Flat Branch Ultra

Event overview

Flat Branch Ultra is a 50K road-and-trail event in Columbia, Missouri, organized by Flat Branch Ultra and Ha Ha Racing Events. The start and finish are at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 800 West Stadium Blvd, Columbia. The 2026 edition of the course will be USATF certified, making performances eligible for state record recognition. Entry is limited to 125 runners; registration for the 2026 race closes on February 14, 2026.

Course and logistics

The course is a rails-to-trails out-and-back from Columbia to Rocheport along the MKT Trail and the Katy Trail. Runners leave the MKT Trail after about 7.5 miles and join the Katy Trail just west of McBaine. The roughly 400-year-old Bur Oak appears near mile 8.5. Key aid stations are located at the start/finish, Scott Blvd (miles 3.25 and 25.5), Bur Oak (miles 8.5 and 20.5), and Halfway Home (mile 15.5). Drop bags left at the start/finish are transported to the Halfway Home aid station and returned after the turnaround. Packet pickup is race day only at the start/finish line and requires signing a USATF waiver. Competitors must check in at the Halfway Home aid station and reach it by noon; failure to check in may result in disqualification. Finish-line provisions include water, electrolytes, and aid-station food. Finisher awards and overall top-three male and female awards are presented in person. Photographs will be taken and posted at no charge. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.