Hot Mess Trail Races 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Start time
- 7:30 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Pittsgrove, New Jersey
- Entry fee
- From $80
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 HOUR | Other | Oct 24, 20267:30 AM | $90$100 after Sep 24, 2026 | – |
| HALF MARATHON | Half Marathon | Oct 24, 20267:30 AM | $80$90 after Sep 24, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 6 HOUR: $100 until Oct 23.
- HALF MARATHON: $90 until Oct 23.
Online registration closes Oct 23, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $80, entry is about 78 percent above a typical half marathon in New Jersey, which costs $45 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in New Jersey runs 2:04:26, about 9:30 a mile, based on 4 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:17:36 and men in 1:58:45.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:18 AM, and the 6 HOUR starts at 7:30 AM. The start sits about 100 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
789 Parvin Mill Road, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318
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 (3 years)6 HOUR
HALF MARATHON
Aggregated from official results (2L Race Services) for Hot Mess Trail Races. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Hot Mess Trail Races?
At the 2025 6 HOUR, the fastest tenth finished in 4:43:56 or better, the top quarter in 5:10:50, and half the field in 5:23:43; the last tenth came in after 5:46:51.
At the 2025 HALF MARATHON, the fastest tenth finished in 1:51:42 or better, the top quarter in 1:58:45, and half the field in 2:15:02; the last tenth came in after 3:10:07.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 30-39 | 5:23:48 | 5:10:48 |
| 40-49 | 4:43:40 | 5:26:00 |
| 60-69 | n/a | 4:52:03 |
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
Up 51 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
Hot Mess Trail Races Other year by year
From 2022 to 2025, the field went from 28 to 54 finishers, and the median time rose from 1:24:17 to 5:23:43.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 54 (+238%) | 5:23:43 | under 4:43:56 | 51:20 |
| 2023 | 16 (-43%) | 5:05:09 | under 3:24:45 | 2:44:53 |
| 2022 | 28 | 1:24:17 | under 1:07:30 | 55:12 |
From each year's official results for the Other; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most US trail half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2023 half marathon field finished under 2:07:48, against 2:16:23 in a typical US trail half marathon, so times here run 6 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 24 the day usually runs from 49°F at dawn to 66°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 12% of days. Cold snaps dip to 42°F and hot years reach 77°F.
Based on 75 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
- 789 Parvin Mill Road, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318Map
- Course
- Trail
- Start elevation
- About 100 feet
- Included with entry
- Giveaway Item
- Distances
- Half Marathon, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 24, 2026), 2025 (Oct 25, 2025), 2023 (Jul 8, 2023), 2022 (Jul 2, 2022), 2021 (Jul 3, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Hot Mess Trail Races?
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $80 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 23, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for New Jersey?
- At $80, entry is about 78 percent above a typical half marathon in New Jersey, which costs $45 right now.
- What distances can I run?
- Half Marathon, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 54 runners finished the 6 HOUR; the median finish was 5:23:43 and the winner ran 51:20.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2023 half marathon field finished under 2:07:48, against 2:16:23 in a typical US trail half marathon, so times here run 6 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 789 Parvin Mill Road, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318.
From the organizers
It’s gonna be a mess — in the best way possible. The Hot Mess Trail Races take place at Parvin State Park in Pittsgrove, NJ, offering two awesome options: a classic half marathon and a choose-your-own-adventure-style 6 hour ultra. Whether you're here to push your pace or your time on feet, this race is all about trails, community, and getting a little dirty in the woods.
The course starts and finishes at Danna Farm Fields, using a mostly flat and fast lollipop-style loop. Expect 95% trail, with just a bit of pavement to mix things up. You’ll get a little bit of everything: twisty single-track, sand, and roots — all in a beginner-friendly format.