Booneville Backroads Ultra

Welcome to the Backroads!

Welcome to the Booneville Backroads Ultra! The course runs through many of the Bridges of Madison County and the beautiful, rural Iowa countryside. With thousands of feet of elevation gain, seemingly endless hills, and if it rains, some of the gnarliest level B roads EVER, this ultra will challenge runners of all levels. The “backroads” has something for everyone, from the #tuffest10k to the 100 milers. Turn off the beaten path and hit the backroads!

New for 2026!!!

After a lot of reflection and conversations with friends (Booneville Alum), we will be making three massive changes to the race in 2026:

• 1 - Marked Courses: The 50k, 100k, and 100-mile course WILL BE MARKED! For the past 12 years, we have used the cue sheet system, but for 2025, we will be implementing marked courses.
• 2 - Female Participation Discount: Any female belonging to a Trail Sisters group and looking to run the ultra distance races will be given a discount.
• 3 - Crew Allowed: Crew WILL BE allowed on the course to provide additional support outside of aid stations. There will be restrictions on crew vehicles.

We will still embody the spirit of what this event has been known for (the unpredictable weather, level B roads, small communities, challenging terrain, and a grassroots event). Still, we truly think these changes will help advance ultra running in Iowa.

Start Times

• 100 Miler: 5:00 AM
• 100K: 5:00 AM
• 50K: 6:00 AM
• 10K: 8:00 AM