Show Me Your Free State Ultra
Saint Joseph, United States • 24 Oct 2026
Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra
The Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra is a multi-distance running event held in St. Joseph, Missouri, with most of the route located in Kansas. Races use a 25-mile loop that begins and ends near Rosecrans Memorial Airport and includes riverbank, wetlands, and Loess Hills scenery.
Distances offered:
- 100-mile
- 50-mile
- 50-kilometer
- Marathon (26.2-mile)
- Half marathon (13.1-mile)
The loop has about 138 feet of elevation gain per circuit. The surface includes roughly 10 miles of paved roads and the remainder on gravel or crushed limestone levee trail. The course crosses US Highway 36 in Wathena at a volunteer-monitored location. Wildlife sightings such as deer and bald eagles are common.
Manned aid stations occur at several points on the loop and provide water, sports drink, salty snacks, fruit, sweets, hot coffee, soup, and basic first aid supplies. Unmanned stations are located between manned stations and offer water and limited snacks. Drop bag rules apply for 50- and 100-mile runners, and drop bags for remote stations are collected during packet pickup.
Crew and pacer rules are specified. Pacers are allowed for 50- and 100-mile runners after the first lap and must wear a pacer bib. Crew access is limited to designated locations and vehicles may not use unpaved roads.
Age minimums, registration restrictions, and swag policies are published. Typical late-October temperatures are daytime highs in the upper 60s Fahrenheit and nighttime lows in the lower 40s Fahrenheit. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.