Try:  http://www.ultrarunning.com/calendar.html

Select Calendar.

Select Distance/Time:  50 km

Start discarding.

This one seems pretty good:  http://www.adventuretourtime.com/?page_id=1628

There's this little one in your neck of the woods next week.

http://www.oilcreek100.org/

You've already got your long training run in too!

When and where do you want to run a trail 50K?  Why do you want to remove technical terrain and elevation?  That is what makes trails fun.  Otherwise you can run on roads and call them "trails".

If I run one it would be some time next year Spring or Fall. Late Spring would be preferable since I'd like to go back to NC24 in September. I'm at least concerned, if not fearful, of hurting myself on a technical trail. One of the reasons I stopped running on trails was the uncommon frequency of falls, twisted ankles, and other mishaps. I'm also afraid of biting off too much. I've still got so much to learn after finishing just my first ultra, especially with eating and drinking during long races. Adding yet another factor like learning to run technical trails seemed too much for me to handle. Maybe I have a misconception of what constitutes a technical trail. I'd be willing to race on trails like some of the well traveled trails I've hiked on in state and national parks.

I did the Dirty German in Philadelphia's Pennypacker Park last spring, I thought the trails were very nice and not much elevation gain (just my humble opinion). Not sure how far that is for you?

. I'm also afraid of biting off too much. I've still got so much to learn after finishing just my first ultra, especially with eating and drinking during long races. Adding yet another factor like learning to run technical trails seemed too much for me to handle. Maybe I have a misconception of what constitutes a technical trail. I'd be willing to race on trails like some of the well traveled trails I've hiked on in state and national parks.

If you can run a marathon, you can run a 50K.  You don't need any complex fueling strategies for that kind of distance.  Heck, my last 50 miler took 10 hours and I took 20 gels (one every 30 minutes), a few salt tabs, and water/heed.  Nothing complicated or beyond what I would do for a marathon.  

George,

Go back through this forum and look for reports--might be some from your area.

Go to the trailer trash forum and look for reports--they have quite a few Pennsylvania/Maryland runners.

This can be a hard time to pick a first trail ultra, weather being what it is, it can add a whole new dimension to that "only five more miles [which is totally a myth and hides a lot of effort needed on some 50k events] stuff.

Most important -- find a few trails of various levels (it might get muddy soon) and find out what it is that pulls folks to the trails.

By the name alone - Dirty German I would pick it if I lived close.  In many ways a 50k trail run is easier than a marathon.  It can have a much slower and more relaxed tempo, softer surface and more friendly community of runners / volunteers.  As long as you are wired the right way, if you are wired competetively and do not take time to enjoy a view or 2 or talk to some aide stations volunteers it can be harder.

I haven't been up that way in ages, but it couldn't be more than 60-90 minutes even with Philly traffic since I'm out on the Western Main Line.