Heartland

About the Event

The Heartland race returns to Cassoday, Kansas on October 9th, 2026 with a variety of distances available for runners across different skill levels and endurance capacities. The event spans over three days from Friday, October 9th through Sunday, October 11th, offering various challenges including the grueling 125-mile race which begins at midnight on the first day. Runners can expect to traverse backcountry gravel roads with minimal paved surfaces for most of the course, providing a true test of endurance and navigation skills.
On race morning, temperatures in Cassoday typically range from around 12°C to 22°C, making it an ideal environment for long-distance runners looking to push their limits. The air is crisp but not overly cold, with moderate humidity levels ensuring that the weather remains comfortable throughout most of the day. Participants should be prepared for a slight chance of rainfall and winds averaging about 17 kilometers per hour, which might affect visibility on longer courses.
The Heartland event has been running since its inception in the early 2000s and is known among ultramarathon enthusiasts as one of the most challenging yet rewarding races in Kansas. Over the years, it has attracted hundreds of participants annually who come to challenge themselves against this unique terrain that includes rolling hills and stunning vistas of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie. The event also raises funds for local scholarships and community projects.
The Heartland race offers a variety of distances including the 125-mile journey along backcountry gravel roads with less than one mile of paved surface, the 100-mile route that begins at midnight on Friday night starting from Cassoday Community Building, the 80.5K option for those looking to cover half the distance but still experience the challenge and beauty of the Flint Hills region, a full marathon point-to-point course through open range landscapes, as well as several shorter races such as the Teter Rock Half Marathon that takes runners out to scenic Teterville Rd aid station and back.

125 Miler
201.2K • Start: 22:00:00 • Fee: $280.00

100 Miler
160.9K • Start: 06:00:00 • Fee: $230.00

100K
100K • Start: 06:00:00 • Fee: $170.00

50 Miler
80.5K • Start: 06:00:00 • Fee: $160.00

Teter Rock 100K
100K • Start: 06:00:00 • Fee: $170.00

1/2 Marathon
21.1K • Start: 07:00:00 • Fee: $90.00

Marathon
42.2K • Start: 07:00:00 • Fee: $125.00

Runners interested in participating can register at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=133168. Fees for each distance range from $90.00 for a half marathon up to $280.00 for the full 125-mile race, reflecting the varying levels of difficulty and commitment required by participants. Packet pickup is available at Cassoday Community Building on Friday evening between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM with an additional window from Saturday morning until Sunday noon.
Participants should plan to arrive early for mandatory racer check-in which begins at 4:30 AM sharp, located near the South edge of Cassoday. Bib pickup is also available late on race day between 6:15 AM and 7:15 AM depending on your specific distance requirements. The start location address will be provided in advance to all registered runners via email or website updates.
The Heartland event, taking place over three days in the fall season at Cassoday, Kansas, offers a unique blend of challenge and scenic beauty that makes it an essential destination for endurance athletes looking to test their limits against the rolling hills and open prairie landscapes.

Races Offered

125 Miler

Oct 09, 2026

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Distance — 201.2K

terrain

Type — Running

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22:00

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$280.00

100 Miler

Oct 10, 2026

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Distance — 160.9K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

06:00

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$230.00

100K

Oct 10, 2026

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Distance — 100K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

06:00

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$170.00

50 Miler

Oct 10, 2026

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Distance — 80.5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

06:00

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$160.00

Teter Rock 100K

Oct 10, 2026

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Distance — 100K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

06:00

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$170.00

1/2 Marathon

Oct 10, 2026

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Distance — 21.1K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:00

sell

$90.00

Marathon

Oct 10, 2026

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Distance — 42.2K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:00

sell

$125.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for October in Cassoday.

thermostat Temperature

11.8° / 21.9°

wb_sunny Feels like

8.0° / 18.4°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

8h 53m

water_drop Avg rainfall

1.7 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

17.2 km/h (Gentle breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Moderate

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (4.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

59.0%

wb_twilight Sunrise

07:36

nightlight Sunset

18:47

About Cassoday

Learn more about the host city, Cassoday.

Cassoday is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. It is known as the "Prairie Chicken Capital of the World". As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 113.

Hotels & Places to Stay

Race Results

All-time top performances and historical records for Heartland.

Place	Name	Gender	Age	Year	City	Time
🥇	Gerardo Ramirez	M	50	'22	—	27:52:20
🥈	Brenyn St.Vrain	M	23	'24	—	28:55:19
🥉	Jordan Crandall	M	32	'22	—	32:39:26
4	Jonathan Prosser	M	35	'25	—	33:26:41
5	Dillon Hostetler	M	22	'22	—	33:47:50
6	Mitch Ables	M	33	'23	—	21:50:05
7	Hans Van Zanten	M	46	'20	—	22:41:57
8	Cody Eubanks	M	38	'21	—	27:06:14
9	Daniel Harding	M	39	'25	—	30:09:40
10	Stephen Foster	M	51	'20	—	33:22:59

Place	Name	Gender	Age	Year	City	Time
🥇	Nicole Fleming	F	46	'20	—	31:14:41
🥈	Lisamarie Fosdal-Griffin	F	52	'21	—	35:05:40
🥉	Jaclyn Long	F	38	'20	—	29:27:32
4	Amanda Lynch	F	40	'21	—	30:26:00
5	Andrea Carter	F	42	'25	—	33:42:13
6	Crystal Clark	F	51	'25	—	34:55:11
7	Suzan Brydon	F	54	'24	—	35:45:31
8	Rebecca Walker	F	44	'22	—	36:49:30