Show Me Your Free State Ultra
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Show Me Your Free State Marathon and Ultra
The Show Me Your Free State Marathon and Ultra is a long-distance running event held in St. Joseph, Missouri. The event utilizes a 25-mile loop course that begins and ends at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. While the start and finish are located in Missouri, the majority of the route crosses into Kansas, traversing the Gladden Bottoms and following the banks of the Missouri River near the Loess Hills.
Participants can choose from the following distances:
- 100-Mile (4 laps)
- 50-Mile (2 laps)
- 50-KM (1 lap plus a 3-mile out-and-back)
- Marathon (1 lap plus a 1.2-mile finish loop)
- Half Marathon (Out-and-back course)
The course features approximately 138 feet of elevation gain per loop. The terrain consists of roughly 10 miles of paved roads, with the remaining sections composed of gravel or crushed limestone levee trails. Runners may encounter local wildlife, such as bald eagles and deer, while passing through scenic farmland and autumn foliage.
Manned aid stations are positioned at the Start-Finish, Northern Levee, Wathena, and Roseport Landing. These stations provide water, electrolyte drinks, salty snacks, fruit, and sweets, with hot food available after sunset. Unmanned water stations are also located midway between the primary stops. Support crews are permitted at specific locations, and pacers may join 50-mile and 100-mile runners after their first lap.
Registration requirements vary by distance, with participants for the 50-KM and longer races required to be at least 18 years old. The event includes specific safety regulations, such as mandatory headlamps and reflective gear for those running before sunrise or after sunset. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
