point in the field.  If you’ve ever wondered how your performance at one of the series compares with that of another, this plot and the following table can help you.

1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 median finishing time for OTS races averaged over the last few years.

1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 median finishing time for OTS races averaged over the last few years.