Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay

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Hwy 25 & Hwy 2, Thurmond WV

Sunday, May 18th, 2025

🚂 Race Overview

The highball was a signal used in early railroads to signal the track was clear. When the ball was hoisted, trains were cleared to proceed! We're raising the ball on this unique 50 Mile and 50 Kilometer event, encouraging athletes to proceed on this epic trail adventure. Both races finish in Thurmond, West Virginia. With a population of 5 at the 2010 census, it is the least populated railroad town in the nation and part of the New River Gorge National Park.

🏃‍♂️ The 50 Miler

Start Time: This event starts at 4:45 am in Montgomery, WV, 50 Miles from the finish line in Thurmond, WV, giving athletes enough time to Catch the Train back to Montgomery!
Train Schedule: The train leaves at 6:59 pm, and the last call whistle will be at 6:45 pm. Athletes will have 14 hours to complete this adventure.
Course Details: This course is a mix of paved road (about 12 miles), mountain dirt roads, and gorgeous trails with a spectacular view!
Elevation Gain: With about 6,000 feet of elevation gain, athletes will surely earn their finishers medal, post race food, and awesome awards!

🏞️ The 50 Kilometer Event

Start Location: This full daylight event starts in Hawks Nest State Park and finishes in Thurmond, WV.
Trail Details: This point-to-point course takes participants along the beautiful New River Gorge Trails.
Aid Stations: This is a well-aided and extremely well marked 50K, great for beginners with a reasonable cutoff time.
Elevation Gain: With 3,100' of elevation gain, this course is both manageable and challenging!

🤝 The 50 Mile Relay

Team Composition: This 50 Mile Relay can be run with 2, 3, or 4 people.
Relay Points: With 5 relay hand off points, athletes can run in any order and run as many or as few legs as they want.
Team Strategy: Each member of the team must run at least one leg, combining talents for an epic point-to-point race!