Hit The Road, Jack! 2026
- Date
- Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Carthage, Missouri
- Entry fee
- From $30 · goes up to $50 on Nov 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | Other | Nov 21, 20268:00 AM | $45$50 after Nov 1, 2026 | – |
| 50K | 50K | Nov 21, 20268:00 AM | $50$55 after Nov 1, 2026 | – |
| 10K | 10K | Nov 21, 20269:00 AM | $35$40 after Nov 1, 2026 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Nov 21, 20269:00 AM | $30$35 after Nov 1, 2026 | – |
| Virtual RunVirtual | – | Nov 21, 2026 | $50 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Other fee goes up to $50 on Nov 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 25K: $45 until Nov 1, then $50 until Nov 16, then $50 until Nov 20.
- 50K: $50 until Nov 1, then $55 until Nov 16, then $60 until Nov 20.
- 10K: $35 until Nov 1, then $40 until Nov 16, then $45 until Nov 20.
- 5K: $30 until Nov 1, then $35 until Nov 16, then $40 until Nov 20.
Online registration closes Nov 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:01 AM, and the 25K starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 960 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
2113 West Old 66 Blvd, Carthage, MO 64836
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (2 years)5K
15K
10K
Aggregated from official results (Joplin RoadRunners) for Hit The Road, Jack!. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Hit The Road, Jack!?
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 24:57 or better, the top quarter in 27:32, and half the field in 30:41; the last tenth came in after 41:44.
At the 2025 15K, the fastest tenth finished in 1:10:01 or better, the top quarter in 1:22:57, and half the field in 1:38:34; the last tenth came in after 2:00:23.
At the 2025 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 53:10 or better, the top quarter in 1:04:17, and half the field in 1:09:47; the last tenth came in after 1:26:39.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 30:31 | 27:34 |
| 30-39 | 26:01 | n/a |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
About the same size since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
Hit The Road, Jack! 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 36 to 35 finishers, and the median time dropped from 33:40 to 30:41.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 (-3%) | 30:41 | under 24:57 | 20:17 |
| 2024 | 36 | 33:40 | under 24:52 | 21:34 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
Typical race-day weather
Around November 21 the day usually runs from 37°F at dawn to 56°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 21% of days. Cold snaps dip to 25°F and hot years reach 69°F.
Based on 85 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 2113 West Old 66 Blvd, Carthage, MO 64836Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 960 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, 50K, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 21, 2026), 2025 (Sep 20, 2025), 2024 (Sep 14, 2024)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Hit The Road, Jack!?
- Saturday, November 21, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $50 on Nov 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, 10K, 50K, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 35 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 30:41 and the winner ran 20:17.
- Where does it start?
- 2113 West Old 66 Blvd, Carthage, MO 64836.
From the organizers
!!!Certified long-distance races are here!!!
Hit the Road, Jack!
Saturday November 21, 2026
Ruby Jack Trail Head – Carthage, MO
Net Proceeds towards JRR charities and JTC embellishment of Ruby Jack Trail and expansion
50K is RRCA MO State Championship with cash prizes!!!
All distances are out-and-back and entirely on the flat, fast and shady Ruby Jack Trail;
All distances are USATF-Certified; electronic chip-timing
5K turns around at the 2.5K marker; 10K turns around at the 5K marker; 25 and 50K turn around at the 12.5K marker (50K runners run the 25K course twice and receive a certified time for 25 and 50K)