Show Me Your Free State Marathon and Ultra 2026

The Show Me Your Free State Marathon and Ultra-Marathon begins and ends at Rosecrans Airport in Saint Joseph, Missouri, situated near the Missouri-Kansas border within the Missouri River valley. Benton High School organizes the event, offering 100 miles, 50 miles, 50K, marathon, and half marathon options. The course is designed as a 25-mile loop run counter-clockwise. This setup simplifies navigation for longer races: the 100-mile race requires four laps, and the 50-mile race requires two laps. The shorter races utilize the same course. 50K participants complete one full 25-mile loop and then begin a second, turning back after 3 miles. Marathoners turn around after 0.6 miles on an additional section, while half marathoners go 6.55 miles out before returning. Proceeds benefit the Benton High School Cross Country and Track & Field programs, providing a local-school objective. A runner handbook and training plans for various distances are also provided, a practical resource for participants in both marathon and ultra-running events.