On a crisp early November morning in 2025, one hundred and thirty brave (some might say foolish) athletes quite literally made history. Taking a gamble on a very small tourism office with a dream, they along with more than half as many volunteers set out to change the way people viewed the landscape of Carson Valley—and the possibilities it held. Enter the Ferris 50 Endurance Run, a veritable behemoth of a footrace the likes of which local community members had never seen. Certainly, the area has had its fair share of runs and races, normally with widely accessible and beginner-friendly distances. The land had also proudly played partial host to significant portions of races, such as that of the annual Stetina’s Paydirt bike race (which starts and ends in Carson City). But the Ferris 50 was another thing entirely.
On Your Marks…
Rewinding to the very start of its early planning stages, the Ferris 50 was meant to stand out; an answer to the question, “How do we provide visitors with a new reason to head to Carson Valley during the quieter time between the busy event season of late-summer-early-fall and the ski season?” Incidentally, someone happened to know several someones who were deeply entrenched in the wild wonderful world of ultrarunning, marathoning, and other similar sports of the competitive cardio variety. It was from their testimony, questionable to the uninitiated yet delivered with such steadfast certitude as to persuade even the most incredulous of skeptics, that the concept of the Ferris 50 first began to take shape. People travel specifically for this very kind of thing, they had affirmed. There’s a whole culture around it.
A longer distance run, but not so long as to overwhelm. Something that fit within the average person’s understanding of an impressive number of miles, while being relatively achievable for novices to appeal to a broader group of runners. A course that took maximum advantage of Carson Valley’s natural beauty and expansive trail system, avoiding the redundancies of a looping route. The starting line would be located at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, with the finish line at TJ’s Corral, Carson Valley Inn’s outdoor event venue. Depending on the distance, runners would find themselves either taking a relatively straightforward path to the northwest, or exploring the east valley’s northernmost reaches before curving back south. Fifty miles may not sound like much, perhaps, to a seasoned ultrarunner about to take on their third 100-miler, but it was enough to widen the eyes of many a local resident much more accustomed to the milder 5k and 10ks that occur regularly in the summer and early fall. Not wishing to leave behind those enthusiastic enough (if not quite practiced enough) to participate, two additional distances—50 kilometers and 15 kilometers—were introduced to the event to make three races in total. Triple the challenge for organizers, yes, but the decision would ultimately prove to be the right one, and well worth the extra care.
Runners gather for a safety briefing before the 50k race.
Get Set…
An ultrarun needs more than just optimal terrain to stand out and draw in registrants—it needs a name. Why call it the Ferris 50? Aside from the catchy alliterate sound of the title, it’s meant to be a nod to a beloved aspect of local history. George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., inventor of the Ferris Wheel, drew inspiration for his iconic creation from a water wheel on the Carson River, back when he had briefly lived in the area. One of his descendants, Cynthia Ferris-Bennet of Sierra Chef, still lives and works in Carson Valley to this day. The title honors his legacy and serves as an aspirational reminder of what can be achieved with an imaginative, persevering mindset.
An event is only as good as the people who work together to make it happen, and Visit Carson Valley is lucky enough to count some truly legendary organizations as their partners in organizing the very first Ferris 50. Friends from the Cason Valley Trails Association, Nevada Offroad Association, Pine Nut Mountains Trails Association, and Douglas County were extremely helpful and supportive, offering their hard work and valuable experience to ensure that every roadblock was ingeniously circumvented, every box checked, and every detail given due consideration. Add to that the generous support from a variety of sponsors, all local and all willing to take the chance to support something new and untested with little collateral. Sponsors for the very first Ferris 50 included Carson Valley Health, Travel Nevada, Carson Valley Inn, Comet Creation LLC, Carson Valley Trails Association, Nevada Offroad Association, Douglas County, Sierra Rec Magazine, Datafy, Carson Valley Golf Course, Healing Hands Physical Therapy, Raley’s – Gardnerville, J.T. Basque Bar & Dining Room, Visit Lake Tahoe, Unnhibited, Reno Running Co., Local Food Group, David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort, 1862 Restaurant & Saloon, All Star Rents, and Shoe Tree Brewing Co. – Minden. Their contributions helped lay a solid foundation to make the Ferris 50 the best possible inaugural event it could be.
Setting up one of the Aid Stations for the Ferris 50.
In the months leading up to the race, as word spread and the number of registered runners kept steadily climbing, the courses of each distance were mapped out, tweaked, and finalized. Aid stations were planned for several key locations along each distance, to be hosted by volunteers from community organizations. Scouts were sent to assess portions of the route to ensure safety and accuracy, either approving or suggesting an alternate workaround if needed. A knowledgeable team of volunteers set out the week of the race to diligently mark each course and, despite some blustery interference courtesy of the local climate, the color-coded ribbons and signs stayed mostly affixed in their positions as the big day came closer.
Race packets with bibs and helpful information for the runners were assembled and distributed by dedicated volunteers the night before, with a blend of nerves and excitement on both sides of the event: for several runners, this was their first attempt at a longer-distance race, and organizers were still working through a few last-minute preparations before kickoff. In the end, though, there was no real need to worry; as with any well-planned endeavor with a spirited team behind it, everything came together brilliantly.
Go!
The 50-mile race begins.
The morning of the race was chilly, the sky incredibly clear even in the darkness of the predawn hours. The group running the 50-mile distance was the first to set off from the Fairgrounds at 6:00 am sharp, their headlamps creating a dancing string of lights as they made their way out toward the wilderness of the high desert with only strategically placed race markers to guide them. By the time the 50k race began an hour later, the sun was out and working to warm the sky. When the 15k group, by far the largest, took off at 10:00 am that morning, echoes of astonishment had already reached TJ’s Corral, where the area around the Finish Line was still being set up—runners in the 50-mile group were progressing faster than initially anticipated, hitting aid stations just barely set up in time to receive and serve them (and serve them they did; excellently so, according to post-race feedback).
50-mile runner Darrol Baker maintains a steady pace across the Carson Valley landscape.
There was a sentiment shared that the records set that day would be difficult to beat, judging by the serendipitous combination of talented, determined athletes and optimal weather conditions. Sure enough, throughout the day as more and more runners from all three distances crossed the Finish Line to the soundtrack of whistles and cheers from a modest but lively crowd of spectators, it was clear that the times recorded were objectively impressive. Beyond that, the fact that all 130 runners who showed up that day completed their race without a single DNF was deemed noteworthy, especially for a first-year event.
The Ferris 50 Endurance Run of 2025 yielded the following results:
Isaac Anguiano greets his loved ones after crossing the Finish Line in 1st Place for the 50-mile distance.
For the 50-mile race, out of 27 runners, the top finishers for the males included Isaac Anguiano in 1st Place (8:10:20), Eric Page in 2nd Place (8:15:54), and Dylan Torgerson in 3rd Place (8:23:45). Top female finishers were Amber Weibel in 1st Place (8:13:47) and Leslie Cross in 2nd Place (12:31:04).
The 50k race involved a slightly higher number of competitors with 32 in total. Of those 32, top male finishers included Michael Brondello in 1st Place (4:15:02), Rob Harper in 2nd Place (4:35:13), and John Hatcher in 3rd Place (5:10:15). Top finishers for females were Tara Purinton in 1st Place (5:23:42), Kate Kennedy in 2nd Place (5:31:30), and Morgan Humble in 3rd Place (6:03:33).
The 15k race had the highest number of participants with 71, and it was very close in terms of the top times. For female finishers, 1st Place went to Katherine Somers (1:04:25), with Ashlee Zoch in 2nd Place (1:16:24) and Richelle Pegram taking 3rd Place (1:20:10). Top male finishers were Ryan Stoffer in 1st Place (1:05:48), Doc Bodensteiner in 2nd Place (1:11:37), and Gennady Stolyarov in 3rd Place (1:14:59).
Over the course of 14 hours, from the start of the 50-mile race to the very last finisher, the Ferris 50 was supported by a wealth of individual volunteers and teams from local organizations who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants. From the Aid Station hosts, including the Pine Nut Mountains Trail Association, Todd & Carola Leigh, Knights of Columbus, Carson Valley Health, Douglas High School JROTC, Carson Valley Trails Association, Douglas County Youth Suicide Prevention Group, Douglas County Parks & Recreation, and Rotary Club of Minden, all of whom invariably knocked it out of the park by providing much needed nourishment and encouragement to each and every runner, to the appointed Course Marshals, who patrolled the entire route to help keep everyone safe and on the right path, the coordinated efforts of everyone behind the scenes went above and beyond. And when the race was run, finishers were greeted with the welcome sight of a festival at the Finish Line, where they received a well-earned medal or buckle, food and drink, commemorative shirts, and serious kudos.
Amber Weibel, 1st Place female finisher for the 50-mile distance, receives her buckle.
Who better to describe the overall impression of an event like the Ferris 50 than those who experienced it first-hand? Post-race surveys yielded an overwhelmingly positive response from runners and volunteers alike, with constructive feedback gratefully noted for next year. Several statements were offered to Visit Carson Valley, including one from Eric Paige, second-place winner in the men’s division for the 50-mile run. “The Ferris 50 was an excellent tribute to the wild beauty of the Carson Valley and a way for me to test my limits in a race close to home,” he said. “This was my first 50 miler, and I was quite nervous coming into it. Thanks to my amazing crew and a well-administered race, I found the Ferris to be a memorable desert adventure, and a perfect way to get into longer-distance ultrarunning. This race was put on with lots of love for the Carson Valley, and it shows!”
Eric Paige, 2nd Place male finisher in the 50-mile distance.
Gennady Stolyarov II from Carson City, who placed third for males in the 15k, said “While most of the races are familiar to me, the Ferris 15K offered some new terrain to explore with both paved and trail portions offering great views throughout….The support and individual attention provided to the runners were also outstanding, and the parking at the finish and transportation to the start were the most convenient I have experienced for a point-to-point race.”
Reno resident Michael Brondello, first-place winner of the 50K race, also shared some love. “As a lifelong runner, I can honestly say the Ferris 50 was one of the most hospitable events I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “Every volunteer was warm and welcoming, the aid stations were first-class, and the finish-line celebration was incredible. You’d never guess this was their inaugural year. They absolutely nailed it, and I can’t wait to come back.”
Volunteers had not only offered their support during the race, but shared valuable insight afterward. While there were plenty of suggestions for improvement and innovations to be woven into preparation for future events, one thing that was near universal was that everyone felt appreciated and had a blast cheering on the athletes. One helper quipped in their post-race survey remarks that volunteering “was a great way to get involved in a wonderful race without actually having to run 50 miles!”
50k runner Marcus Heisler (left) gets a morale boost from Aid Station host Todd Leigh (right).
Another individual summarized their experience quite poetically. “The amount of enthusiasm, dedication, and perseverance was a bright light all throughout the day,” they wrote. “We witnessed a son biking next to his dad as he ran, a mother crossing the finish line with her children running up to her with homemade signs and hugs, couples holding hands as they crossed the finish line, and shouts of pure jubilation [for] each person that crossed the finish line.”
Denton Sua (far left) is all focus while just ahead of him Elizabeth Eldridge and Cody Knapp steal a quick lighthearted moment as they run the 50k.
Creating the foundation through which those moments of joy could happen was perhaps not explicitly expressed as being the main purpose of the Ferris 50. It is, however, a vital part of why that first race was so well-received by so many, and especially part of how it can continue to grow.
“Just prepare yourself,” one finisher had said to an organizer in a brief yet honest acknowledgement of the event’s success, “because once word gets out about this [race], it’s going to blow up.” Hopefully they meant in a good way, because there’s a passionate team of organizers and athletes ready to keep the Ferris 50 going for years to come.
Next Up
The second Ferris 50 is scheduled for November 7, 2026, practically around the corner (it’s a wheel pun, get it? Round? Like a Ferris wheel?), and registration is already open! For more details, go to visitcarsonvalley.org/ferris-fifty-endurance-run. Whether you are interested in going for the 50-mile distance, 50k, 15k, or if you are simply interested in watching all of the action unfold as a spectator, Ferris 50 2026 is one you won’t want to miss!
If you’re loving the pictures on this page from the event, be sure to check out Comet Creation LLC, the official race photographer for Ferris 50 2025.