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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

John Holmes Trail Run

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USOctober 202750km

Pacer Travel · YouTube

Race date Oct expected: October 2027
City · Distance: Brooksville · 50km
Entry fee: $90From the 2025 edition
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date October 2027 · expected · Soon

2026Date Oct 3, 2026 · Entry ~ Oct 1, 2026 · Entry fee $55 · Start 08:00

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 10, 2026

About the race Runner stories 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.

The event reaches its 34th edition in 2026.

It is the oldest 50K trail race in the southeastern United States.

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.

Race reports: 2

Dan StonerRan in 2013 · Finish time 4:40:31

“Once I got cooled down the cramping subsided.”

Dan Stoner completed a first 50km at the 2013 John Holmes Trail Run in 4 hours, 40 minutes, 31 seconds, placing fourth overall and first in his age group. Cold water eased heat and cramps late in the race, while brief aid stops helped him gain places on the final loop.

Read the original on thatlinuxbox.com

wyldrunner@Through a Running LensFinish time 5:45:48

“Amazingly when I started going, the pain was completely gone!”

At the John Holmes 50km, the runner focused on heart rate and a run-walk strategy rather than speed. Leg pain on lap two brought thoughts of quitting, but the runner recovered, stuck to the plan, and finished first in the age group in 5 hours, 45 minutes, 48 seconds.

Read the original on Through a Running Lens

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

John Holmes Trail run 2023

Pacer Travel

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.

From the 2025 edition

Ultra

Entry cost $90

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

16 Miler

Entry cost $70

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

9 Miler

Entry cost $55

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 50km

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

From the 2025 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00

3:00 PM time limit

Event	Start	Time limit
Ultra	07:00	15:00
Other14.48km	08:00	15:00
Other25.75km	08:00	15:00

START · FINISH

Tucker Hill Fire Tower, Brooksville, FL

Start · Google Maps

Distances include the 50K, 16 Miler, and 9 Miler.

The race starts in Brooksville, FL, at 7:00 AM local time.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Event T-shirt 2026

This may change for the next edition.

To the start line,
step by step.

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

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

The John Holmes Trail Run in Brooksville; packet pickup information has not been published.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNo public transit; start/finish near the Tucker Hill Fire Tower in Croom Park / Withlacoochee State Forest…
Getting to the finishSame Tucker Hill Fire Tower · Croom Park start
Transit cardJohn Holmes Trail Run takes place near Brooksville, FL, a rural Gulf Coast area north of Tampa with no…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit; start/finish near the Tucker Hill Fire Tower in Croom Park / Withlacoochee State Forest (Silver Lake Recreation Area vicinity), near Brooksville, FL.

50K starts 7:00 AM; 16-mile and 9-mile distances start 8:00 AM. Field capped at 250 runners; rain-or-shine event.

Official race site (johnholmestrailrun. Rural state forest venue — no public transit, car access only.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same Tucker Hill Fire Tower / Croom Park start/finish venue

2026 marks the 34th running of this race (formerly called the Croom Trail 50K before being renamed in 2006 in honor of founder John Holmes).

Map

Transit card

John Holmes Trail Run takes place near Brooksville, FL, a rural Gulf Coast area north of Tampa with no dedicated transit card system. Standard car access applies; cash/card covers any parking 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.

The 50K course is a loop course on the Croom Hiking Trail, starting and returning at the Tucker Hill Fire Tower.

The 50K starts at 7:00 AM, while the 16-mile and 9-mile distances start at 8:00 AM, and time limit has a 3:00 PM cutoff.

The race goes ahead as scheduled in wet weather, with aid station stationed every 7 miles.

After the first lap, a aid station offering fruit, snacks, soft drinks, and gels is available.

Times are local to Brooksville. 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.

Orlando｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service from Orlando Executive Airport

$72

John Holmes Trail Run

About John Holmes Trail Run — 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

John Holmes Trail Run runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

See it on video,feel it through their stories.

John Holmes Trail run 2023

How to enter John Holmes Trail Run — registration routes

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

Ultra

16 Miler

9 Miler

John Holmes Trail Run course map and elevation

Your 50km

Tucker Hill Fire Tower, Brooksville, FL

Participant benefits

Event T-shirt 2026

Where and when to collect your John Holmes Trail Run race bib

To the start line,step by step.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Getting to the finish

Transit card

From race morning to after the finish.

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

Orlando｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service from Orlando Executive Airport

Orlando ICON Park Full-Day Guided Tour

Orlando｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service from Orlando International Airport

Bradenton: Tiki Boat Cruise

The Orlando Eye Combo Ticket

Orlando SeaWorld Theme Park Admission Ticket

Orlando Go Card - All-Inclusive Pass

Time for you, before and after the finish

Orlando｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service from Orlando Executive Airport

Orlando｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service from Orlando International Airport

The Orlando Eye Combo Ticket

Orlando SeaWorld Theme Park Admission Ticket

Orlando Go Card - All-Inclusive Pass

Wild Florida Wildlife Park Admission Ticket, Orlando

From Orlando: Small-Group Rock Springs Run Kayak Tour

Orlando Urban Clear Kayak or Paddleboard Paradise Tour

Paddleboarding or Clear Kayaking Experience with Dogs in Orlando

2-Hour Clear Kayak & Paddleboard Rental in Orlando

Date Night LED Clear Kayaking or Paddleboarding Experience in Orlando

Sunset Clear Kayaking or Clear Paddleboarding Experience in Orlando

2-Hour Clear Kayak and Paddleboard Rental in Orlando

What to see in Brooksville after the race

Seeing Brooksville with the medal on

Orlando ICON Park Full-Day Guided Tour

Bradenton: Tiki Boat Cruise

Total cost and budget for John Holmes Trail Run

Trip prep too,light and in one place.

Runner stories and questions about John Holmes Trail Run

With runners who dream ofthe same start line.

Frequently asked questions about John Holmes Trail Run

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

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

To the start line,
step by step.

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

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

With runners who dream of
the same start line.