This triple-distance trail-running celebration guides you through the best features of the northern Michaux State Forest, nestled within the ancient south-central Pennsylvania Appalachian Mountains. The freshly designed courses offer our trail buddies a little bit o' everything, swift, flowy single-track, rolling, rooty ridgelines, rocky quad-busting descents, not to mention the VIEWS - breathtaking and worth every drop of sweat! Get the full butt-whoopin' and snag your spot on the gorgeous and challenging 50K+ course! Or take it one chunk at a time with your choice of the spicy half-marathon or the scrambly, heart-pounding 20 Miler! No matter what you pick, you'll pocket the wealth waiting for you within these magnificent Michaux miles!
Race Headquarters will be sprawled out in the grassy field behind the bath house at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Fuller Lake Day Use Area. . So many bathrooms, showers, and so much parking. We feel so privileged to house this kickbutt event in this gem of a state park!
We will be accepting race day registrations this year! Please come to register according to the following schedule: 50K & 20M : 6:45-7:45am Half Marathon: 8:15-9:15am
50K & 20miler @ 8:00am (Pre-race Meeting: 7:45am) Half Marathon @ 9:30am (Pre-race Meeting: 9:15am)
Our 50K course was designed to hit all the best views in the northern Michaux! You'll be running through sandstone boulder ridgelines, woodland savannah, Mountain Laurel and wild blueberry, on a perfect blend of classic windy single track, smooth pine needle carpet, grassy double track, and technical, toe-grabbing forest paths. Course Length: 33ish miles Elevation Gain: 4400+ feet Aid Station Mileages: • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 5.5 • DEAD WOMAN’S HOLLOW Aid Station: Mile 10.2 • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 15.8 • FURNACE STACK Aid Station: Mile 19.4 • LAUREL LAKE Aid Station: Mile 22.9 • RIDGE ROAD Aid Station: Mile 26.6 • CATTLE CHUTE Aid Station: Mile 30.2 Aid Station Nutrition: • Water, electrolyte (Tailwind), Coke, & Gingerale • Fruit (oranges/bananas) • Potatoes and/or potato chips • Fritos • Cookies (reg and gluten-free) • Gels/Blocks/Stroop Waffles • Candy • Rice Krispie Treats • Pickles • & sometimes MEATBALLS • Menstrual Products Drop Bag Locations: There will be one drop bag location at BRICKYARD Aid Station: Mile 19.7. Bring your drop bag to HQ, label it with your bib number (we will have duct tape and a sharpie), and we will take it to Brickyard for ya. Crew Access: There will be crew access at BRICKYARD and LAUREL LAKE aid stations. Time Limit:10 hours *********************************
We love this super-challenging 20 mile route (the first 20miles of the 50K course)! Lung busting climbs, spicy, steep descents, as well as lovely, runnable stretches on classical technical Michaux single track! Once you've experienced the 20mile, you'll want to come back for MORE! Elevation Gain: 3,000ft Aid Station Location: • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 5.5 • DEAD WOMAN’S HOLLOW Aid Station: Mile 10.2 • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 15.8 Aid Station Nutrition: • Water, electrolyte (Tailwind), Coke, & Gingerale • Fruit (oranges/bananas) • Potatoes and/or potato chips • Fritos • Cookies (reg and gluten-free) • Gels/Blocks/Stroop Waffles • Candy • Rice Krispie Treats • Pickles • & sometimes MEATBALLS • Menstrual Products NO drop bag option for the 20 Mile race. Crew Access: No crew access for 20 Mile race. Time Limit: 7 hours *********************************
Just need a quick Michaux fix? Breathtaking views await you as you cruise along the classic state forest trail, a mix of rocky single track, pine needle strewn ridgelines, and grumbly old double track. Come test your grit on this tough and rewarding course! Course Length: 13.1ish Elevation Gain: 1400+ feet Aid Station Mileages: • LAUREL LAKE Aid Station: Mile 3.3 • RIDGE ROAD Aid Station: Mile 6.9 • CATTLE CHUTE Aid Station: Mile 10.5 Aid Station Nutrition: • Water, electrolyte (Tailwind), Coke, & Gingerale • Fruit (oranges/bananas) • Potatoes and/or potato chips • Fritos • Cookies (reg and gluten-free) • Gels/Blocks/Stroop Waffles • Candy • Rice Krispie Treats • Pickles • & sometimes MEATBALLS • Menstrual Products NO drop bag option for the Half Marathon race. Crew Access: There will be crew access at LAUREL LAKE Aid Station: Mile 3.3. Time Limit: 8.5 Hours! This is a VERY generous time limit on this course, making this half marathon accessible to serious hikers and ruckers! Awards will still only be based on lowest completion times, however. There will be NO separate hike/ruck divisions. *********************************
For other Meatball races and to join the Meatball Community, click here !
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 32.2K
Type — Running
08:00
$85.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 32.2K
Type — Running
08:00
$75.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 50K
Type — Running
08:00
$100.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 50K
Type — Running
08:00
$90.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 21.1K
Type — Running
09:30
$75.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 21.1K
Type — Running
09:30
$65.00
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Gardners.
Learn more about the host city, Gardners.
Gardners is a village in Adams County, Pennsylvania and a census-designated place that includes portions of Adams and Cumberland counties in Pennsylvania, United States. The village of Gardners is located off Pennsylvania Route 34, in Tyrone Township, in northern Adams County. As of the 2020 census, the population of the village of Gardners was 137. The zip code for the United States Post Office in the village of Gardners is 17324. This zip code covers surrounding villages and areas in Adams and Cumberland counties, including Goodyear, Hunter's Run, Idaville, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, and Uriah.
Read more launchAll-time top performances and historical records for Mountain Creek Mayhem.
| Place | Name | Year | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | James Weaver | '25 | 4:52:49 | |
| 🥈 | Andrew Herman | '25 | 5:22:13 | |
| 🥉 | Jeff Hollinger | '25 | 5:23:00 | |
| 4 | Ben Miller | '25 | 5:31:21 | |
| 5 | Daniel Rider | '25 | 5:35:29 | |
| 6 | Clayton Yingling | '25 | 5:54:52 | |
| 7 | Wesley Rule | '25 | 6:12:41 | |
| 8 | Tyler Best | '25 | 6:16:47 | |
| 9 | Christopher Farrands | '25 | 6:17:40 | |
| 10 | Brandon McManus | '25 | 6:21:28 |
Read what other athletes have to say about their experience at the Mountain Creek Mayhem.
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