James River Trail Runs
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Event
James River Trail Runs is held at James River State Park in Gladstone, VA (104 Green Hill Drive). The event takes place in April 2026 and includes a night 10 mile race on April 11 and additional distances the following day. Distances and formats offered include:
- 10 Miler
- 10 Mile Night Race
- 50K
- 50K Hiker
- 50K 3 Person Relay
- 50 Mile Relay
- 50 Mile Solo
Course, format and additional details
Runners complete a 10 mile loop that uses single and double track trails. The first 5 miles contain repeated climbs and descents. Around mile 6 the course parallels the Historic James River for about 3.5 miles of flatter terrain, and the final 0.5 mile returns with a steep climb to the start/finish. Each 10 mile loop has about 1025 feet of climbing. The 50 mile option totals roughly 5000 feet of climbing.
The event uses a loop-based finish structure: one loop counts as the 10 miler, three loops count as the 50K, and five loops count as the 50 mile. A 16 hour overall cutoff applies to every distance. Hiker categories exist for the 50K and 10 miler and require forward progress rather than running. Relay entries are available. Aid stations will include gluten free options when requested. Discounts and policies: service-member and educator discounts are available via a registration code, groups of five or more can request a discount, deferrals are offered for injury or COVID with prior arrangement, and refunds are not offered. Runners who drop down are not eligible for top three awards. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
