Trail landscape for Free State Trail Run — 40 Miles

Free State Trail Run

6.75 Miles / Half Marathon / Marathon / 40 Miles·Ozawkie, Kansas·October 11, 2025
4 distances

Photo by Mary Hammel on Unsplash

About This Event

The Free State Trail Run stands as a testament to technical single-track racing in the heart of Kansas. This established event, running since 2007, challenges runners with a deceptively difficult 6.75-mile loop course through the rocky, root-strewn trails of Perry State Park. While the elevation profile appears modest at 752 feet per loop, the technical nature of the terrain demands constant attention and skillful footwork. The race's loop format serves both practical and strategic purposes. By keeping all distances on the same challenging circuit, race directors can ensure runner safety during severe weather while maintaining consistent aid station coverage. The single aid station model requires runners to be self-sufficient between loops, adding a layer of strategy uncommon in many trail races. With nearly two decades of history, the Free State Trail Run has cultivated a reputation among Midwest trail runners as a reliable test of technical running skills. The rocky terrain and hardwood forest setting provide a distinctly different challenge from the region's more common prairie trails, making it a valuable addition to any runner's race calendar.

Choose Your Distance

Trail landscape for Free State Trail Run — 6.75 Miles

6.75 Miles

751 ft gain

The Free State Trail Run stands as a testament to technical single-track racing in the heart of Kansas. This established event, running since 2007, challenges runners with a deceptively difficult 6.75-mile loop course through the rocky, root-strewn trails of Perry State Park. While the elevation profile appears modest at 752 feet per loop, the technical nature of the terrain demands constant attention and skillful footwork. The race's loop format serves both practical and strategic purposes. By keeping all distances on the same challenging circuit, race directors can ensure runner safety during severe weather while maintaining consistent aid station coverage. The single aid station model requires runners to be self-sufficient between loops, adding a layer of strategy uncommon in many trail races. With nearly two decades of history, the Free State Trail Run has cultivated a reputation among Midwest trail runners as a reliable test of technical running skills. The rocky terrain and hardwood forest setting provide a distinctly different challenge from the region's more common prairie trails, making it a valuable addition to any runner's race calendar.

Trail landscape for Free State Trail Run — Half Marathon

Half Marathon

751 ft gain

The Free State Trail Run stands as a testament to technical single-track racing in the heart of Kansas. This established event, running since 2007, challenges runners with a deceptively difficult 6.75-mile loop course through the rocky, root-strewn trails of Perry State Park. While the elevation profile appears modest at 752 feet per loop, the technical nature of the terrain demands constant attention and skillful footwork. The race's loop format serves both practical and strategic purposes. By keeping all distances on the same challenging circuit, race directors can ensure runner safety during severe weather while maintaining consistent aid station coverage. The single aid station model requires runners to be self-sufficient between loops, adding a layer of strategy uncommon in many trail races. With nearly two decades of history, the Free State Trail Run has cultivated a reputation among Midwest trail runners as a reliable test of technical running skills. The rocky terrain and hardwood forest setting provide a distinctly different challenge from the region's more common prairie trails, making it a valuable addition to any runner's race calendar.

Trail landscape for Free State Trail Run — Marathon

Marathon

751 ft gain

The Free State Trail Run stands as a testament to technical single-track racing in the heart of Kansas. This established event, running since 2007, challenges runners with a deceptively difficult 6.75-mile loop course through the rocky, root-strewn trails of Perry State Park. While the elevation profile appears modest at 752 feet per loop, the technical nature of the terrain demands constant attention and skillful footwork. The race's loop format serves both practical and strategic purposes. By keeping all distances on the same challenging circuit, race directors can ensure runner safety during severe weather while maintaining consistent aid station coverage. The single aid station model requires runners to be self-sufficient between loops, adding a layer of strategy uncommon in many trail races. With nearly two decades of history, the Free State Trail Run has cultivated a reputation among Midwest trail runners as a reliable test of technical running skills. The rocky terrain and hardwood forest setting provide a distinctly different challenge from the region's more common prairie trails, making it a valuable addition to any runner's race calendar.

Trail landscape for Free State Trail Run — 40 Miles

40 Miles

751 ft gain

The Free State Trail Run stands as a testament to technical single-track racing in the heart of Kansas. This established event, running since 2007, challenges runners with a deceptively difficult 6.75-mile loop course through the rocky, root-strewn trails of Perry State Park. While the elevation profile appears modest at 752 feet per loop, the technical nature of the terrain demands constant attention and skillful footwork. The race's loop format serves both practical and strategic purposes. By keeping all distances on the same challenging circuit, race directors can ensure runner safety during severe weather while maintaining consistent aid station coverage. The single aid station model requires runners to be self-sufficient between loops, adding a layer of strategy uncommon in many trail races. With nearly two decades of history, the Free State Trail Run has cultivated a reputation among Midwest trail runners as a reliable test of technical running skills. The rocky terrain and hardwood forest setting provide a distinctly different challenge from the region's more common prairie trails, making it a valuable addition to any runner's race calendar.