55 MILE

    Headquarters of the race will be held at the Sunset Overlook in Columbia, Illinois, twenty minutes from downtown St. Louis, Missouri.  11604 Bluff Rd, Columbia, IL 62236.

    Start of the 55 mile race is at the Kaskaskia River Campground and finishes in Columbia.  Packet pickup is at Sunset Overlook on Friday, and at Kaskaskia on Saturday morning.  

    For runners who do not plan on driving to the start line, there will be a shuttle bus in Columbia on Saturday morning.  The people at Sunset Overlook were gracious enough to let us use their facility, so please grab some beer & pizza after the race and enjoy the view.  

• 3-20-26, Friday 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.  Packet pick-up and leave your drop bags at Sunset Overlook for both the 110 and 55 mile runners. 

• 3-20-26, Friday 5:00 p.m.  Free spaghetti dinner starts, option of no meat.  There will be pool, ping pong, and games available.  Runners' family are welcome, dinner is in Waterloo, IL.

• 3-21-26, Saturday 5:00 a.m. Runners who do not have a ride to Kaskaskia will begin boarding the shuttle bus at Sunset Overlook for Kaskaskia start line.

• 3-21-26, Saturday 5:15 a.m.  shuttle bus leaves Sunset Overlook for the Kaskaskia start line. 

• 3-21-26, Saturday 6:00 a.m.  Check in starts at Kaskaskia (every runner must check in the morning of the race)

• 3-21-26, Saturday 6:00 a.m. - 6:50 a.m.  Packet pick-up at Kaskaskia and leave your drop bags, for 55 mile runners only. 

• 3-21-26, Saturday 6:50 a.m.  Final safety brief

• 3-21-26, Saturday 7:00 a.m.  Start

• 3-21-26, Saturday 10:00 p.m.  Finish 

• This is a point-to-point course, the race will start at the Kaskaskia River Project Campground and finish at the Sunset Overlook located in Columbia, Illinois.

• The course is 76% levees, most of which are gravel, some are paved.  The levees will have almost no traffic.  The remaining 24% will be paved back roads, again, with little traffic.

• 712 ft. of elevation gain 

• The course will be marked with pink flag pins and reflective tape to light up the course at night.

• Flags will be on your right as you head south.  Flags on your left as you head north.

• All intersections will be double marked. 

• Ste. Genevieve mile  7.1

• Prairie du Rocher mile  14.2   - crew access - day use restrooms

• Fort de Chartres mile  18.5   - drop bag - crew access - restrooms

• Ivy Rd mile  25.4

• Outlet Rd mile  30.3   - drop bag - crew access - restrooms

• Walnut Rd mile  35.5

• B Rd mile  42.4   - drop bag - crew access - restrooms

• Taake Rd mile  48.1

Aid stations will have the typical food you'd expect:  quesadillas, soup, fruit, candy, ginger ale, etc.  The sports drink for the race will be HEED.  

*Links to crew accessible aid stations are underlined 

• 4:00 p.m. - Outlet Rd  (9 hrs. in) mile 30.3  

• 10:00 p.m. - Finish in Columbia, Illinois  (15 hrs.) mile 55

• cut-off times will be strictly enforced 

• Crew is allowed at B Rd, Outlet Rd, Fort de Chartres, Prairie du Rocher, and Kaskaskia aid stations

• Crew must park on one side of the road only.  Follow the directions of the aid station captain as parking may change.

• Your crew is not allowed to give aid or meet you at any point once you leave the aid station. 

• You are responsible for the actions of your crew.

*Links to crew accessible aid stations are underlined 

• Drop bags are allowed at B Rd, Outlet Rd, and Fort de Chartres aid stations.

• Must be a reasonable size and weight, use your best judgment

• Your drop bags will be left out in the elements; it's recommended that they're waterproof

• No hard sided containers 

• Write your name, bib number, aid station name, and distance running on the bag

• Drop bags will be returned to the start line by 10:00 p.m.

• You're welcome to pick up your drop bags from the aid stations if you finish early or drop out of the race 

• Drop bags that are not picked up after the race will be held onto for a reasonable amount of time.  Contact us so we can make arrangements to get them back to you.   

• The race will take place close to the vernal equinox, so around 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night, sunrise starts at 7am.

• Average highs and lows are 56°F / 36°F

• The course is wide open, you could be exposed to the sun, rain, lightning, and strong wind for the entirety of the race.  Dress accordingly and drink plenty of water.  The day could be hot, and the night will be cold.

• Watch out for vehicles!  it is required that you wear a Hi-Vis running-style reflective vest during the nighttime portions of the race.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification.  It's strongly recommended that you also wear Hi-Vis or bright clothing during the day.  Stick to the left side of the road as much as possible, except for blind hills and blind corners, where you would use the right side of the road.  Please use your best judgment.

• Headphones are NOT permitted during the race.  It's paramount that you're aware of your surroundings. 

• No foot care or medicine will be given at aid stations   

• If you have to quit the race, please do it at an aid station.  We will try to get you back to the start / finish line as soon as possible.  If it's an emergency, and you need to bail immediately, then you should have good cell coverage the whole course to call for help.  If that happens, please call the race director as soon as possible.           

• Sub-15-hour finishers will receive a custom USA made medal

• First place male and female will receive a custom USA made plaque 

• T-shirt & sticker with registration 

• The option of swag opt-out is available during registration

• A refund will be issued if you cancel no later than two months out from race day.  The refund will not include the processing fees associated with UltraSignup.com  

• No roll overs

• Of course, there's always extenuating circumstances.  Feel free to contact us, we may be able to work something out depending on the situation.

• Drop downs are welcome, however you will not receive a refund for the difference in price from the 110 mile race to the 55 mile race, if dropping down less than two months out from race day. 

• If you would like to switch from the 55 to the 110, you will owe the difference in price. 

• Race day drop downs are welcome.  If you signed up for the 110 mile race and you have run at least 55 miles before dropping out, then you will receive a finisher medal and be counted as an official 55 mile finisher.      

• Reading everything on this website serves as your participant packet.  It's your responsibility to do your due diligence.

•  Must be 18 years or older

• Aid station captain reserves the right to pull you from the race if they feel its unsafe to let you continue.  Please be respectful to the aid station volunteers if you get pulled from the race.  Reach out to the race director if you have any issues. 

• Please make room for any farmers that may be getting their fields ready

• Aid station food & water is for runners and pacers only

• No pacers for the 55 mile race

• Make your race bib visible somewhere on your body, it doesn't matter if it's on the front or back. 

• Check in at aid stations, no need to check out.  If you don't plan on stopping at the aid station, yell out your bib number as you run past, just make sure your number is echoed back.      

• No littering, it's a privilege to use the levees, leave it how you found it.

• No vehicles allowed on the levees

• Note that the map provided on hellodrifter.com shows the southern end of the route flooded.  However, with the race taking place the first weekend of spring, flooding will not be an issue.