Scenic Splendor: Dead Horse Ultra Trail Races in Moab, Utah

More than 400 runners from 23 different states converged on the desert outpost of Moab, Utah, on Nov. 19, to test their mettle in the Dead Horse Ultra trail races. The event served up 30K, 50K and 50-mile distances, taking runners on a journey through one of North America’s most striking landscapes—to the edge of precipitous canyons, beneath towering sandstone buttresses, and around mind-bending rock formations. Motivated for a long day of adventure in this big country, I chose the Dead Horse Ultra as my first 50-mile race, and it delivered equally in pain and beauty. Scroll through the images below to get a glimpse of this amazing race venue.