The McCoy Flat Death Race concluded its July 18, 2026, competition near Vernal, testing the endurance of runners through a grueling format where participants must complete a 4.1-mile loop every hour on the hour to avoid elimination.
Elimination Race Format
Organized by Jeff Winterton through Big's Backyard Ultra, the event took place at the McCoy Flats Trailhead in the North Eastern Utah desert. The race follows a strict elimination structure: runners start at 6:00 a.m., and if they fail to finish the designated loop within the hour or fail to start at the top of each subsequent hour, they are disqualified from the running order.
Financial Incentives for Runners
The competition features a high-stakes incentive for the last person standing. According to race information from Race Entry, the final runner receives $50 for every lap completed during the event; for instance, a runner completing 20 laps would earn $1,000. The second-place finisher receives $20 per lap, while third place earns $10 per lap.
Sold Out Race Status
While the primary race registration reached capacity and was marked as sold out, organizers opened an additional category for participants to register. This allowed late entrants to still participate in the excitement of race day, with the option to pick up race shirts and medals at the Uintah Recreation Center in Vernal at a later date.
McCoy Flats Trail System
The race took place within the McCoy Flats Mountain Bike Trail system, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vernal Field Office. This trail system, located at the edge of the Uinta Basin west of Vernal, comprises 35 miles of interconnecting loops that range from flowing single track to technical rocky sections.
Trailhead Infrastructure
The BLM describes the trail system as offering terrain suitable for various skill levels, including specific trails named 'Got Milk' and 'And Cookies.' The main trailhead, which served as a pickup point for race bibs and shirts on the morning of July 18, includes a large gravel parking lot capable of holding between 25 and 30 vehicles.
Site Amenities and Access
The trailhead facilities include a 24-by-32-foot picnic shelter on a concrete pad that accommodates six picnic tables, many of which feature extended ends for wheelchair users. The site also provides several single-vault toilets at the main, north, and south trailheads, though the BLM notes that erosion may occasionally create lips between parking surfaces and concrete entrances.
Future Race Schedule
Looking ahead, organizers have already listed details for future iterations of the event. Race Entry documentation indicates that a subsequent McCoy Flat Death Race is scheduled to take place from July 17 through July 19, 2027.
