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MULTIDAYRUNNING
🏁 Fixed-Distance

Heartland 100

A 100-mile out-and-back on Kansas Flint Hills gravel and dirt roads, with exposed prairie, approximately 6,000 ft of climbing, and a standard 30-hour cutoff.

Official WebsiteBack to Events

Event dates, entry rules, qualification standards, and course details can change. Always verify current information on the official event website before registering or booking travel.

Event Overview

Listed edition overview
DateOct 10-11, 2026
Location🇺🇸 Cassoday, Kansas, USA
FormatFixed-Distance
TerrainRoad
RegionNorth America
Distance100 mi
State / areaKansas (KS)
Course modelOut-and-back
Elevation gainApproximately 6,000 ft
Cutoff30 hours standard; approved early starts allow longer limits
HighlightsFlint Hills, Gravel and Dirt Roads

Course & Terrain

Out-and-back route from Cassoday on approximately 99% backcountry gravel and dirt roads through the Flint Hills.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

  • Tallgrass prairie and rolling Flint Hills roads
  • Minimal paved mileage on a wide-open out-and-back

The nontechnical road surface is exposed, rolling, and repetitive, making wind, temperature, pacing, and foot comfort important.

Entry & Logistics

Listed qualification and support details
Registration and feesCheck the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms.
Logistics noteThe official entry describes standard and approved early-start options. Confirm the exact start and cutoff that applies to the accepted entry category.

Why This Race Matters

Heartland 100 is a useful reference point for runners comparing long fixed-distance ultras that still unfold over multiple days. Its format, terrain, and support model shape the kind of preparation required: not just fitness, but pacing discipline, nutrition planning, foot care, and the ability to make good decisions under fatigue.

Planning Notes

  • Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
  • Treat intermediate cutoff gates as part of the course. Build enough margin for aid stops and late-race slowdown, and verify every current gate in the official rules.
  • Repetitive surfaces can expose fit, friction, and loading problems. Check in when symptoms or conditions change, and use only footwear already tested for the course.
  • The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
  • Early-start limits do not apply automatically
  • Prairie exposure can amplify wind and temperature changes

Event FAQs

What is the standard Heartland 100 cutoff?

The official entry lists a standard 30-hour cutoff, with separate approved early-start options.

Is Heartland 100 a trail race?

It is an out-and-back ultramarathon on predominantly backcountry gravel and dirt roads rather than technical singletrack.

Verification & Sources

Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated August 10, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.

  1. Official 2026 Heartland 100 entry and results — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=133168
  2. Multiday Running event directory review scope: August 10, 2026.