This year marked the 31st running of the Mountain Mist 50k in Huntsville, Alabama, and with a large field of over 500 entrants, plenty of people had the opportunity to run this historic race.
Friday’s trip to the race included visiting family, grabbing last-minute supplies and snacks, and glassing up some migratory birds. Eventually, we picked up our packets, grabbed some dinner and settled in at the hotel.
This year would be my second time toeing the start line. As in 2023, I lined up with my brother, Luke, and our friend, Sam. That year, we had all planned to stick together and come through the finish line at 5:59:59 for a sub-6-hour finish. Things didn’t unfold as planned, but we all managed to get across the line before the 6:30 mark.
For 2025, Luke tempered his goals and expectations, aiming to run a smart race and smart pace due to a slight decrease in training volume. Sam and I planned to start off a little faster, and my personal goal was to run under my 2023 times on nearly all segments of the race course—except for the last 6 miles. That year, I had redlined my effort in those final miles chasing the 6-hour mark and came up 5 minutes and 26 seconds short. I felt like sub-6 was a lock and secretly hoped to go under 5:30—until I had a calf spasm eight days out from the race. I was prepared to pull the plug and log a DNF if my calf flared up. It was setting up to either be a big PR day or spectacular failure.
The race started at 7 a.m. CST (8 a.m. on my body clock), with temperatures in the mid-20s and a notable lack of wind. Sam and I planned to take off a little faster than Luke, as the first 2 miles are quick, with a net downhill on pavement and then trail. We clipped off the first 2 miles in 15 minutes—faster than my 2023 race—but it didn’t feel like too much effort.
Just after the first aid station, Sam and I came upon the most famous entrant in the 2025 Mountain Mist: former world champion and Olympian Jenny Simpson. We leapfrogged with Jenny and a few other runners for the next few miles. Around mile 7, Sam had to swap his bottles in his pack and I slowed my pace, hoping to stay in contact with him. After a mile plus, I didn’t see him and had to weigh my options: “race” or “run with Sam.” Since I had paid good money for the privilege to run, I elected to race and ran my own pace, not knowing if I would see Sam again before the finish.
The author tackles one of the major climbs during Mountain Mist. Photo Pete Schriener
The Oak Park aid station at mile 14 is where the race shifts. Three big climbs, extra rocky footing and a very technical descent await in the final 17 miles. I started the first big climb out of Oak Park intending to jog most of the 2 miles that gain nearly 700 feet. Near the top of the climb, Jenny cruised by me like I was standing still.
I passed a few people coming into the Land Trust aid station at mile 20. Leaving the aid station, you’d think you have a couple of “warm-up” miles before the infamous Waterline climb based on the elevation chart, but instead, runners encounter some of the most annoying rocky terrain. Part of the trail follows an old railbed, and this was not a refurbished rails-to-trails compact gravel situation.
At the base of Waterline, I again intended to jog the less steep pitches of the climb, but this time, power-hiking played a bigger role. The upper portions of the Waterline climb require the use of hands for a couple of short, steep stretches. Once back on my feet, the course continued upward until the next aid station. I hadn’t seen or passed any fellow racers since the previous aid station or through the Waterline climb—until less than a quarter mile outside the penultimate aid station.
In 2023, I had run the final 10k of the race about as hard as I could, so I knew this would be the one section where I likely wouldn’t match or beat my 2023 time. Leaving the second-to-last aid station, I had roughly 70 minutes to finish under 5:30. I don’t remember exactly where, but I somehow correctly learned I was in 35th place when leaving that aid station. It was a mile or more before I saw anyone and was able to move up one spot before the harrowing descent into McKay Hollow. At the base of the descent, I passed three more people. I could see two more runners ahead and wanted to try to crack the top 30. I rarely catch and pass people on climbs, so I knew I had to hold the gap and try to gain those two spots in the final mile and a half on flatter terrain. I moved into 30th place with one mile to go.
I was content to hang onto 30th and crossed the line in 5:31:19—just over 5:30 but a course PR by over 30 minutes. Sam came in a few minutes later at around 5:42, and Luke followed at about 6:20. In total: three PRs on the day. Mountain Mist has a great course, start/finish venue, history and vibes. It’s the kind of race you want to return to each and every year.