Ultimate Runner 2026

Ultimate Runner is a five-race series held at Bob Sosnik Track in Hanes Park, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This annual summer-evening event challenges runners to complete a 1-mile, 400m, 800m, 100m, and 5K cross country race within a single meet. Four of the events take place on the track, with the final race transitioning to cross country, requiring participants to demonstrate both short sprint speed and endurance for longer off-track running. The races follow a set sequence: mile, 400m, 800m, 100m, and finally the 5K XC. Track races are organized into heats based on seed times, with runners assigned based on their best mile time from the previous year; missing an assigned heat results in disqualification. The event has a capacity of 114 runners and welcomes participants of all ages and ability levels. A complimentary one-lap Celebration Lap, honoring Ultimate Runner's four-decade history, precedes the main events for anyone associated with the series. Finishers are awarded an Ultimate Runner shirt and a 4.91 car decal. The evening concludes with awards and a post-race gathering at Joymongers Barrel Hall, accessible for a small fee.