Nail the Rail Half Marathon, 10K & 5K 2027

Nail the Rail is part of the Miles in Martinsville race series in Martinsville, Virginia. It offers distances from a 5K and 10K up to a half marathon, alongside rail-trail races such as the 5 Miler and 9 Miler. The series funds outreach programs by the Martinsville-Henry County Virginia Family YMCA and Activate MHC. Awards and incentives are given across the entire challenge, not just for individual events. The Nail the Rail 5 Miler and 9 Miler begin at the Virginia Ave Trailhead on the Dick and Willie Passage. The 5-mile course ascends before the turnaround, then provides a downhill or flat final 2.5 miles. The 9-mile course includes an additional climb, descent, and a second climb before the same faster finish. The main objective is to complete the 9 miles in 60 minutes or less. However, older participants can achieve the Golden Railroad Spike by meeting age-adjusted goals based on USATF age grading. For instance, a 70-year-old woman finishing in 1:30 is comparable to a 25-year-old man running 60 minutes, allowing for competition across different age groups without assuming identical race conditions.