The Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra takes place in St. Joseph, Missouri on Saturday, October 24, 2026, offering a variety of distances for runners to choose from. The race begins and concludes at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, incorporating the unique geographical feature that places most of its course within Kansas while remaining anchored in Missouri.
100-Mile
Start: 06:00:00 • Fee: $200.00
50-Mile
Start: 06:00:00 • Fee: $140.00
50-KM
Start: 07:00:00 • Fee: $100.00
Half Marathon
21.1K • Start: 07:00:00 • Fee: $60.00
Marathon
42.2K • Start: 07:00:00 • Fee: $80.00
On race morning, participants will gather along paved roads leading up to Rosecrans Memorial Airport. Temperatures typically hover around 16 degrees Celsius with an average wind speed of about 14 kilometers per hour and humidity levels at approximately 60%. The weather conditions are mild enough for comfortable running without the risk of excessive heat or cold, though runners should be prepared for a chance of light rainfall.
The Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra has been held annually since its inception in 2018. It is known for attracting over two hundred participants each year and supports local charities through donations collected at packet pickup events. The race's name pays homage to the historical context of both Missouri, nicknamed "Show-Me State," and Kansas, dubbed the “Free State,” reflecting their unique border history.
The course itself features a challenging 25-mile loop that navigates around Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Missouri. Runners will encounter various terrains including paved roads, dirt trails through cornfields (potentially muddy), gravel paths, and crushed limestone levee trails throughout the route. The terrain includes an elevation gain of about 138 feet per loop.
Weather on race day is expected to be mild with temperatures ranging from a low of 11 degrees Celsius in the early morning hours to a high around 21 degrees Celsius later that afternoon. There's also a slight chance for precipitation, averaging approximately 1.7 millimeters throughout October at this location. The trail conditions will likely remain firm and slightly soft underfoot.
The Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra offers several race distances: the marathon (42.2 kilometers), half-marathon (21.1 kilometers), a challenging 50-mile distance, an even more daunting 100-mile route, as well as a 50-kilometer option. Each of these races starts and finishes at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.
Registration for the Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra can be completed online through https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=131546 with early registration opening on October 24, 2025, regular registration starting March 1, 2026, and closing September 30, 2026. Late registration begins October 1, 2026, until the final deadline of October 16, 2026.
Packet pickup for participants will be held at Tubes Bike Shop located at 1826 Frederick Avenue in St. Joseph from 3:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, October 23rd. On race day, packet pick-up opens again starting at 4:00 AM specifically for the early start participants of the 100-mile and 50-mile races.
The official start time varies by distance with each event beginning between 6:00 AM (for longer distances) to 8:00 AM. The race finish line is located back at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, where runners will complete their loops or entire routes depending on the chosen distance. Participants should be prepared for different cutoff times based on the length of their run.
The Show Me Your Free State Marathon & Ultra in St. Joseph, Missouri returns on October 24th, offering a unique blend of history and athleticism along its challenging course that bridges states and reflects local geography through its route design.
