2026 Race Recap
Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay
2026 Race Recap
From Montgomery and Hawks Nest to Thurmond, from sunrise to the last call whistle, 2026 Highball to Thurmond was an adventure. We saw 185 finishers across the 50 Mile, 50K, 50K Ruck, and 50 Mile Relay, our largest field yet. Runners and ruckers set new course records. We welcomed runners from states 23 states and DC to Southern West Virginia, and were grateful to work with Friends of New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, the towns of Montgomery and Thurmond, the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Water Stone Outdoors, and Babcock Gristmill Grinder/Sticks and Stones as true partners.
There’s just something special about Highball to Thurmond that’s hard to put into words. New River Gorge National Park is absolutely breathtaking. The course is challenging yet rewarding. Waterfalls, rhododendron, climbs and descents, prehistoric forests. The camaraderie of a group of people who somehow all seem to be on the same wavelength, even though they’ve just met. Taking the train back through the Gorge after a hard day’s work. It’s hard to explain until you’ve experienced it yourself.
All Aboard Ohio did their best to convey the adventure in their article, “Racing the Train: How the Highball to Thurmond Ultra is Defining the "Transit to Trails" Experience.” We’ve always known there was a connection between trail runners and train enthusiasts. Something about taking a train evokes a sense of wonder and curiosity. Sitting on an Amtrak Cardinal, watching the beauty of New River Gorge go by with your newest friends, after covering up to 50 Miles of it on foot is just a special way to end a full day of challenge and triumph.
Of the 199 runners and ruckers who started the race, 185 finished, our largest field since the race began in 2022. Winners included:
50 Mile: Nick Amos (Summerfield, NC) - 7:00:04, Bobbi Scott (Chapin, SC) - 9:34:02
50K: Joffrey Peters (Lebanon, NH) - 4:04:17, Regina Massingill (Houston, TX) - 4:48:24
50K Ruck: Michael Lester (Mebane, NC) - 8:14:53, Lauren Glass (Saint Paul, MN) - 10:39:21
50 Mile Relay:
2 Person Team: Mama Dada Duo - Brady Mahoney, Melanie Mahoney - 7:33:17
3 Person Team: Rise Up Runners - Laura Baird, Nicole Gallup, Jaclyn Redman - 9:57:17
4 Person Team: Cobra Jazz - Bridget Bell, Jason Crockett, Katrina Morgan, Sophia Santillan - 9:01:08
Joffrey Peters reset the 50K course record by over an hour. Regina Massingill set a new 50K female course record. Michael Lester (NC) and Lauren Glass (MN) set new male and female 50K Ruck course records, and Mama Dada Duo (Brady and Melanie Mahoney, NC) reset the 50 Mile Relay 2 person team record.
Just as importantly, we saw runners celebrating as they just beat the train, making the turn into the finish line chute in Thurmond just before the last call whistle.
We were grateful to be able to partner with Friends of New River Gorge National Park & Preserve to cover 20 aid station volunteer roles. They took care of our athletes like true professionals, anticipating their needs, keeping them safe, fueled, and hydrated, and extending true hospitality. Jeff H. shared, “The groups taking care of the aid stations were absolutely AMAZING. They had everything we could ask for even above and beyond the food, snacks, and refreshments… . Most of all they seemed excited to see us and to help us...what a great picture of human nature with people helping people they do not even know.”
We can confidently say everyone who lives in Thurmond (population of five) was once again involved on race day, and the Mayor of Montgomery, Greg Ingram, was there to see the runners off at 4:45 am, and was back at work at 8:30 pm feeding runners dinner after the train arrived back in Montgomery. Missy and Chad McCune (Thurmond) helped connect us with Friends of New River Gorge, the Fayette Chamber, and Babcock Series Race Director, Donnie Hudspeth. Water Stone Outdoors hosted packet pickup. The way the local communities rallied behind the race this year makes us hopeful about the future of this race.
We hope to continue to welcome runners of all ages and ability levels to experience Highball to Thurmond. Some race to win, some race to experience the beauty of the Gorge, and some race to beat the train. Trail ultra running is about many things - running, rucking, time outdoors in nature, challenge, adventure and the community that surrounds it. We can’t wait to race the train to the finish in 2027.
