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Highball to Thurmond Ultra

Thurmond, United States • 17 May 2026

Event Overview

The Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay is a running event taking place on Sunday, May 17, 2026. It offers several point-to-point distance options that run through the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. The event name comes from an old railroad signal meaning "track ahead is clear."

Distances

The event includes several race categories:

  • 50K
  • 50K Ruck
  • 50 Mile (with two time limit options: 14 hours and 12.75 hours)
  • 50 Mile Relay (for teams of 2-4 people)
  • Virtual 50 Mile
  • Virtual 50K

Course Details

The point-to-point courses finish in the historic town of Thurmond, West Virginia. The 50 Mile course starts in Montgomery, West Virginia. It features a mix of paved roads (approximately 12 miles), mountain dirt roads, and trails with significant elevation gain. A key feature for this race is the option to take an Amtrak train back from the finish line in Thurmond to the start in Montgomery after the race, with a specific last call time. The 50K course is a daylight event starting at Hawks Nest State Park and also finishing in Thurmond. It is described as a trail race with aid stations and a reasonable cutoff time.

Registration Benefits

Registration includes a finisher medal, a custom event sweatshirt, chip timing, race photos, and aid station support on the course. There is an opportunity to win awards, and an add-on train ticket is available. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

United States West Virginia Thurmond

Race information

Registration
50 mi
50 Mile - 12.75 Hour Limit - Awards
50 mi
50 Mile Relay
50 mi
50 Mile - 14 Hour Limit - No Awards
50 km
50k Ruck
50 km
50k
Virtual 50k
Virtual 50 Mile
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
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