Show Me Your Free State Ultra
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Event overview
The Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra is a multi-distance running event held Saturday, October 24, 2026, with the start and finish near Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Missouri. The course is a 25-mile loop that begins and ends at the airport. The loop crosses into Kansas for much of the route and follows the Missouri River, Gladden Bottoms, and sections near the Loess Hills.
Distances offered:
- 100-mile (4 laps)
- 50-mile (2 laps)
- 50-kilometer (1 lap + 3-mile out-and-back)
- Marathon (1 lap + 1.2-mile finish loop)
- Half marathon (out-and-back to mile 6.55)
Course, support, and rules
The loop has about 138 feet of elevation gain per lap. Surface composition includes roughly 10 miles of paved road, about 1 mile of dirt through a cornfield (may be muddy after rain), and the remainder gravel or crushed limestone levee trail. A major monitored crossing is US Highway 36 at Wathena, Kansas. Turns are marked with yellow paint and signage; directional arrows are placed at intersections and mile markers appear every 5 miles.
Manned aid stations are located at the Start–Finish and at approximate miles 6.5, 13, and 19. Aid stations offer water, sports drink, snacks, fruit, sweets, and warm items after dark. Unmanned stations provide water and limited snacks. First aid supplies are available at stations.
Race rules include visible bibs, no material support outside aid stations, crew vehicle restrictions on unpaved roads, and pacer rules for 50- and 100-mile runners. Age minimums and registration policies apply; no refunds or transfers. Typical late-October temps are daytime upper 60s°F and nighttime lower 40s°F. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
