56 MILE

    Headquarters / start of the race is at the Sunset Overlook Bar & Bistro located in Columbia, Illinois 11604 Bluff Rd, Columbia, IL 62236.  It's twenty minutes from downtown St. Louis, Missouri.  Parking for the race is in the grass field on the south end of the property.

    The 56 mile race will finish at the Kaskaskia Aid Station.  There will be a shuttle bus at Kaskaskia on Saturday morning.  You'll be transported to the start line.  You can purchase a bus ticket during registration.    

   Packet pick up is on Friday at the Zoar Church Banquet Hall 9103 D Rd, Columbia, IL 62236, for both the 113 and 56 mile runners.  This is where you will leave your drop bags.  This is also where the pre-race dinner will be.   The free spaghetti dinner will have an option of no meat.  There will be pool, ping pong, and games available.  Runners' family are welcome.

    We would prefer it if you did packet pick up on Friday.  However, you will have a limited amount of time Saturday morning for packet pick up and to leave your drop bags.  Packet pick up Saturday morning will be located at Sunset Overlook. 

• 3-19-2027, Friday 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.    Packet pick up, leave your drop bags, and the pre-race dinner are all at the Zoar Church in Columbia, IL. 

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 3:45 a.m. begin boarding the shuttle bus at the Kaskaskia finish line if you bought a bus ticket.

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 4:00 a.m. Shuttle bus leave Kaskaskia for the Sunset Overlook start line.      

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 4:30 a.m.  Check in starts.  Every runner must check in at the start line, the morning of the race. 

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 5:00 a.m. Shuttle bus arrives at Sunset Overlook.

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 4:30 a.m. - 5:50 a.m.  Last chance for packet pick-up and to leave your drop bags at Sunset Overlook

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 5:50 a.m.  Final safety brief 

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 6:00 a.m.  Start

• 3-20-2027, Saturday 11:30 p.m.  Finish 

• This is a point-to-point course; the race will start at Sunset Overlook and finish at the Kaskaskia Aid Station.

• The course is a mix of levees and back roads.  Most of the course will have little traffic, but please keep your head on a swivel. 

• 51% pavement / 49% gravel

• The gravel sections are a mix of easily runnable, to slightly more challenging.  Most of the gravel is concentrated in the southern part of the course.   

• 791 ft. of elevation gain 

• The course will be marked with pink flag pins and reflective tape to light up the course at night

• Flags on your right as you head south

• Most turns and intersections will have signs and multiple markers

• B Rd miles 6.6 

• Garleb Rd miles 12.7  - drop bag - crew - restrooms

• Fountain miles 17.8 

• Mitchie Rd miles 24   

• Ivy Rd miles 30.5  - drop bag - crew - restrooms

• Fort de Chartres miles 37.8  - drop bag - crew -restrooms

•  Prairie du Rocher miles 42   - crew - restrooms

• Ste. Genevieve miles 49.2

• Kaskaskia mile 56.8 (Finish) - crew - restrooms

• You have to check in at the aid stations.  It's your responsibility to make sure your bib number is recorded, otherwise you will not be counted and will be dropped from the race.

• If you don't plan on stopping at the aid station, you can just yell out your bib number as you run past.  However, if it's an aid station that is at the bottom of the levee, you must physically walk down to the aid station to be recorded.  Otherwise, it will be considered course cutting.  Every runner must run the exact same course.

•  Aid station captain reserves the right to pull you from the race if they feel it's unsafe to let you continue.  Please be respectful to the aid station volunteers if you get pulled from the race.  Call the race director if you have any issues.

• Aid station food & water is for runners and pacers only

• Aid stations will have the typical ultra food:  quesadillas, soup, fruit, candy, ginger  ale, etc.  The sports drink for the race will be HEED.   

• 3:30 p.m. - Ivy Rd  (9 hrs 30 min in)  mile 30.5 

• 11:30 p.m. - Finish at Kaskaskia Aid Station  (17 hrs 30 min) mile 56.8

cut-off times will be strictly enforced 

• Crew are allowed at Garleb Rd, Ivy Rd, Fort de Chartres, Prairie du Rocher, and Kaskaskia aid stations

• Crew must park on one side of the road only.  Follow the directions of the aid station captain as parking may change.

• Your crew must park at the crew accessible aid stations, not adjacent to them.  They cannot set up a canopy on top of the levee near the aid station.  The aid station captain will direct them where to park and where they're allowed to set up.  If they fail to follow the aid station captains' instructions, then you will be disqualified. 

• Your crew is not allowed to give you aid after you leave the aid station.  Your crew is not allowed to meet you at any point on the course except the crew accessible aid stations.

• Absolutely no vehicles are allowed on the levees.

• You are responsible for the actions of your crew.  If your crew does not follow the race rules, then you will be disqualified.

• No pacers for the 56 mile race

*Links to crew accessible aid stations are underlined 

• Drop bags are allowed at Garleb Rd, Ivy Rd, and Fort de Chartres aid stations

•  Write your Name, Bib Number, and the Aid Station Name, on the drop bag.  Unmarked drop bags will not be transported to the aid stations. 

• Drop bags must be a reasonable size and weight.  They cannot exceed anything greater than 18''x20''.  

• Drop bags cannot be hard sided containers 

• Your drop bags will be left out in the rain.  They must be made waterproof.  You are responsible for making sure the items in your drop bag remain dry.  

• Drop bags will be transported to the finish line no later than 12:00 a.m. on Sunday

• You're welcome to pick up your drop bags from the aid stations if you need them before 12:00 a.m.

• Drop bags that are not picked up after the race will be held onto for a reasonable amount of time.  Contact us so we can make arrangements to get them back to you.   

• The course is 100% complete exposure.  You will have absolutely no protection from the elements.  With it being a wide-open course, you could be exposed to; the sun, heat, rain, lightning, freezing cold, and strong wind for the entirety of the race.  The weather in late March can vary wildly.  The day could be hot, and the night will be cold, dress accordingly and drink plenty of water. 

• The race will take place close to the vernal equinox, so around 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night

• Sunrise starts at 7 a.m. / sunset at 7 p.m.

• Average highs and lows are 56°F / 36°F

• Watch out for vehicles!  It is required that you wear a Hi-Vis running-style reflective vest during the nighttime portions of the race.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification.  The reflective parts on your clothing or running vest will not suffice.  You need a separate Hi-Vis vest or Army style PT belt.  It's strongly recommended that you also wear Hi-Vis or bright clothing during the day.  Stick to the left side of the road as much as possible, except for blind hills and blind corners, where you would use the right side of the road.  Use your best judgment.

• Headphones, that go in or cover the ear, are not permitted during the race.  Bone conduction (open headphones) and external speakers are permitted.    

• No foot care or medicine will be given at aid stations   

• If you have to quit the race, do it at an aid station.  Notify a volunteer and we will try to get you back to the start / finish line as soon as possible.  You have to tell someone that you are dropping!

• Cell coverage can be spotty on the southern part of the course, depending on your provider          

• 56 mile finishers will receive a custom USA made medal

• First place finisher will receive a custom USA made plaque 

• T-shirt with registration

• You must register by 3-1-2027 in order to be guaranteed a T-shirt 

• A swag opt-out is available during registration

• A refund will be issued if you cancel no later than two months out from race day.  The refund will not include the processing fees associated with UltraSignup.com

• A refund will also be issued, at any time, to woman who become pregnant.  Contact americanbottoms113@gmail.com for a refund.   

• No roll overs 

• Of course, there's always extenuating circumstances.  Feel free to contact americanbottoms113@gmail.com, we may be able to work something out depending on the situation.

• Drop downs are welcome, however you will not receive a refund for the difference in price from the 113 mile race to the 56 mile race, if dropping down less than two months out from race day. 

• If you would like to switch from the 56 to the 113, you will owe the difference in price. 

• Race day drop downs are welcome.  If you signed up for the 113 mile race and you make it to the Kaskaskia Aid Station (mile 56.8) within the 17 ½ hour cut off.  You have the option of dropping out and you will be recorded as an official 56 mile finisher.  However, if you decide to continue on and you drop out at a later point in the race, then you will be recorded as an "unofficial" 56 mile finisher.  The time you entered the Kaskaskia Aid Station will be your unofficial finisher time.  Any distance you ran after that will not be counted.  You will not be eligible for first place awards, but you will receive a 56 mile finisher medal.  Your medal will be available for pick up at HQ at that point in the race.   

• 15% Veteran & First Responder Discount, contact americanbottoms113@gmail.com for coupon code

• Make your race bib visible somewhere on your body, it doesn't matter if it's on the front or back

• Please make room for the locals and the farmers that will be getting their fields ready for the season.  We're in their back yard. 

• No littering, it's a privilege to use the levees, leave it how you found it

• Must be 18 years or older to register 

•  This race might be more challenging for the mind than the body.  You will have long stretches of road where you can see far ahead of you.  It'll feel like you're getting nowhere.  This is part of the challenge of the race.  The unpredictable weather, combined with complete exposure is the other main challenge.  The course may be flat, but it will be extremely difficult.         

• Reading everything on this website serves as your participant packet.  Please do not register unless you have read all the race rules and have studied the course map.  It's your responsibility to do your due diligence.