Before Desert RATS 2026
Desert RATS 2026: Two races, two completely different stories
Desert RATS this year isn’t defined by one race — it’s defined by contrast.
Across the 50K and 100K distances, the fields tell two very different stories. One is balanced and open. The other has a clear focal point.
50K: One name stands above the rest
Eli Hemming comes into the 50K with a UTMB Index of 915 — one of the highest ratings across any race this weekend.
That immediately shapes the race.
Behind him, runners like Taylor Stack (891) and Remi Leroux (859) form a strong chasing group, but the gap is significant.
Over 50 kilometers, that usually means one thing:
if Hemming runs to his level, the race is his.
The only real question is whether the desert changes that.
100K: A much more honest race
The longer distance is far more open.
Dominik Matt (868), Jonathan Rea (860), and Rajpaul Pannu (848) are all close enough on paper that no one has a clear advantage.
That kind of field shifts the focus away from raw ability.
Instead, the race will likely be decided by:
pacing
hydration
who handles the heat best
This is where Desert RATS usually separates runners.
Women’s fields: Clear leaders, but not guaranteed outcomes
In the 100K, Heather Jackson brings experience and engine from years at the highest level of endurance sport.
In the 50K, Claudia Tremps leads the field on paper, but with smaller gaps behind her, the race could stay closer than expected.
What Desert RATS actually tests
This isn’t a super technical mountain race.
It’s more about managing the basics:
pacing
fueling
dealing with heat
In the 50K, the strongest runner usually just runs away with it.
In the 100K, things tend to come back together later in the race.
The bigger picture
Desert RATS might not have the biggest names, but it’s still a solid race.
One distance with a clear favorite
One that’s pretty open
That’s usually where things get interesting — when it’s not obvious how it’s going to play out.
