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The Red Monster race photo

The Red Monster

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USNov 14, 202650M
Ken Thomas · Public domain
Race date in 38 days
Nov 14, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Slade · 50M
Entry fee
$110Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenMon, June 1, 2026 ~ Sat, November 14, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 7, 2026
The Red Monster race photo
Ken Thomas · Public domain
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About The Red Monster — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

It takes place in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

Runners tackle the toughest course in the region.

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.

The Red Monster runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

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.

We haven't found a video for this race yet. We'll add one when we do.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter The Red Monster — registration routes

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.

Ultra

Entry cost $110

until Oct 10, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform RunSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The Red Monster course map and elevation

The 50M I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30
EventStart
Ultra80.5km07:30
Other25km07:30
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

3·4 , ,,,

KY

Start · Google Maps

The categories are The Red Monster 25k and The Red Monster 50 Mile.

The start takes place at 607 Skylift Dr., Slade, KY at 7:00 AM local time.

Typical race-season temperature: around 7°C (45°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your The Red Monster race bib

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

Packet pickup information has not yet been announced.
For small trail races, race-morning on-site pickup is common; check the registration page announcement for details.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

None — no public transit serves the park

Start/finish is near Pavilions 3 & 4, across from Whittleton Campground, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, KY.

No public transit serves the park.

Parking is limited at the Gray's Arch lot;

the organizer explicitly asks runners to carpool or arrange drop-off to reduce the number of vehicles.

No public transit, car access only — normal and expected for this Red River Gorge trail race.

Getting to the finish

None — same trailhead area as start

Finish is at the same trailhead area near Pavilions 3 & 4.

More details

No public shuttle;

only informal carpool/drop-off arrangements are recommended due to limited parking.

Stations & transport near the venue

Slade, KY (Red River Gorge area) has no dedicated transit card system;

this is a rural car-access ultra reached by personal vehicle.

There is no local public transit serving the trailhead, so driving is the only practical option.

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.

Slade in November — cool, with an average temperature of 7°C.

Your fingers and ears will feel the cold first, so bring gloves and a beanie.

Wear several thin layers on your torso so you can take them off while running.

Public transportation does not reach the race venue.

The realistic options are a personal vehicle or rental car.

Registration is handled through the RunSignup platform.

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

Break in your shoes and socks thoroughly before race day, and if there are nighttime sections, bring spare headlamp batteries.

The early 07:00 start means it is more convenient to stay start line the night before when you work backward from waking up, breakfast, and travel.

Registration closes on November 11, 2026.

Times are local to Slade. 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 near the The Red Monster start line in Slade

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

ATV Trailer Parking/NEW/5 min to Natural Bridge

Accommodation · 3.7km

10.0/10(8)
View on Booking.com

Cozy Creek - Minimalist, Outhouse, Firepit, Creekside, Private

Accommodation · 4.8km

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Slade with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Slade.

Total cost and budget for The Red Monster

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

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

Runner stories and questions about The Red Monster

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Slade runners' room

Frequently asked questions about The Red Monster

FAQ
When does The Red Monster 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, November 14, 2026 in Slade, KY, United States.

How much is the The Red Monster 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $110.

What distances does The Red Monster 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does The Red Monster 2026 start?

The race starts at 07:30.

Where does The Red Monster 2026 start?

3·4 , ,,,.

When does registration for The Red Monster 2026 open?

Registration runs from Mon, June 1, 2026 to Sat, November 14, 2026.

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