Free State Trail Ultras

About the event

Loop course on rocky & hilly single-track trails. The 40-mile course is two big loops, and the 100K is three big loops. And there are separate Half-marathon & Marathon looped courses. All courses are on single-track rocky trail, with not much elevation gain or loss.
Amenities:

Post-race meal, beer, and beverages included. Post-race showers will be available at the finish area. Nicely-designed event shirts, a logo'd glass mug, & unique finisher's "hardware."

The marathon, half, and 40-mile finishers get custom medals, and the 100-Km finishers get a custom-made pewter belt buckle.
Awards for 1st through 3rd place M/F in all distances.

There are many lodging and dining opportunities within 20 miles from the race. Camping and showers are available at the race location for $20 night, payable to Rod Brown, owner of Branded B.

Packet Pickup

Packet Pickup is on the day of race at the race location. Please show up an hour prior to your event.
Race Start Times:
40M & 100K: 8 AM
Half & Marathon: 9 AM

If you are camping out at Branded B Ranch the night prior to the event, we may have the bib numbers by then, so check with us and you may be able to get your packet on Friday night.

There will also be day-of-race late registration, too.

Race director:

Ben Holmes

"A major shout-out is due to the Kansas City Trail Nerds. They have done such a phenomenal job in organizing KC metro area trail races, and yesterday was no exception. Their volunteers are always gracious, the courses at races are well-marked, aid stations are stocked to the gills, and they just have their overall act together. Some race organizers should follow their lead and take logistics lessons from the KC Trail Nerds."
- NYC Native (More Here)

"Your races are some of the best around in my eyes. You choose great trails to have the races on and the staff and volunteers that man the aid stations are always great and extremely helpful. I think you have some of the best aid station workers of any trail race I've participated in. The overall organization and feel of the race is superb."
- Jeremy Duncan, Trail Runner Magazine

2018 Entry Fees:

Distance

Early Bird Entry

After

Mar 1, 2018

After

April 1, 2018*

April 21: Race Day

100K

$120

$130

$140

$150

40-Mile

$100

$110

$120

$140

Marathon

$80

$90

$100

$120

Half-Mara

$60

$70

$80

$100

2018 Online Entry is Open...Click Here
* No guarantee of a shirt or proper size after April 1, 2018.

Post-race meal, beer, and beverages included. Post-race showers will be available at the finish area. Nicely-designed gender-specific event shirts...(if registered by April 5), a logo'd glass mug, & unique finisher's hardware:

The marathon, half, and 40-mile finishers get custom medals, and the 100-Km finishers get a custom-made pewter belt buckle. And starting this year: every 40-Mile and 100K finisher will receive a Ouray custom trucker hat with your finisher distance on it!

Awards for 1st through 3rd place M/F in all distances. M/F course record awards for 40M and 100K (and since this is the first time at this new venue, if you win, you will get one of these babies)!

There are many lodging and dining opportunities within 20 miles from the race. Camping and showers are available at the race location for $20 night, payable to Rod Brown, owner of Branded B. The camping area is a nicely-mowed grassy area, next to the start/finish area. You can email Rod Brown questions about camping, here.

Distances

100-Kilometer (3-loop) course.
40-Mile (2-loop) course.
26.2-Mile (2-loop) course.
13.1-Mile (1-loop) course.

Location

On the beautiful Perry Lake MTB trails, near Lawrence & Topeka, Kansas.
Start / Finish at Branded B Ranch, Meriden, Kansas. (West side of Lake Perry). Map to Location
THERE IS NO STATE PARK FEE, SINCE THIS LOCATION IS ON PRIVATE LAND.

The address to load into your GPS to get there is:
7481 74th St, Meriden, KS 66512
When you get near, just follow the big yellow “Trail Race” signs to parking at the start of the event.

Start Times:

8:00 a.m. for the 100K & 40-Miler.
9:00 a.m. for the Marathon and Half-Marathon.
Chip timing will be used for all event distances.

Course

The course is run completely on 100% single-track trails in a hardwood forest, with not much elevation gain or loss. There are occasional views of Lake Perry, during the race.

The Half is one 13.1-mile loop. The marathon is two 13.1-mile loops. The 40-mile course consists of two 20+ mile loops. The 100-Km course is three 20+ mile loops.

Aid Stations

I will update Aid Station location information, soon. Staffed aid stations will be stocked with gels, HEED sports-drink and real food. Every loop will have this number of aid stations, per loop:
• Half-Marathon: 2 staffed aid stations.
• Marathon: 2 staffed aid stations per 13.1-mile loop.
• 40-Miler: 4 staffed aid stations per 20+-mile loop.
• 100K: 4 staffed aid stations per 20+-mile loop.
There are also un-staffed water-only aid stations (without cups) for each distance. Entrants in ALL DISTANCES must carry a hydration device or water bottle, since there are no cups at the unstaffed water stations.
The aid station food is for the runners (and pacers), only. Thanks in advance!

Staffed Aid Station Provisions:
The staffed stations will have the following food and drink:
-Water
-HEED Sports-drink
-Coke, Ginger Ale, Sprite, Mountain Dew
-Pringles Potato Chips, cookies, pretzels
-Fruit, such as bananas, oranges
-Electrolytes: Hammer Nutrition Endurolytes and S-Caps.
-Hammer Nutrition Gels
-Ice
They may also have coffee, potato soup, chicken noodle soup, sandwiches, candy, soup and other assorted food for runners and pacers. If you have any special food preferences or allergies, please feel free to bring your own. Minor first aid kits will also be at the staffed aid stations.

Drop Bags

Drop bags are only allowed for the 40-Mile and 100-K races. At the morning check-in you will be given the opportunity to leave 2 drop bags, one for the start/finish area and one which will be transported to the Kimberley Road aid station out on the course (that you hit twice at mile 10 and mile 15 of each 21-mile loop). Write your name, and bib number onto each bag. These two locations will give you access to your bags at ten mile intervals, which should be about perfect. You should have a flashlight or headlamp stashed in both locations, for your personal safety when dusk falls.

Please keep these bags down to a reasonable size, and secure or pad any "breakable" items. No ice chests larger than 6-pack size. Absolutely no styrofoam coolers. Rule of thumb: A large drop bag should be no larger than a large shoe box, and weigh no more than 6 lbs. Any bags left at the race will be discarded, or the items contained within will be given to charity.

Pacers

(Human) Pacers are allowed solely as a safety consideration for runners in the 40-mile and 100K distance races in this event, and ONLY for the LAST 10 or 20-miles of the 40-mile or 100K distances for the runner that they are pacing. Only one pacer is allowed per runner, and only for the last 20 or 10-miles of the two race distances previously mentioned. No "muling" is allowed. Please refer to more detailed rules here.
Pacers need to sign up the day of the race and receive a PACER bib.
CANINE PACERS need be entered the day of the race for a $10 entry fee.

Cut-Off Times

Marathon & Half:
Not to worry! You’ll have 16-hours to complete your run!

100K Cut-off Times: There will be a 6:15 p.m. cut-off for 100K runners leaving the Main Aid Station for their final 21-mile loop. The 6:15 cut-off may seem severe, but that's a 14:38 minute/mile pace, to make that cut-off. History tells us that some folks will need every bit of the next 6-hours, 45-minutes to finish the last loop. To attain the goal of making the initial cut-off, I tell people to not dilly-dally in the aid stations...that's where you will lose a LOT OF TIME. If you make the 6:15 cut-off, you could literally HIKE the last loop at a 19:17 minute/mile pace! (This may not be as easy as it seems on trashed feet and AFTER DARK, though).

40-Miler Cut-off Times: There will be a 4:15 p.m. cut-off for 40-Mile runners leaving the Main Aid Station for their 2nd (and last) 21-mile loop.

Make sure that you have adequate lighting for the trail, after
dark! If you don't have lighting, you will be pulled from the race. Here is what we mean by adequate
lighting. Cut-off Times are in the interest of your safety,
and will be strictly enforced!

Short Video Clip of Red Trail (Ron Ruhs)

Comments:

Ben,
Thank you very much for putting on such a terrific race. I was very impressed with the organization and hard work you put into all of the events. A big thank you also to all of the volunteers.
When I got back to San Diego and looked at the race online, I was pleasantly surprised to find the link to the photographer's website who was offering free downloads of the pictures so I could share the wonderful experience with my friends and family. It was a terrific race with top notch, A+ race directing.
Thanks again for everything. No poison oak, never lost.
See you next year,
- Ben Hian (100K winner & record-setter)

Thank you for organizing the race. Although it was my first trail marathon, I think I have fallen in love with trail racing. It is much more challenging than road racing. I look forward to participating in the future. Thanks again!!!
- Brian D. Smith

Thank you so much Ben. Volunteers were great as always but that's a trail nerd event for you. ;)
- Ammanda Warren

Thanks for having a quality event! See you in July!
- Andy Emerson

Thanks for hosting this wonderful event. Psycho Wyco and Free State are the two best races I've done. I am now thinking about the Psycho Psummer (event).
- Xiao Geng

Thanks, as always, for running a great event. I've done every Nerd Event so far this year, and plan to keep that streak alive.
- Alex Beecher

My first Trail Nerd race and it was an absolute blast, thanks to everyone and that chili was incredible. Maybe next year I'll break 13hrs.
- Kevin Brown

Thanks Ben and crew.
- Gregg Mrkvicka

As always...awesome job by Bad Ben and all the volunteers. Mucho thanks to all. Cheers.
- Jeff Bird

Ben, thank you so much for putting on this event. I did the marathon and had a blast. It was my first official trail race and I plan to be back next year. I appreciate all you and the volunteers did to help us through the course. - Peter Benson

Hi Ben. I ran the Free State Trails 40 miler this past Saturday. Not only was this my first 40 miler but it was also my first time to Kansas. I wanted to tell you how awesome I thought the race was. Not only was the race very well organized, but it was very well marked so there was no question that I was going the correct way. The volunteers were beyond awesome! They made sure I had what I needed to make through. You have gorgeous trails there, that I wish I had more time to explore and enjoy via my running sneakers and my mt bike. The FREE pictures were also a very pleasant surprise. The fact that we had a gorgeous day just made the experience all the better. I may have to come back next year and earn myself a 100k belt buckle. :-)
Thanks again. -Corinna Stitt

Awesome event! You rock. I'll be back next year!!!
- J. Gibson

Great race. Thanks for putting it on.
- Chris Nicely

Thanks for a great event. Trail Nerd event bring out the best people because it is put on & worked by the best people. You rock like no other.
- Brian Warren

Thank you for everythng yesterday... was awesome making Free State my first Marathon 2 years ago... and my very first buckle this year!!!
- Erin Miller

Utterly fantastic job you did on this one – completely outdid yourself. I think we should probably also thank God for fantastic weather leading up to the event and on the day, making a great event even better.
- Ben Smoker

Hello Ben,
I ran the Free State Trail Marathon this past weekend. Just wanted to say "thank you" to you and all your volunteers for putting on such a great event. This was my 32nd marathon overall, but my first on the trail. What a fabulous experience! The terrain was rough and unforgiving just as I had expected and strangely hoped it would be. I had a great time (as in race experience, not finish time)!! Well worth the road-trip from MN. Good luck to you and all the trail nerds with your future events.
- Michael Iserman, CSCS, ACSM-HFS, ACE-AHFS
President - Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA)

I'm guessing nobody else has mentioned this AT ALL, in any way, shape, or form, and I'll be the ONLY one to do so (yes, sarcasm), but.... fanfuckingtastic race as usual. There aren't any races out there that can hold a candle to the heart and soul of a Trail Nerd race. My favorite quote from yesterday's pre-race instructions... "If you get lost...you're an idiot and deserve to be brought down by natural selection." Or something along those lines. Thanks again for a wonderful event. I want a belt buckle next year. - Danny Loental

Race Instructions

Speed Limits and ParkingObey all speed limits, signage, and parking regulations while driving in the park. When arriving, stop at the front gate and pay the park entrance fee. Watch for wild animals crossing the roads. Race Day Start Times: 40-miler & 100Km start: 8:00 AM, Marathon & Half-Marathon start: 9:00 AM Show up on race day about 1-hour prior to your race’s start time. Please check-in at the registration table. Race BibsPlease pin your bib number to the FRONT of you somewhere, so that it is VISIBLE. This race is not chip-timed, so we will need to see your bib number, to have an accounting of you in the results. No Littering!Littering on the course will not be tolerated and will result in removal from the race and the results. Flashlights or headlamps WILL BE REQUIRED to navigate the trails after dark. Each runner/pacer should plan accordingly. Backup batteries or flashlights are important. Special Weather-related Safety InformationYour safety is our primary concern. In the event of severe weather (lightning, flooding, winds above 25 MPH, or tornado), we will shut the race down. In the event of a tornado siren sounding, please find your way to a cinder-block picnic/campground shelter and wait for the sirens and danger to subside. Or, if severe winds suddenly hit your location, lay down in a ditch or low spot (that hasn’t yet filled with water), and put your hands over your head. After the danger has passed, make your way to a paved road crossing or to a staffed aid station, so that we can get you back to your car or civilization. Injury ReportingIf you sustain any type of injury while on the course, you must report it to the next aid station. We will have trained EMT’s on staff to assess and/or treat minor injuries. If you sustain an injury that is deemed by the EMT staff to need further medical attention, you will not be allowed to continue in the race, and will be driven to an area hospital by our staff or by ambulance.

Cut-off Times:

100K Cut-off Times:
There will be a 5:15 p.m. cut-off for 100K runners leaving the Main Aid Station for their final 21-mile loop.
The 5:15 cut-off may seem severe, but that's a 14:38 minute/mile pace, to make that cut-off. History tells us that some folks will need every bit of the next 6-hours, 45-minutes to finish the last loop. To attain the goal of making the initial cut-off, I tell people to not dilly-dally in the aid stations...that's where you will lose a LOT OF TIME.
If you make the 5:15 cut-off, you could literally HIKE the last loop at a 19:17 minute/mile pace! (This may not be as easy as it seems on trashed feet and AFTER DARK, though).
There are additional cut-offs (for your last loop) at Kimberly Road (the middle aid station): 9:00 p.m.;
and a 10:30 p.m. cut-off at Kimberly Road (the 2nd time you hit it on the last loop).

40-Miler Cut-off Times:
There will be a 3:15 p.m. cut-off for 40-Mile runners leaving the Main Aid Station, for their 2nd (and last) 21-mile loop.
On that last loop, you had better reach the Kimberly Road Aid Station by 8:30 pm. This would be an average pace of 2.35 MPH, or a pace of 25-minutes, 30 seconds per mile, up to that point.

To all runners:
Make sure that you have adequate lighting for the trail, after dark! If you don't have lighting, you will be pulled from the race.
Cut-off Times are in the interest of your safety, and will be strictly enforced!

Dropping-down to another Distance or dropping-out of the race: You can change your distance before the race until April 12th, by emailing Bad Ben. And during the race, if you've bit-off more than you can chew, you can always drop, but you will need to notify the results team, so we aren't searching for you. If you're running the 100K and drop down a loop (to 40 miles), you will get a 40-mile finisher's medal, but you will not be counted in your new distance's results; you will be in a separate "dropped to 40-Mile category."

No Cups at Unstaffed Aid Stations! A Hydration Device is Required Equipment:There will be plenty of aid along the course, but we must insist (for your own safety) that you carry a water bottle or hydration system with you. You will be disqualified for not carrying such. There will be no cups at the unstaffed aid stations, and at the staffed aid stations, cups will be used mainly for sports drinks, coke, hot soup or hot drinks, so you will need to have something (other than your hands or mouth) to put the water into. Sustainabilty issues are a part of our mission statement. We are dedicated to reducing waste and recycling as much as is currently possible.

Drop bags:
Drop bags are only allowed for the 40-Mile and 100-K races. At the morning check-in you will be given the opportunity to leave 2 drop bags, one for the start/finish area and one which will be transported to the Kimberly Road aid station out on the course. Write your name, and bib number onto each bag. These two locations will give you access to your bags at ten mile intervals, which should be about perfect. You should have a flashlight or headlamp stashed in both locations, for your personal safety when dusk falls. You will have to pick-up your drop bag from the Kimberly Road aid station yourself, after the race, on your way out of the park. Please keep these bags down to a reasonable size, and secure or pad any "breakable" items. No ice chests larger than 6-pack size. Absolutely no styrofoam coolers. Rule of thumb: A large drop bag should be no larger than a large shoe box, and weigh no more than 6 lbs. Any bags left at the race will be discarded, or the items contained within will be given to charity.

Trail Markings:
The course is marked with yellow signs that will tell you "right turn," "left turn," "straight ahead," and "wrong way." We will mark the course with reflective ground flags and or ribbons at important intersections or turns. Care must be taken when crossing roadways!

Pacers:
Pacers are allowed on the course for the last 20 miles of the 40-Mile race, and the last 20 miles of the 100-kilometer race. Pacers are not allowed to be a "pack mule" for their runner, and should be fairly self-sufficient. Pacers need not pay, but must sign the waiver and be issued a numbered pacer race bib ON RACE DAY. Pacers can enjoy all of the food/hydration/service of the aid stations, but must not be an "overbearing burden" upon the race organization (or their assigned runner). We reserve the right to pull any pacer who we deem as "burdensome" either to us or to their runner.

Dogs as Pacers: We are a dog-friendly bunch, within reason. You can run with your (well-mannered) dog, but it must be on a leash, and you must not let it get entangled with another runner. Register your dog for any race (AT THE RACE, for $10). It will be issued a bib number that needs to be attached (with your name and cell # written on it with a sharpie). Your dog will be included in the official results, and receive a finisher's medal, if appropriate for that distance/race. We won't allow any cruelty to animals, so you must attest to your dog's "trail conditioning." If it appears that your dog is heat-stressed or otherwise physically stressed or injured, we will ask YOU AND YOUR DOG to pull out of the race and seek out immediate veterinary help. Please provide water and food for your dog. You can refill your dog's water at the aid stations.

$$$ to the Trails

Note: A large portion of the 2017 race’s net proceeds will go to the Kansas Trails Council exclusively for the Perry MTB Trails "Friends of the Trail" Fund.

The Ultra-Distance events: Why a 40-miler or a 100-Kilometer distance Ultra? Why not?
Many aspiring ultra-distance runners would like to move up in distance from a 50K to a 50-miler, but want to run an "in-between distance" first. The same goes for runners who have finished a 50-mile run, but would like to move up to the 100-mile distance. There just aren't enough in-between distance ultras to run "out there," especially ultras that are on 100% technical single-track trails. It would also be nice if these in-between ultras were positioned in the Spring, prior to some of the popular 50 and 100-mile races. It would also be nice if these races were close to a major airport, thus eliminating the need for long drives in rental cars for out-of-towners. Hence, the idea for the Free State Trail Ultras was hatched and implemented.

Kyle Amos, a talented local trail and ultrarunner veteran came up with the idea, and we discussed it on a Thursday night trail run. One week later, we gathered our forces and put together the pieces to the race in earnest. We already knew where and on what trails...the North Shore Trails of Clinton Lake, Kansas. We've had a plan on the back-burner to do an ultra event there (for years), but we needed an event that was worthy of the North Shore Trails. This is it!

It also helps that the race is in Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas, is the most cosmopolitan small town in this part of the Midwest. It's just a short 50-minute drive from Kansas City International Airport (MCI). Some major U.S. poets, authors, and artists have lived, retired, and died here in Lawrence. There are entertainment options galore. There are fine hotels, B & B's, restaurants, bakeries, and brewpubs. You can even camp near the race start/finish area, with showers available, after the race. What more could a runner want? How about decent aid stations, with freshly-made food items, and staffed by experienced ultrarunners? We've got it!

Map to Event from Lawrence

Trail Description

Lawrence, Kansas Links