2026 Flat Branch Ultra
The Flat Branch Ultra, scheduled for February 21, 2026, is a 50K trail race held in Columbia, Missouri, starting and finishing at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. The event takes place along the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Trail and the Katy Trail, offering runners a scenic and historically rich route through the region. On this date, Columbia typically experiences mild winter weather, with temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and mostly cloudy conditions. The course, set on packed crushed limestone, follows the historic railroad right-of-way, featuring gentle grades and panoramic views of the Missouri River. Participants will traverse two connected rail-trails, passing landmarks such as the Bur Oak tree and the I-70 bridge, before completing the out-and-back course.
What distances are available for this event?
- →50K race
What is the event format?
- →The event is a trail race, specifically a USATF-certified 50K out-and-back course along rail-trails.
What is the start and finish venue?
- →The start and finish are located at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 800 West Stadium Blvd, Columbia, MO 65203.
What is the race date and time?
- →The event takes place on February 21, 2026, starting at 8:00 a.m.
What is the course layout?
- →The course begins at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park and travels southwest on the MKT Trail for approximately 7.5 miles before connecting to the Katy Trail. It continues westward, passing the Bur Oak tree near mile 8.5, and turns around at the Halfway Home aid station just east of Rocheport at mile 15.5. Runners then return east on the Katy and MKT Trails to the start/finish.
What is the terrain like?
- →The course is on a packed crushed limestone surface, typical of rails-to-trails corridors, with predominantly flat terrain and gentle grades.
What are the cutoff times?
- →Runners must reach the Halfway Home aid station (mile 15.5) by noon. All participants must be off the course before dark.
Where are the aid stations located?
- →Aid stations are located at the following points: Start/Finish (miles 0/31), Scott Blvd (miles 3.25/25.5), Bur Oak (miles 8.5/20.5), and the Halfway Home turnaround (mile 15.5).
What are the drop bag policies?
- →Drop bags are accepted at the start line and transported to the Halfway Home aid station only.
What is the field size?
- →The event has a field size of 125 runners, with the event expected to sell out.
What is the race heritage?
- →The event is named after Flat Branch Creek, a historic water source for Columbia's early settlers. It debuted in 2022 and transitioned to its current February date in 2024. The start/finish was relocated to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in 2025.
What is the significance of the course?
- →As a newly USATF-certified course in 2026, the Flat Branch Ultra provides an opportunity to set an official Missouri 50K state record.
What are the key features of the course?
- →The course traverses two connected rail-trails along the Missouri River, offers views of the Missouri River, and includes a 400-year-old Bur Oak tree near mile 8.5. It also passes beneath towering limestone bluffs and the I-70 bridge.