Three loops of the Gerard Hiking Trail through historic Oil Creek State Park, birthplace of the world’s first commercial oil well — deep hollows, steep hillsides, and wetlands along Oil Creek, marked by over 2,000 reflective flags. “Strike oil or move on,” as the race’s own motto puts it.
Quick facts
- Location: Titusville Middle School, 415 Water St, Titusville, PA (start/finish)
- Date: October 10, 2026 (start 5:00am Saturday, cutoff 1:00pm Sunday)
- Distance: 100 miles — three loops of a ~33-mile course, 87% trail/dirt road, 13% pavement; 32-hour cutoff
- Website: oc100trailruns.org
- Contact: Via oc100trailruns.org — organized by Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs, a fundraiser supporting the local community
- Registration: Opens early February via RunSignup.
Course description
Three counter-clockwise loops from Titusville Middle School to the Egbert Farm picnic pavilion in Petroleum Center, run mostly on the Gerard Hiking Trail through Oil Creek State Park. Each loop opens with a 1.5-mile asphalt section to spread the field out before dropping onto singletrack near the Jersey Bridge canoe launch. The Oil Creek Valley is the site of the world’s first commercial oil well, and the park interprets the old oil boomtowns, wellheads, and early transportation infrastructure along the way, with Oil Creek itself carving a valley of deep hollows, steep hillsides, and wetlands. The course is marked with over 2,000 reflective flags, signage, and hundreds of orange cones. Along with the 100-mile race, the event runs concurrent 100K, 50K, and 25K distances.
Elevation change
17,627 feet of elevation gain across the three loops — steep, repeated hollow-and-hillside climbing on the Gerard Trail rather than sustained mountain ascents, but demanding by Appalachian-foothill standards.
Aid stations
4 main staffed aid stations plus 2 unstaffed water-only stations per loop, spaced roughly every 7–8 miles. Staffed stations carry Hammer Nutrition products, water, and real food — hard-boiled eggs, fruit, PB&J and grilled cheese sandwiches, mashed potatoes and cheese, and pierogies.
Special conditions & average temps
Mid-October in northwestern Pennsylvania typically brings cool, crisp fall conditions with peak foliage along the Oil Creek Valley, though overnight temperatures can drop sharply and rain is always possible. Sub-24-hour and sub-22-hour finishers earn special buckles, alongside the standard 100-mile buckle for all finishers within the 32-hour cutoff.
Recent results — top 3, men & women
2025
- Men: 1. Reagan McCoy 18:30:48 · 2. Clinton Hepler 22:14:00 · 3. Rodney Confer 22:46:36
- Women: 1. Rebecca Kosek 23:44:32 · 2. Sarah Wenger 28:06:31 · 3. Courtney Clark 28:22:55
2024
- Men: 1. Raymond Stoltzfus 21:24:28 · 2. Patrick Davis 22:13:21 · 3. Nathan Kellogg 24:47:01
- Women: 1. Abby Boyle 22:42:10 · 2. Tami Sari 26:03:17 · 3. Melissa Goodman 26:33:25
2023
- Men: 1. Jr Schlabach 20:27:58 · 2. Cody Harris 23:29:22 · 3. Zach Geiple 25:14:32
- Women: 1. Rebecca Kosek 23:35:41 · 2. Carla Tardieu 31:20:06 (only 2 women finished)
Registration deadline & how to get in
Registration opens each year in early February via RunSignup; check oc100trailruns.org for the current field cap and pricing. No qualifying race is required to enter. The race’s four concurrent distances (25K, 50K, 100K, 100 miles) make it a popular multi-generational event for the Titusville community, which hosts it as a fundraiser.
Traveling to this race? Find lodging near the venue via Hotels.com.