Flats Trail Half Marathon

Event overview

The FLATS Trail Half Marathon is a point-to-point trail race in Kirksville, Missouri, covering 13.1 miles along the shores of Forest Lake and through Thousand Hills State Park. The course includes hills, rocks, roots, stretches of singletrack, and some water crossings. The route is marked and supported by volunteers, and finishers receive a custom finisher's medal and a finisher's shirt. Proceeds support the Forest Lake Area Trail System for trail building and maintenance in Adair County, Missouri.

Packet pickup is offered the day before at the ATSU Thompson Campus Center and race morning at the Marina. Because the course is point-to-point, a shuttle runs from the finish at Jackson Stables to the start at the Thousand Hills State Park Marina; many runners also carpool and retrieve cars after the race.

Runner support, awards and policies

There are seven aid stations on course at approximately mile 1.5, 3.2, 5.2, 7.9, 9.85, 11.3, and 12.5. Each station will offer water, sports drink, snacks, and gels; the finish area will provide water, sports drink, soft drinks, pizza, and snacks. Runners are encouraged to carry some calories or a hydration system.

Prize money is offered for top finishers in the female, male, and nonbinary categories: $150 for first, $75 for second, and $25 for third, plus a course-record bonus structure. Age-group awards include commemorative pint glasses for the top three in each age group. The event offers a pregnancy and postpartum deferral option, nonbinary registration with equal podiums and prize money, and participation in a fund to help pay race fees for underrepresented runners. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.