Race Through New River Gorge National Park

The highball was a railroad signal meaning the track ahead was clear—time to move forward at full speed. At Highball to Thurmond, we’re raising the ball on an unforgettable ultra marathon adventure through the heart of New River Gorge National Park.

Choose from the 50 Mile, 50K, or 50 Mile Relay and race point-to-point to Thurmond, West Virginia—once a thriving rail town, now home to just a handful of residents and a whole lot of finish line magic. Runners, ruckers, and relays will tackle steep climbs, wild trails, and jaw-dropping views before arriving in the historic ghost town of Thurmond.

After your race, board the Amtrak train back to Montgomery for a well-earned celebration and champagne toast with your fellow adventurers. The last call whistle blows at 6:45 PM—don’t miss your ride!

Join us Sunday, May 17, 2026, and experience a trail race like no other. The track is clear. Let’s roll.

50 Mile & 50 Mile Relay

The 50 Mile starts at 4:45 (early start) & 6:00 am EST in Montgomery, West Virginia and finishes in Thurmond, WV. This allows athletes to catch the train from the finish line back to Montgomery!  The last call whistle blows at 6:45 and the train leaves the station for Montgomery at 6:59 pm EST.

The course is a mix of paved road (about 12 miles), awesome mountain dirt roads, and gorgeous trails with a spectacular view through New River Gorge National Park. With about 5,000' of elevation gain, athletes earn their finisher medal, post race food, and awesome awards.

The 50 Mile Relay may be run with 2-4 people. Athletes can run as many legs as they want, as long as each member of the team runs at least one. You may hand off at any official aid station. Make sure to yell "choo choo!" for the hand off to be official!

50K

The 50K is a full daylight event starting at Hawks Nest State Park and finishing in Thurmond, West Virginia.  This point-to-point course takes participants along the wild and wonderful New River Gorge trails.  With 3,100' of elevation gain, the race is both manageable and challenging. This trail 50K is well-aided, extremely well-marked, and a beginner-friendly ultramarathon with a very reasonable cutoff time!  Finish before the train leaves to earn your medal, post race food, awesome awards, and catch your ride back to the 50 Mile starting line in Montgomery.

What's Included in Registration?

• Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay finisher medal
• Custom 2026 Highball to Thurmond hoodie
• Race photos
• Unique awards for top 3 overall men and women, age group awards, and the top 2 person, 3 person, and 4 person relay teams.
• Well-stocked aid stations along an epic, well-marked course
• Opportunity to add-on a train ticket
• And more!

2025 Hoodie Design

2026 Designs Coming Soon