FLATS Trail Half Marathon

Race Description

Looking for a challenge? Look no further! For 15 years, the F*L*A*T*S Trail Half Marathon has tested veteran trail runners and welcomed hundreds of new trail runners into the fold. Along with miles of lovingly maintained trails, the point-to-point course offers seven well-stocked aid stations, gorgeous views, more rock, hills, and roots than you can count, enthusiastic volunteers to cheer you on, a carefully marked course, custom age-group awards, prize money, the softest t-shirt in the whole universe, custom finishers medals, and a festive post-race celebration. All proceeds go to the Forest Lake Area Trail System to support trail building and maintenance in Adair County, Missouri.

Runner Reviews

"My first time running this event and sorry I missed out not running it sooner. Well-marked, challenging and beautiful trail. First 1.5 miles on road to spread out the runners. Although I carried my own bottle, there were plenty of aid stations for runners that need them. Awesome post race event with live music, food (pizza, fruit, all kinds of drinks, etc.), and stretching clinic (very helpful). Nice mug and soft and lightweight finisher's shirt. I left feeling like I got more than my money's worth! The people that put this on really care about the finer details and the runners." -Andy Emerson "Beautiful course, well-marked, awesome race directors, best post-race celebration I've ever seen! Run this race!" -Laura Tarantino "I have ran many races throughout my running career ranging from 5k to one hundred miles on the trails. This event was world class. The work that is put into maintaining the trails by the volunteers alone adds up into hundreds of hours! The park is beautiful with the lake as a focal point. There are so many things about this race that make it one to put it on your list of races to do. From the Race Directors who treat you like family to the volunteers that man the hard to get to aid stations. I truly recommend this!" -Raymond Rolling "Came out from Tucson to run and this race exceeded my expectations. The organizers were welcoming and enthusiastic, the aid station volunteers wonderful and supportive, and the course was perfectly marked. Beautiful, mostly single track with just enough roots, rocks and water crossing to make it interesting and require attentive running. Gorgeous fall foliage in this forested trail alongside the lake almost made me want to stop a few times to take in the views. I would have run faster if I had known [Jackson Stables] at the finish was going to pamper us so well. Just loved this event." -Bobbie Whiteside "Beautiful, moderately challenging course maintained with painstaking care, manned by enthusiastic volunteers and raced by a series of individuals with just a hint of crazy. All in all, a perfect trail race. So glad I made the drive, even as a back-of-the pack runner! (And the swag was awesome too)." -Andrew McGlothlen

Awards

First-place female, male, and nonbinary finishers win $150 each, second-place $75 each, third-place $25 each. If you both win AND set a new course record total prize money is $250 ($150 for first place and a $100 course record bonus)! The top three female, male, and nonbinary finishers in each age group will receive a commemorative FLATS Trail Half Marathon pint glass.

Age Groups

19 and under 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 and over

Course Records

Women (2017): Laura Tarantino - 1:31:19 Men (2022): Ethan Kossover - 1:20:51

Runner Support

There will be 7 aid stations on the course, at slightly irregular intervals. #1) Mile 1.5 #5) Mile 9.85 #2) Mile 3.2 #6) Mile 11.3 #3) Mile 5.2 #7) Mile 12.5 #4) Mile 7.9 All runners are encouraged to carry some calories and/or a hydration system or bottles which can be refilled at each stop. Water, sports drink, snacks, and gels will be provided along the course. The finish line will have water, sports drink, soft drinks, pizza, and snacks. The cutoff for an official finish time will be 12:30 p.m., but all athletes will be allowed to complete the course if they so choose.

Registration Policy

This is a fundraiser for the Forest Lake Area Trail System. If you can't run you have two options. Up until two weeks before the race entrants may receive a 50% credit towards next year's event and up until October 2, 2026 entrants may transfer their entry to another runner. All transfers and refunds must be processed through ultrasignup.com and entries may not be "rolled over" into the next year's race. To transfer your entry just log into the UltraSignup account you registered under, click on the Account Info button in the upper right, select Registration History, click the Edit button next to the FLATS Trail Half Marathon, and click the Transfer Registration button on the lower left. When you transfer your registration UltraSignup will send an email to the person you're transferring with instructions on how to register.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Policy

The one exception to the registration policy above is for runners who are or recently were pregnant. If this describes you just reach out to us and we'll transfer your registration to next year's race (no questions asked).

Packet Pick-up

Pre-race packet pickup will be held on Friday, October 2nd at the ATSU Thompson Campus Center (210 S. Osteopathy, Kirksville, MO, 63501) between Noon and 7:00 p.m and again race morning at the Marina beginning at 7:00 a.m. The race starts Saturday, October 3rd at 8:30 a.m. Race day packet pickup will begin at 7:00 a.m. AT THE STARTING LINE!!

Shuttle

Since this is a point-to-point race there will be a shuttle bus to take runners from the finish line at Jackson Stables to the start at the Thousand Hills State Park Marina. Racers taking the shuttle should park at the finish line race morning. All runners are guaranteed a spot on the shuttle is they are ready to board by 7:15 a.m. If you still need to pick up your packet AND you need to ride the shuttle, please be aware that your packet will be waiting for you at the starting line when the shuttle drops you off.

Carpooling to the Start

Many runners carpool to the start line and make individual arrangements pick up their car post-race instead of riding the shuttle. That works! The starting line is at the Marina at Thousand Hills State Park. The race will start at 8:30 am.

Gear Drop

For warm ups and personal belongings–we will deliver one bag per person from the starting line to the finish line. We discourage placing valuables in your bag–just what you need to warm-up/eat/drink, etc. before and after the race. Racers are welcome (and encouraged) to use their numbered packet pickup bag as their gear-drop bag.

Inclusive Running

The Forest Lake Area Trail System and FLATS Trail Half Marathon exist to increase access to and use of trails. We’re all better when everyone is welcomed and celebrated on our trails. To remove a potential barrier for under-served and under-represented runners we’ve joined the Trail Mix Fund, which pays race fees for BIPOC runners, LGBTQIA+ runners, and runners who experience financial barriers that keep them from entering races. Learn how to apply at https://trailmixfund.org/ (and consider donating to them when you register). To provide a more equal race-day experience we have adopted the Trail Sisters Approved Standards, which include a women’s cut t-shirt option, offering menstrual products at aid stations, a pregnancy and postpartum deferral option, and equal podium and awards. To help make it possible for runners to register for our race and compete in the category that best fits their identity, we offer nonbinary registration with equal podiums and prize money. Please register for our race and compete in the category that best fits your identity (and be assured we won’t ask you to provide any kind of “proof”). To help diversify our sport, we reach out to members of running clubs that work to make running more inclusive and, when requested, gladly offer a discount for such groups’ use. To make our event safe and welcoming for all runners, we expect all participants to respect the gender identity, race, physical ability, age, and body type of runners. Anyone who fails to meet this simple expectation may be disqualified from the event and risks being banned from future events. Please reach out to us with any and all concerns. To support runners who would like to limit their public profile, we recommend registering for the race as a guest at UltraSignup or contacting us about registering offline. By registering as a guest you can easily enter a name that isn’t easily found in a search (for example your first name and last initial). If you already have an account UltraSignup will update your name if you contact their support. In addition, runners who register online at UltraSignup can “hide” upcoming races from their profile during registration and/or modify the city listed by their name in race results (contact us directly about this). Reach out if you’d like if you’d like help with any of this. Finally, we see inclusiveness as a process and a conversation. Please reach out with your ideas, insights, and concerns.

Trail Etiquette

When passing a slower runner on a narrow section of trail, yell out, "on your left," and then wait for the person to move to the right, to pass safely. If you have runners approaching from behind, please look for a spot to safely pull to the right, to let them pass. Because it can be difficult and even dangerous to pass runners when they can't hear you we ask that you don't wear earbuds or, if you do, keep the volume low and/or only wear one. Trust us, your fellow runners will appreciate your courtesy!

Inclement Weather Policy

We run rain or shine! In case of inclement weather, management reserves the right to delay the start or cancel/alter/modify the race/course for the safety of runners or volunteers. Please monitor the weather and any communications sent out from the race director to make sure you are prepared and remember that each runner needs to make their own independent determination of whether to run given race day conditions based on their health, training, and personal comfort level. For additional info please review your race waiver.