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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USMay 16, 202750M · 50km

Brian M. Powell (user Bitmapped on en.wikipedia ) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Race date in 214 days: May 16, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Thurmond · 50M · 50km
Entry fee: $160Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenTBD ~ Fri, May 14, 2027See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 14, 2026

About the race How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Held on May 16, 2027, in the Appalachian Mountains.

This is an ultramarathon that can be run, rucked, or done as a relay.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

2022 Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay: A Race Through the New River Gorge National Park

Trivium Racing

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

50K

Entry cost $160

until Feb 14, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

50K Ruck

Entry cost $160

until Feb 14, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

50 Mile

Entry cost $175

until Feb 14, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Relay

Entry cost $100

50 Mile Relay · until Feb 14, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform RunSignup

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 80.5km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 05:30

Event	Start	Time limit
50 Mile80.5km	05:30	—
50K50km	07:00	12h 30m
50 Mile Relay80.5km	05:30	—

City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Hwy 25 & Hwy 2, Thurmond, WV

FINISH

McKendree Rd, Thurmond, WV

Finish · Google Maps

The events are 50K, 50K Ruck, 50 Mile, and 50 Mile Relay.

The race starts at 5:30 a.m. local time from Hwy 25 & Hwy 2, Thurmond, WV.

Course is a point-to-point event with a different start and finish.

Typical race-season temperature: around 17°C (62°F): Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Finisher medal

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNone - no public transit at either start point (Montgomery, WV or Hawks Nest State Park)
Getting to the finishThurmond, WV Amtrak stop (seasonal New River Train station) - the race finishes directly in the historic town of Thurmond
Transit cardNo dedicated transit card system; Thurmond, WV in the New River Gorge is a remote, car-only venue with no…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

None - no public transit at either start point (Montgomery, WV or Hawks Nest State Park)

50 Mile starts in Montgomery, WV (street parking); 50K starts at Hawks Nest State Park (limited on-site parking). Organizer shuttle carries 50K runners from Montgomery to Hawks Nest for those who park in Montgomery.

Notably unusual setup - this point-to-point ultra ends at an active (seasonal) Amtrak stop in Thurmond, WV, and racers can ride the train back to their car in Montgomery; train tickets are limited/sell out, making this a genuinely load-bearing transit detail for runners.

Map

Getting to the finish

Thurmond, WV Amtrak stop (seasonal New River Train station) - the race finishes directly in the historic town of Thurmond

Finish is in the ghost town of Thurmond, WV, home to a seasonal Amtrak stop. Runners can buy an Amtrak ticket to ride the train back to Montgomery, WV post-race (departs Thurmond 7:39 PM sharp, last call whistle 7:30 PM); tickets are limited and often sell out.

Map

Start shuttle

Organizer shuttle (50K only): park in Montgomery -> shuttle to Hawks Nest -> finish in Thurmond -> train back to Montgomery. Alternative: park at the Thurmond finish, shuttle to Hawks Nest, then drive home directly.

No post-race shuttle back to Hawks Nest/Montgomery - only the Amtrak train.

Transit card

No dedicated transit card system; Thurmond, WV in the New River Gorge is a remote, car-only venue with no public transit. Cash/card accepted for any parking or toll fees.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Thurmond in May averages 17°C, a good temperature for a fast time.

Your body cools quickly while waiting for the start, so wear a throwaway layer and take it off just before the gun.

Public transportation does not reach the venue.

The only realistic options are a private or rental car.

Registration is handled through the RunSignup platform.

Ultras are decided not by speed but by fueling and foot care.

Break in your shoes and socks well before the race, and if there are night sections, bring spare headlamp batteries.

The 05:30 start is early.

Working back from wake-up, breakfast and travel, it's easiest to stay near start line the night before.

Registration is open until May 14, 2027.

Times are local to Thurmond. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on map Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map Seeing Thurmond with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Checklist Local eSIM · Trip.com Flight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelp Pace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Thurmond runners' room

FAQ

When does Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, May 16, 2027 in Thurmond, WV, United States.

How much is the Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $160.

What distances does Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay 2027 offer?

Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay 2027 start?

The race starts at 05:30. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay 2027 start?

Hwy 25 & Hwy 2, Thurmond, WV. (From the 2026 edition)

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Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay

About Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run