Headquarters

    Headquarters / start & finish 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.  Parking and packet pick up will be in the grass field on the south end of the property.  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 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.  packet pick-up and leave your drop bags at Sunset Overlook

• 3-21-26, Saturday 4:30 a.m.  check in starts (every runner must check in the morning of the race)

• 3-21-26, Saturday 4:30 a.m. - 5:50 a.m.  last chance for packet pick-up and to leave your drop bags at Sunset Overlook

• 3-21-26, Saturday 5:50 a.m.  final safety brief 

• 3-21-26, Saturday 6:00 a.m.  start

• 3-22-26, Sunday 4:00 p.m.  finish 

• 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.

• 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 out.  Flags on your left as you return back from the halfway point.

• All intersections will be double marked. 

• Taake Rd miles 6.8 / 103.2

• B Rd miles 12.6 / 97.4  - drop bag - crew access - restrooms

• Walnut Rd miles 19.6 / 90.4

• Outlet Rd miles 24.7 / 85.3  - drop bag - crew access - restrooms 

• Ivy Rd miles 29.7 / 80.3

• Fort de Chartres miles 37 / 73  - drop bag - crew access - restrooms

•  Prairie du Rocher miles 42 / 68   -crew access - day use restrooms

• Ste. Genevieve miles 48 / 62

• Kaskaskia mile 55 (turn around)  - drop bag - crew access - restrooms

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 

• 11:00 p.m. - Kaskaskia  (17 hrs. in) mile 55

• 4:30 a.m. - Fort de Chartres  (22.5 hrs. in) mile 73

• 8:30 a.m. - Outlet Rd  (26.5 hrs. in) mile 85.3  

• 12:30 p.m. - B Rd  (30.5 hrs. in) mile 97.4

• 4:00 p.m. - Finish in Columbia, Illinois  (34 hrs.) Mile 110

• 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 and pacer.

• A pacer can be picked up starting at the Kaskaskia aid station at mile 55.  You may also pick up a pacer at Fort de Chartres mile 73, Outlet Rd mile 85.3, and B Rd at mile 97.4.  

• One pacer at a time

• Your pacer cannot carry your food, water, and gear for you.  No muling.

• Pacer must sign a waiver at packet pick up, or at the aid station they enter the race

*Links to crew & pacer accessible aid stations are underlined 

• Drop bags are allowed at B Rd, Outlet Rd, Fort de Chartres, and Kaskaskia 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, and aid station name on the bag

• Drop bags will be returned to the start line by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday

• 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 and six blinking red lights 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, external speakers, or anything else that might restrict hearing is 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-34-hour finishers will receive a belt buckle

• First place and first female will receive a custom plaque, no double dipping. 

• T-shirt & sticker with registration 

• Opt-out option is available  

• 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 ultrasighnup.com  

• No roll overs

• No bib transfers

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

• 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

• 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.

• 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.