Run the River Ultra Challenge

Event overview

Run the River Ultra Challenge and Relay is set for Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Petal River Park in Petal, Mississippi. The event is in its fourth year and offers three participation options: a six-hour solo ultra, a six-hour relay, and a Community Walk. Registration closes October 30.

Course, format and event details

The course is a roughly 2.5-mile loop that mixes wide meadow lanes and single-track under a hardwood canopy. The route passes riverfront views, lagoons, wetlands, palmetto fields, and historic train trestles.

Individual ultra runners complete as many loops as possible within six hours. Relay teams of two to four members alternate on the course and exchange a baton in a designated exchange zone; only laps finished before the six-hour cut-off count. There is no on-course aid station due to the short loop; cold refreshments are provided at the finish/loop start and teams are expected to keep their own fuel at personal tailgate areas. Timing is handled by a race timing company, with final standings based on completed laps and ties broken by total time. The event is hosted by the City of Petal Parks & Recreation and allows on-site overnight camping without provided security. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.