⏵ Course guide · Flint Hills, Kansas
The Flint Hills 50 and Marathon runs mostly dirt roads through the scenic Flint Hills just outside Manhattan, Kansas, two 25-mile loops for the 50 miler and one for the marathon. I will walk you through the loop and aid setup first, then give you a pacing and fueling plan built for rolling Kansas dirt roads, plus free tools to dial in your own numbers.
These facts come from the official UltraSignup registration page. Check the current year details and cutoffs before you commit; race logistics can change year to year.
The 50 miler completes two full 25-mile loops from the Green Valley Community Center; the marathon runs a 1.2 mile lead loop plus one 25-mile lap of the same course.
Because both the 50 miler and marathon run the same 25-mile loop, expect a mixed field on course, especially in the first lap. Do not pace off runners around you without knowing which distance they are running; a marathoner's pace on their single loop is not a useful reference for your second 50-mile loop.
The course runs primarily on dirt roads through the Flint Hills, without the technical singletrack of a mountain trail race. That makes for faster, more consistent footing, but 50 miles of rolling dirt road still adds up, and the open Flint Hills terrain offers little shade or shelter from weather.
A 14-hour cutoff for two 25-mile loops gives you 7 hours per loop on average, but even splits protect you better than a fast first lap.
Because the course is non-technical dirt road, it is tempting to push a fast first loop. Resist it: a race-time calculator can help you set a sustainable target for the full 50 miles rather than just the opening lap, and even effort across both loops gives you a better shot at the 14-hour cutoff than banking time early and fading late.
⏵ Free tools to pace this course
Mid-April in Kansas can start cool and warm up fast by the afternoon, especially on the exposed dirt roads of the Flint Hills.
Aim for roughly 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour, and keep sodium in the 300 to 700 mg per liter range depending on how the day warms up. With 5 aid stations per 25-mile loop on the 50-mile course, you have frequent access to reset your fueling twice over the full distance.
⏵ Build your fueling plan
Get a carb, sodium, fluid, and caffeine plan per hour built for your weight and your goal time with the free ultra fueling calculator. Browse the rest of the free running tools at the tools hub.
⏵ Train for it with Summit Line
Get a race-day plan built around YOUR fitness, this two-loop Flint Hills course, and your projected splits. Summit Line reads your real training, builds a plan for rolling dirt-road miles, and rehearses your fueling so race day is something you execute, not guess at.
The race runs mostly on dirt roads through the scenic Flint Hills just outside Manhattan, Kansas, the 50 miler as two 25-mile loops and the marathon as a 1.2 mile lead loop plus one 25-mile loop. Without technical singletrack or major elevation, this is a runnable course by ultra standards, but 50 miles of rolling dirt road still demands real fitness and pacing discipline, and Kansas weather in April can be genuinely variable.
The 50 miler completes two full loops of the same 25-mile course, starting and finishing at the Green Valley Community Center. Marathoners run a short 1.2 mile lead loop before joining the same 25-mile route for one lap. Because both distances share the same course, know that the field will include both marathon and 50-mile runners on the loop at the same time, especially early in the race.
Mid-April in Kansas can swing from a cool morning to a warm afternoon. Aim for roughly 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour for the 50 miler, and keep sodium in the 300 to 700 mg per liter range depending on conditions. With 5 aid stations per loop on the 50-mile course, you have frequent chances to reset your intake across both loops. Build your numbers with the free ultra fueling calculator before race day.
The 50 Miler has a 14-hour cutoff from its 7 AM start, and the Marathon has a 13.5-hour cutoff from its 7:30 AM start. Note that the marathon cutoff is not much shorter than the 50-mile cutoff despite being half the distance, generous room for marathon runners, but the 50-mile field should treat its 14 hours as the real number to plan two even loops around.
The mostly dirt-road, non-technical terrain and the two-loop format (which gets you back through the start-finish area at the halfway point) make this a friendlier course than a mountain 50 miler. With 5 aid stations per loop and a 14-hour cutoff, a well-prepared first-time 50-mile runner with solid road or gravel fitness has real room to finish, though April Kansas weather can add a real variable, so come prepared for both a warm afternoon and a cool start.
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<a href="https://runsummitline.com/guides/flint-hills-50-and-marathon">The Flint Hills 50 and Marathon course guide</a><iframe src="https://runsummitline.com/embed/race/flint-hills-50-and-marathon" style="width:100%;max-width:420px;height:180px;border:0;" loading="lazy" title="Flint Hills 50 and Marathon course guide by Summit Line"></iframe>This guide is independent and for planning only. The course details, dates, cutoffs, and aid stations come from public sources and can change year to year, so confirm the current specifics with the official race before you register or run. The fueling and pacing advice is general and not medical advice.