Introduction

Get your Spring racing season started at the Bluegrass Ultra! Held entirely on the private trails of the Hutton-Loyd Tree Farm in Wallingford, Kentucky, the event offers three race distances for ultra and trail runners of all abilities.

The Hutton-Loyd Tree Farm is nestled in a beautiful and picturesque Appalachian valley featuring miles of trails in the surrounding foothills, a scenic private lake, and a big old barn to serve as our race headquarters! The Start/Finish line is spectator friendly with a blazing bonfire, shelter in the barn, and free parking is just a few feet away.

The event is timed perfectly to serve as a training race for Big Turtle Trail Runs or another race later in the Spring. It’s a great opportunity to knock the rust off or finesse your nutrition strategy, test gear, and more!

All registrations include an awesome custom tee shirt, swag, and special offers from our partners! Professional photographers will be photographing before, during, and after the event and all images will be available for free download and personal use!

The 2024 event will include a new Start/Finish line experience, more photos from before, during, and after each race, and more post-race food! We'll also be committing more resources for trail work to make the racecourse even better! Other additions and enhancements will be announced in the future!

Want to receive Bluegrass Ultra registration updates? Click here to sign up for updates about price changes, additions or announcements, and other special registration information.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to run on the otherwise private trails of the Hutton-Loyd Tree Farm! Read more below and visit the Bluegrass Ultra Website for full event details.

Racecourse

The racecourse will consist of a single 5.5-ish mile loop on the private trails through the Hutton-Loyd Tree Farm’s beautiful valley and surrounding foothills. The 50K race will be six loops, the 25K race three loops, and the 10K race one loop with a slight variation.

The racecourse surface is mostly singletrack and doubletrack dirt trails with a several sections of gravel road. Potential water crossings will depend on rainfall before or during the event.

The racecourse terrain includes valleys, fast ridges, and a couple steeper climbs and descents. Each loop offers approximately +1,000’ feet of elevation gain and equal loss.

There will be a single Aid-Station located at the Start/Finish line. This Aid-Station will be manned by event staff and fully stocked with fluids and nutrition. Bluegrass Ultra is a cupless event, please plan accordingly.

The racecourse will be impeccably marked with flags, ribbons, and signs, and will also include marshals at key locations as needed. Markings will include reflective devices when required.

There will be a 10-hour cutoff for all race distances and the racecourse will close at 6:00 pm. Athletes running the 50K and 25K must start their final loop no later than 4:00 pm.

A complete description, including maps and elevation profiles, can be viewed by visiting the Bluegrass Ultra Website .

Awards, Trophies, and Prizes

All finishers will receive a custom finisher medal! The top three finishers in both the female and male divisions for each race will receive a unique handmade trophy and prizes from our partners! Athletes setting race records will receive a special trophy! First-place finishers will receive free entry for a future Rad Ultras event, while second-place and third-place finishers will receive discounted entry! All champions and podium finishers will also receive a special invitation to return to the next Bluegrass Ultra to defend their title or top finish!

Trail Sisters Approved

Bluegrass Ultra is a Trail Sisters Approved event! The event is committed to equal podium positions, equal trophies and prizes, female specific apparel and swag, menstrual products at Aid-Stations, and equal opportunity for females at the Start Line.

Packet Pickup and Race Day

Packet Pickup will be available on Race Day only. Packet Pickup will take place in The Barn at the Start/Finish line and will start at 6:00 am local time. A Gear Check will be available in the morning and throughout the day. Restrooms will be located at the Start/Finish line. A brief announcement will occur at the Start Line 10:00 minutes before race start. All race distances will start together at 8:00 am local time. Race Day will include giveaways, prizes, and special offers from our Partners. Event swag will include apparel and other goodies! Medical personnel will be located at the Start/Finish line for the duration of all races.

Crew, Pacers, and Drop Bags

All Athletes may have a Crew. Crew may support their Athletes at the main Start/Finish Aid-Station at The Barn only. All crewing must take place within 500' feet of the Start/Finish line.

Pacers are not permitted for any race distance.

All Athletes may have Drop Bags at the main Start/Finish line Aid-Station. Visit the Bluegrass Ultra Website to view the Event Guide and for additional Drop Bag requirements.

Spectators

Bluegrass Ultra is a perfect event for spectating, it is welcome and encouraged! Friends and family may cheer on Athletes from the main Start/Finish Aid-Station at The Barn. Parking is close and restrooms are located at the Start/Finish line. Bring a chair, sit by the bonfire, and enjoy the races while the oncourse action and Finish line excitement is called by our live announcer! Please note, pets are not permitted at Bluegrass Ultra.

Affiliations

The 2024 Bluegrass Ultra will be part the 2024 Rad Epic Competition Series, more information will be announced in the Fall of 2024!

Deferrals, Transfers, and Changes

When you register for Bluegrass Ultra, you will always be able to defer your registration, transfer to a different Rad Ultras event, or change your race distance - your registration will never be wasted! You can even transfer your registration to a friend! All registration modifications for the 2024 Bluegrass Ultra must be requested and processed by April 3. Please contact us to make modifications to your registration.

Connect With Us

If you are not already a member, we invite you to join the Rad Ultras Community on Facebook. This is a great place to ask questions about our awesome ultramarathon events and discuss all things ultra and trail running!

Join the Rad Ultras Strava Club to connect with other Athletes and see how they may be training for this event. We even share special offers from time to time!

Event's current local time: 11:55 AM ET