A Race for the Ages

Event Overview

On the Thursday before Labor Day Weekend of 2026, ultramarathoners will once again descend on Fred Deadman Park in Manchester, Tennessee. Led by a contingent of wheezing geezers, over a hundred of America’s finest foot warriors will circle the famed Deadman Mile for days on end in September of 2026.

Race Format

• Age-Based Hours: All runners 41 and over will be allotted a number of hours equal to those hard-earned years of age in which to accumulate as many miles as possible.
• Participation: All the kids, 40 years and below, will compete over the final 40 hours of the race.
• Top Finishers: The winner will be the runner with the most miles accumulated by the finish.
• Inclusive Competition: The ARFTA is dominated by super veterans of the sport with significant participation from older age groups.

Community and Stories

Of course it is not the competition which has made this event an instant classic. It is the stories. In the perfect setting of a one-mile loop through the park, today’s ultrarunners have the opportunity to spend time with the legends and heroes of the long ago past of the sport. And the old guys and gals have the opportunity to rekindle old friendships (and rivalries) and to rehash the old days. The stories they have to tell are not tales immortalized on the internet, instead they exist only in the memories of those who were there. For all the hundreds of miles that are logged, and the fierce battles sometimes waged for position, it is the celebration of life atmosphere that has made the ARFTA a must-do event.

Facilities

• Meals: Hot meals served every 6 hours (this is not aid station food, but fine southern cuisine catered by the local Cracker Barrel).
• Indoor Restrooms: There are real indoor bathrooms located on the course (the value of which cannot be overstated in a multiday run).
• Camping: Ample TENT camping is available on site, with prime camping spots situated around the Deadman Mile.
• Parking: This is a small park with limited parking. The course is in the parking lot as well as through the park.

Parking and RVs

With that being said, RV Campers! A camper is allowed in the back parking area near the back ball field. IF YOUR CAMPER FITS IN ONE PARKING SPOT THEN IT IS ALLOWED. The standard parking space is 8.5 feet wide by 18 feet long to give you an idea of the size.

Accommodations

There are accommodations available at a full range of motels within 1 mile of the park, for crews or runners wishing to sleep in a “real bed.” There is plenty of camping space to set up a tent and all of your supplies. Not on the course itself but close to it!

Additional Information

• Facebook Group: There is a facebook group for the ARFTA: Join here.
• Financial Assistance: Any runners over 70 years of age with financial limitations precluding their entry should e-mail me, so that we can work something out.
• Top Lifetimes: Top 6 in Lifetime miles: Maurice Robinson 1473, Barney Riesback 1439, Doyle Carpenter 1407, Ed Masuaka 1255, Harry Strohm 1196, Rosemary Evans 1231.
• Participation Encouraged: You do not need to aim for a lofty goal if you do not wish: it is perfectly all right to just come to share the weekend with your peers.

Race Details

Date: 2026-09-03

Location: 101-166 Wilson St, Manchester, TN

More Information: Visit the Race Page