Show Me Your Free State Ultra
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Show Me Your Free State Marathon and Ultra
The event takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026 in St. Joseph, Missouri, with the start and finish at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. It offers the following distances:
- 100-Mile
- 50-Mile
- 50-Kilometer
- Marathon (26.2-mile)
- Half Marathon (13.1-mile)
The race name reflects local geography: the course begins and ends in Missouri but the majority of the 25-mile loop is located in Kansas, following the Missouri River bank and passing through Gladden Bottoms and near the Loess Hills.
Course and on-course support
The main circuit is a 25-mile loop with about 138 feet of elevation gain per loop. Surfaces include roughly 10 miles of paved road, about 1 mile of dirt road through a cornfield (which may be muddy after rain), and the remainder on gravel or crushed limestone levee trail. The route crosses US Highway 36 in Wathena, Kansas; this crossing is monitored by volunteers.
Manned aid stations are located at the Start–Finish and near miles 6.5, 13, and 19. Stations provide water, sports drink, salty snacks, fruit, sweets, and warm food and hot drinks after sunset. Unmanned stations are placed between manned stations and offer water and limited snacks. First-aid items are available at stations.
Rules, logistics, and eligibility
Drop bag rules, crew and pacer rules, and other conduct expectations apply. Crews may access only specific locations and must not provide material support outside aid stations; vehicles are not allowed on unpaved roads. Pacers are permitted for the 50- and 100-mile fields after the first lap and must follow race rules. Age minimums: 18+ for 100/50/50K, 15+ for the marathon with a guardian, and 12+ for the half marathon with a guardian. Registration is nonrefundable and nontransferable. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.