A single 100-plus-mile loop through the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, crossing the Tennessee/Kentucky state line past towering sandstone arches, rockhouses, waterfalls, and the abandoned “No Business” settlement the race is named for. The course direction reverses every year, and finishers who complete it both ways earn a special buckle.
Quick facts
- Location: Group Camp, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, Jamestown, TN (start/finish)
- Date: October 23–24, 2026
- Distance: 100+ miles, single loop; 34-hour cutoff
- Website: nobusiness100.com
- Contact: Via contact form at nobusiness100.com
- Registration: Via UltraSignup/RunSignup.
Course description
A single, non-repeating loop of just over 100 miles through the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, starting and finishing at the Group Camp in Pickett CCC Memorial State Park near Jamestown, Tennessee. The course crosses from Tennessee into Kentucky and back, threading through remote, rugged Cumberland Plateau backcountry past towering sandstone arches and rockhouses, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and the crumbling remains of abandoned farms and homesteads — including the “No Business” settlement itself, for which the race is named. Uniquely among major 100-milers, the course direction is reversed every year, so no two runnings feel quite the same; runners who complete the loop in both directions across multiple years earn a special two-way finisher buckle.
Elevation change
Approximately 14,500 feet of elevation gain over the loop — a demanding, technical Cumberland Plateau course with steady climbing rather than any single monster ascent, made harder by rocky, root-strewn singletrack and stream crossings throughout.
Aid stations
Aid stations are spaced through the remote Big South Fork backcountry, with limited road access at several points, so drop bags and crew planning follow the race’s published aid station list and mileage chart. Given the course’s remoteness, self-sufficiency between aid points is expected.
Special conditions & average temps
Late October on the Cumberland Plateau typically brings crisp, cool days and cold nights, with fall foliage along the gorges and overlooks. Weather can swing quickly in the Big South Fork backcountry, and the technical, rocky trail combined with stream crossings and reversed-direction navigation each year demands real trail experience — this is not considered a beginner-friendly 100.
Recent results — top 3, men & women
2025
- Men: 1. Anthony Groft 19:31:24 · 2. Henry Jochem 21:04:55 · 3. Andrew Nelson 21:18:30
- Women: 1. Michelle Magagna 20:27:02 (women’s course record) · 2. Laura Ricci 22:40:45 · 3. Lauren Hendrickson 23:49:18
2024
- Men: 1. David Sullivan 22:09:31 · 2. Jared Hites 22:39:06 · 3. Patrick Cole 22:44:48
- Women: 1. Amy Holpuch 23:53:38 · 2. Amy Stulman 25:47:37 · 3. Nora Bird 27:21:11
2023
- Men: 1. Brian Burke 20:06:01 · 2. Jacob Morgan 20:35:11 · 3. Andrew Nelson 22:35:17
- Women: 1. Lauren Jones 22:01:53 · 2. Holly Adams 23:16:19 · 3. Jill Dennes 23:20:25
Registration deadline & how to get in
Registration opens through RunSignup/UltraSignup well ahead of the October race date; check the race website for the current field cap and opening date. As a remote, technical, direction-reversing backcountry course, prior 100-mile or extensive trail ultra experience is strongly recommended even though no formal qualifier is required.
Traveling to this race? Find lodging near the venue via Hotels.com.