You can count on S!Caps and ULTRA Sportsdrink being at all of our staffed aid stations.

The Trail Marathon:
Running a marathon on a trail is a wonderful experience.  It is much different than running a marathon on the road, though.  Your overall time will be slower, so don't count on a hyper-fast Boston Qualifier.  The "perceived" time will fly by faster though, because there is so much beauty to take in, and you will be busy "picking your best line" on the trails.  If you are a first-time trail marathoner, we have some information for you about trailrunning available here.

The marathon starts at 8:00 am, an hour later than the Ultra-distance events.  The marathon course has some additional features, (in addition to using the "Ultra-loop" course).  For instance, you will go up Beacon Hill and have the best view of the lake and surrounding landscape.  This truly is a beautiful course!

There will be plenty of aid along the course, but we must insist (for your safety) that you carry a water bottle or hydration system with you.  You may be disqualified for not carrying such.  There will be no cups at the unmanned aid stations, so you will need to have something (other than your hands or mouth) to put the water into.

The Ultra-Distance events: Why a 40-miler or a 100-Kilometer distance Ultra?  Why not?
Many aspiring ultra-distance runners would like to move up in distance from a 50K to a 50-miler, but want to run an "in-between distance" first.  The same goes for runners who have finished a 50-mile run, but would like to move up to the 100-mile distance.  There just aren't enough in-between distance ultras to run "out there," especially ultras that are on 100% technical single-track trails.  It would also be nice if these in-between ultras were positioned in the Spring, prior to some of the popular 50 and 100-mile races.  It would also be nice if these races were close to a major airport, thus eliminating the need for long drives in rental cars for out-of-towners.  Hence, the idea for the Free State Trail Ultras was hatched and implemented.  

Kyle Amos, a talented local trail and ultrarunner veteran came up with the idea, and we discussed it on a Thursday night trail run.  One week later, we gathered our forces and put together the pieces to the race in earnest.  We already knew where and on what trails...the North Shore Trails of Clinton Lake, Kansas.  We've had a plan on the back-burner to do an ultra event there (for years), but we needed an event that was worthy of the North Shore Trails.  This is it!  

It also helps that the race is in Lawrence, Kansas.  Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas, is the most cosmopolitan small town in this part of the Midwest.  It's just a short 50-minute drive from Kansas City International Airport (MCI).  Some major U.S. poets, authors, and artists have lived, retired, and died here in Lawrence.  There are entertainment options galore.  There are fine hotels, B & B's, restaurants, bakeries, and brewpubs.  You can even camp near the race start/finish area, with showers available, after the race.  What more could a runner want?  How about decent aid stations, with freshly-made food items, and staffed by experienced ultrarunners?  We've got it!

The Course:
The Free State Ultra Trail Run is run on a 21-mile loop course in Clinton Lake State Park, Lawrence, Kansas. (The Marathon Course is run on the same course, but includes the Sander's Mound and Bunker Hill trails with views of the Clinton Lake).  The park is very close to the city of Lawrence.  The course consists of two trails, the faster "Blue" trail and the more technical "White" trail. (These trails are marked with blue and white blazes on the trees). These (heavily-wooded) trails are 100% single-track trails, with all that that entails: rocks, roots, hills, and potential water crossings. The hills are not too steep or tall, but after 39 or 59 miles, they may appear to have grown, somewhat.

Flashlights or headlamps WILL BE REQUIRED to navigate the trail at night. Remember that with the shade of the wooded course, it is darker after dawn and darker before sunset than on an open course. Each runner/pacer should plan accordingly. Backup batteries or flashlights are important. This is the only real safety rule of the race, other than picking your feet up when you run, and not running into solid tree trunks.

The 40-Mile race consists of two complete loops and the 100 Kilometer race is three-loops of the race course. The course time limit has been set to correspond to the time limit given to both race's participants. This allows the volunteers to break down the aid stations based on a single time for all runners. We will allow 17 hours to complete the 40-Mile race, and 18 hours to complete the 100 Kilometer race. This is ample time to finish both of these distances for a reasonably-fit runner who wants to take that "step beyond" marathoning, 50-Km or 50-Mile runs. These race distances are the perfect stepping stones to your first 50-Mile or 100-Mile trail runs.

It will be our official policy that any runner not making a cut-off time with be pulled from the course for purposes of safety and course logistics. Race Management also reserves the right to pull a runner for "other" reasons.  We appreciate your help and understanding with this policy.

There will be a "40-Mile dropout option" for runners that have "bit-off more than they can chew" with the 100-Km race. You will receive a 40-Mile finisher's award, but your results will not count in the 40-Mile age group or positional awards. This eliminates this as a 40-mile-Ninja-stealth-devious race strategy, for those so inclined...we're sure that you understand.

Aid Stations:
There will be 3 staffed aid stations along the course. There will also be at least three unstaffed aid stations. You will travel no more than 3-1/2 miles between aid stations. There will be plenty of aid along the course, but we must insist (for your safety) that you carry a water bottle or hydration system with you.  You may be disqualified for not carrying such.  There will be no cups at the unmanned aid stations, so you will need to have something (other than your hands or mouth) to put the water into. It is normal (and prudent) to carry your own hydration container(s) during this and other trail races, so get use to it! At the aid stations we will be enforcing cut-off times, and there will also be a suggested maximum pace time which you should not fall behind, if you intend to finish in the allotted time.

The aid station volunteers are there to help you. Make sure you are checked in at each aid station (have your number visible on your front side), for they will record your number and time into the station. Limited first aid will be available at the stations as well as bug repellent, Vaseline, and sunscreen.

The staffed stations will have the following food and drink:
Water 
SUCCEED Ultra (orange flavored)
Coke, Mt. Dew
Pretzels, Crackers, Cookies, Chips
Fruit, such as bananas, watermelon, canteloupe 
Electrolytes: SUCCEED! 
They will also have coffee, potatoes, sandwiches, candy, soup and other assorted food for runners and pacers. Remember: If you carry a cup or bowl out of an aid station please carry it to the next station. Ice will be typically be available at staffed aid stations.

The unstaffed stations will have water and possibly some "quick food" items.

Drop bags:
At the morning check-in you will be given the opportunity to leave 2 drop bags, one for the start/finish area and one which will be transported to the drop bag aid station out on the course. Write your name, number and drop bag location onto each bag. These two locations will give you access to your bags at ten mile intervals, which should be about perfect. You should have a flashlight or headlamp stashed in both locations, for your personal safety when dusk falls.

Trail Markings:
The course is marked with yellow signs that will tell you "right turn," "left turn," "straight ahead," and "wrong way." We will mark the course with ground markings (yellow arrows) and yellow ribbon at important intersections. Care must be taken when crossing roadways!

Flashlights or headlamps WILL BE REQUIRED to navigate the trail at night. Each runner/pacer should plan accordingly. Backup batteries or flashlights are important.

Pacers:
Pacers are allowed on the course for the last 20 miles of the 40-Mile race, and the last 40 miles of the 100-kilometer race. Pacers are not allowed to be a "pack mule" for their runner, and should be fairly self-sufficient. Pacers need not pay, but must sign the waiver and be issued a numbered pacer race bib. Pacers can enjoy all of the food/hydration/service of the aid stations, but must not be an "overbearing burden" upon the race organization (or their assigned runner). We reserve the right to pull any pacer who we deem as "burdensome" either to us or their runner.

Note: A large portion of the 2007 race’s net proceeds will go to the Kansas Trails Council exclusively for the Clinton North Shore Trails "Friends of the Trail" Fund.

Map to Event from Lawrence

Trail Description

Lawrence, Kansas Links