About the Race
The Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra is a single event offering 100-mile, 50-mile, 50-kilometer, marathon (26.2-mile), and half marathon (13.1-mile) distances. All races take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, beginning and ending at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Missouri.
The name Show Me Your Free State reflects the unique geography of this race. The course starts and finishes in Missouri (the “Show-Me State”), but the majority of the route is located in Kansas (the “Free State”). The Missouri River famously changed course after the 1951 flood, leaving a section of Missouri to the west of the river. The 25-mile loop course crosses this historic region — following the riverbank, traversing the Gladden Bottoms, brushing against the Loess Hills, and returning to Rosecrans Airport for the finish.
Race Schedule
Key Dates:
• October 24, 2025: Early registration opens
• March 1, 2026: Regular registration opens
• September 30, 2026: Regular registration closes
• October 1, 2026: Late registration opens
• October 16, 2026: Late registration closes
Race Weekend:
• Friday, October 23: Packet pickup, 3:00–8:00 PM at Tubes Bike Shop (1826 Frederick Avenue, St. Joseph, MO)
• Saturday, October 24 – Race Day
o 4:00 AM – Race-day packet pickup opens
o 4:00 AM – Early start (100-mile & 50-mile only)
o 6:00 AM – 100-mile & 50-mile official start
o 7:00 AM – 50K and marathon start
o 8:00 AM – Half marathon start
o 12:00 PM – Half marathon cutoff
o 3:00 PM – Marathon cutoff
o 4:00 PM – 50K cutoff
o 9:00 PM – 50-mile cutoff
o Sunday, October 25: 12:00 PM – 100-mile cutoff
Additional Notes:
• Early start is for 100- and 50-mile runners only. Participants acknowledge that no aid will be available during their first lap. Early start requires donating one 30-pound bag of dog food or one 12-pound bag of cat food, collected at packet pickup for the St. Joseph Animal Shelter.
• Late packet pickup closes 30 minutes before the start of each race.
• 50-mile competitors must complete their first lap by 1:30 PM Saturday.
• 100-mile competitors must complete their third lap by 4:00 AM Sunday.
About the Course
The course consists of a 25-mile loop beginning and ending near the entrance of Rosecrans Memorial Airport.
• Elevation gain: ~138 feet per loop
• Surface: ~10 miles paved roads, 1 mile dirt road through a cornfield (may be muddy after rain), remainder gravel or crushed limestone levee trail
• Major crossing: US Highway 36 in Wathena, Kansas (monitored by volunteers)
The route is mostly quiet and scenic, offering views of farmland, the Missouri River, and autumn foliage in full color. Wildlife sightings (including deer and bald eagles) are common.
Distances by lap:
• 100-mile: 4 laps
• 50-mile: 2 laps
• 50K: 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 Markings:
• Yellow paint and signage at all turns.
• Directional arrows at intersections and mile markers every 5 miles.
Aid Stations, Drop Bags, Crew Support, Pacers
Manned Aid Stations:
Station Mile Closes
Start–Finish 0 / 25 —
Children of the Corn 6.5 Sunday 7:30 AM
Wathena 13 Sunday 9:00 AM
Roseport Landing 19 Sunday 10:30 AM
Each manned aid station will provide:
• Water, Gatorade, and soda
• Salty snacks (chips, pretzels, PB&J sandwiches)
• Fruit (bananas, grapes)
• Sweets (cookies, M&Ms, candy)
• Hot coffee, soup, and warm food after sunset
Unmanned Aid Stations:
Located midway between each manned station. Stocked with water and limited snacks (e.g., saltines, animal crackers).
First Aid:
All stations include petroleum jelly, Neosporin, ibuprofen, and antacids.
Drop Bags
• 100-mile and 50-mile runners may use up to four drop bags.
• Bags for remote stations must be dropped off at Tubes Bike Shop during packet pickup.
• Bag size: no larger than airline carry-on.
• Label with name, bib number, and aid station in large block letters.
• Drop bags will be returned to the Start–Finish by 12:00 noon Sunday.
Crew Support:
Crews may meet runners at:
• Start–Finish
• Wathena
• Roseport Landing
No material support (food, clothing, etc.) may be given outside aid stations. Crew vehicles are strictly forbidden from entering unpaved roads. Violation = runner disqualification.
Pacers
• Allowed for 50- and 100-mile runners after their first lap.
• Pacers must wear a pacer bib (obtained at packet pickup in exchange for a bag of pet food).
• Only one pacer may accompany a runner at any time.
• No bicycles on the course.
• Pacers must obey all rules; violations result in runner disqualification.
• Pacers may join or exit at any manned aid station except the first.
Environmental Data
Typical late-October conditions in northwest Missouri:
• Daytime highs: upper 60s°F
• Nighttime lows: lower 40s°F
• Weather may change rapidly — pack accordingly.
Saturday (NOAA data for Oct 24, 2026):
• Sunrise: 7:39 AM
• Sunset: 6:27 PM
• BMNT: 6:08 AM
• EENT: 7:26 PM
• Moonrise: 5:25 PM
• Moonset: 7:06 AM (Sunday, 98.7% illumination)
Age, Registration, and Swag Policies
Age Requirements:
• 100/50/50K: 18+
• Marathon: 15+ (with parent/guardian present)
• Half Marathon: 12+ (with parent/guardian present)
Registration Policies:
• No refunds or transfers.
• Distance changes allowed before late registration closes.
• ID required at packet pickup.
Swag Policy:
Race shirts, medals, and awards will be ordered in advance. While every effort will be made to supply all items, late registrants may experience limited availability.
Rules and Runner Conduct
Core Principles: Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe.
Be Respectful:
• Use courtesy toward all participants, volunteers, and spectators.
• Say “please” and “thank you” often.
• Respect others’ personal space and belongings.
• Keep aid stations tidy; touch only what you take.
• Remember: you’re a competitor, not a customer — treat everyone with kindness.
Be Responsible:
• Wear your bib visibly at all times.
• No littering. Dispose of all trash in provided containers.
• Ensure crew and pacers follow all rules.
• Use portable toilets at manned stations.
• No dogs on course (except ADA service animals). Leashed dogs are allowed at the Start–Finish area.
Be Safe:
• Run against traffic and yield to vehicles.
• Stay on the course — if you drop out, notify a race official.
• Wear a headlamp before sunrise/after sunset.
• Wear a reflective vest or belt (=155 sq. in.) after dark.
• Earbuds discouraged; maintain awareness of surroundings.
• 50- and 100-mile runners must check in at every manned aid station.
• Provide a valid emergency contact number at packet pickup.
Additional Information:
Additional Information:
• Park only in designated spaces at Rosecrans Airport.
• Primitive camping is allowed in the designated area (no public restrooms beyond event facilities).
Explore St. Joseph before or after the race!
o St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau: https://stjomo.com/
o Explore St. Joseph: https://uncommoncharacter.com/
o St. Joseph Museums: https://stjosephmuseum.org
o Missouri Western State University: https://www.missouriwestern.edu
o St. Joseph Trail Alliance: https://www.saintjosephtrailalliance.com/
o City of St. Joseph: https://www.stjosephmo.gov/
Event's current local time: 2:55 PM CT
