FLATS Trail Half Marathon

The FLATS Trail Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile trail race held in the fall at Thousand Hills State Park in Kirksville, Missouri. It is named for the Forest Lake Area Trails System, and proceeds support that local trail network. This point-to-point half marathon follows single-track paths alongside Forest Lake, featuring seven aid stations and a course that combines runnable segments with rocks, roots, hills, and potential water crossings. The route crosses maintained park trails through northern Missouri terrain, shaped by glaciers, rivers, and streams. Runners will encounter fast singletrack, steep ascents and descents, native grasses, savanna, and extended sections near the lake, which boasts 17 miles of shoreline. Participants range from first-time half marathoners and trail runners to experienced racers and annual returnees. Volunteers offer encouragement along the course, occasionally from boats. The finish area provides custom medals, soft race shirts, posters, course maps, pizza, drinks, age-group pint glasses, prize money for the top three female, male, and nonbinary finishers, and a complimentary post-race stretch clinic.