An out-and-back across the open range of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie on 99% backcountry gravel road — remote, exposed, and unmistakably Kansas. A required leg of the Kansas Grand Slam of Ultrarunning.
Quick facts
- Location: Cassoday Community Building / old high school, Cassoday, KS (start/finish)
- Date: October 9–11, 2026, 6:00 AM start (4:00 AM early-start option available)
- Distance: 100 miles, out-and-back on gravel road; 30-hour cutoff, 14-hour cutoff at the 50-mile turnaround
- Website: ksultrarunners.org
- Contact: emgcrazyrunner@yahoo.com — Kansas Ultrarunners’ Society (KUS)
- Registration: Via UltraSignup, closes the Saturday before race weekend. A required leg of the Kansas Grand Slam/Super Slam of Ultrarunning.
Course description
An out-and-back on backcountry gravel and dirt roads — 99% unpaved, with just one mile of blacktop through the town of Cassoday. The route runs through Butler and Chase counties across the vast, open Flint Hills tallgrass prairie, much of it working open range where cattle graze loose alongside the road. There’s little shelter anywhere on course: rolling hills replace any real climbing, but constant wind and full sun exposure define the experience far more than elevation does. Runners are warned to walk calmly through any cattle they encounter rather than run or shout, since sudden movement can spook the herd.
Elevation change
Approximately 6,000 feet of cumulative climb — rolling hills rather than any sustained elevation gain, with the prairie’s exposure to wind and weather a far bigger factor than the terrain itself.
Aid stations
22 aid stations for the 100-mile distance, spaced roughly every 4-6 miles along the out-and-back, including Battle Creek, Lapland, Teterville Road (the 25/75-mile mark), Texaco Hill, Ridge Line, Matfield Green, and Lone Tree at the far turnaround. Nine locations offer crew access; 14 accept drop bags. Texaco Hill is remote with no crew access — runners are strongly encouraged to push on rather than drop there, since a return ride can take a long time to arrange. Pacers are permitted for all runners starting at Matfield Green (mile 42.5), or for the full distance for runners age 60 and older.
Special conditions & average temps
Early October is chosen specifically to avoid the worst of Kansas heat and spring thunderstorms, with a normal high near 70°F and normal low in the 40s — though record highs near 90°F and lows in the upper 20s show how far conditions can swing. Severe weather, including tornadoes, is rare but not unheard of in October; with almost no shelter on course, lightning is the single greatest hazard, since runners are frequently the highest object around. Wind is a near-constant presence across the open prairie.
Recent results — top 3, men & women
2025
- Men: 1. Chris Roberts 17:19:16 · 2. Miguel Arellano 18:42:42 · 3. Christopher Calzetta 19:24:34
- Women: 1. April Calaway 23:18:32 · 2. Emily Luhrs 23:29:45 · 3. Katelyn Johnson 24:10:11
2024
- Men: 1. Cody Jones 17:09:15 · 2. Paul Schoenlaub 22:27:12 · 3. Mark Henderson 26:22:13
- Women: 1. Theresa McBride 22:48:29 · 2. Kelly Force 23:27:54 · 3. Kristy Clark 25:31:12
2023
- Men: 1. Kyle Blackketter 19:24:18 · 2. Paul Schoenlaub 23:14:26 · 3. Matthew Crownover 23:36:12
- Women: 1. Kayla Straub 19:34:00 (2nd overall) · 2. Kimmy Riley 29:17:38
Registration deadline & how to get in
Registration is handled through UltraSignup and closes the Saturday before race weekend, with no race-day entry. No qualifying race is required, but Heartland itself is a required leg of the Kansas Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (finish 4 of 5 qualifying Kansas 100-milers) or the full Kansas Super Slam (all 6), and pairs with the spring Heartland 50-mile/50K for the separate Heartland Challenge buckle.
Traveling to this race? Find lodging near the venue via Hotels.com.