The Rugged Red Trail Half Marathon

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Natural Bridge Campground, Slade KY

Saturday, October 3rd, 2026

🎉 Welcome to Year 12 of The Rugged Red Race!

🗓️ Event Details

Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 7:15am in Slade, Kentucky. Join us as we run in one of the most spectacular trail settings in the United States and provide support to the men and women who serve on the search & rescue teams that regularly save lives in the Red River Gorge area.

🏃‍♂️ Race Features

Course: Spectacular 13.1 mile looping trail course on private property in the scenic Red River Gorge.
Shirts: Commemorative long sleeved performance shirts (Men’s & Women’s sizes).
Medals: Custom Finisher’s Medals.
Entertainment: Lively DJ playing great music to celebrate the accomplishment of all finishers.

🏆 Awards and Perks

Age Groups: Overall Top 3 M/F and Top 3 M/F in various age groups (0-19, 20-24, ... , 70+).
Photos: Free Race Photos (Thanks to Skyler Dickinson Photography).
Coffee: Complimentary hot and cold brew coffee (Thanks Berserker Brew).
Beer: A complimentary West Sixth beer for all racers (21 & older).

🍔 Food and Drink

Lunch: BBQ Lunch provided to all racers (Thanks Hungry Hiker Bar & Grill).
Teams: Run The Red Teams (Teams of 5 or more SAVE $5/team member).
Packet Pickup: Convenient Thursday Packet Pickup in Lexington, Friday PPU in Slade, KY.
Post-Race: Post race shakeout/massages by Lance Minnis.

🚰 Course Hydration

Our race is cup less. Please bring a water bottle or self-hydration system. We will have Shaklee hydration and water at the start area and at 5 locations along the 13.1-mile route.

👦👧 Special Age-Based Pricing

We are offering a $35 registration fee for those running who are ages 10-16.

📦 Packet Pickup (PPU)

Our packet pickups will be held on Thursday, 10/1/26 from 5-7pm at J&H Running Company (197 Moore Drive in Lexington) and on Friday, 10/2/26 from 4-8pm at the Natural Bridge Campground (pavilion). This is the race venue. We will also hold last chance PPU on race morning (Saturday, 10/3/26) 5:45-7am at the same location. The address for Natural Bridge Campground is 90 L&E Railroad Place, Slade, KY 40376.