JFK 50 Mile
Boonsboro (start) to Williamsport (finish), Maryland · November · 50.2 mi
- Distance
- 50.2 mi (80.8 km)
- Point to point
- Overall cutoff
- 13 hours
- 15:30 per mi (9:38 per km) average
- Finish rate
- 91%
- of starters in 2021
Why runners love it
- The oldest US ultra, first held in 1963, with a 13 h limit for 80.8 km (50.2 mi).
- The first 25 km (15.5 mi) are on the Appalachian Trail, starting with a 357 m (1,172 ft) climb.
- 42.3 km (26.3 mi) of flat dirt towpath makes the middle fast and runnable.
- Return buses to Boonsboro run 3:00 to 8:30 pm and bags are carried to the finish.
- 933 of 1,030 starters finished in 2021, per Runner's Gazette (not the race site).
Watch out for
- Eight cutoffs, the first 45 min in at mile 2.5 (4 km); missing one forces withdrawal.
- Rocky, leaf-covered trail and a 305 m (1,000 ft) switchback drop to Weverton.
- No drop bags: crew only at miles 15.0, 27.3 and 38.7 (24, 44 and 62 km (38.5 mi)).
- No pacers, no headphones, no bikes; violations mean disqualification.
- Cold starts, down to -7 °C (19 °F) in 2008, plus wind and sleet in some years.
Race
How runners feel about it, how well it is run, and the community around it. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
Toughness for its distance: Tough
- Runner satisfactionLoved4.3
The oldest US ultra, big and well run; reports call the towpath long, but praise the Appalachian Trail and the history. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationFlawless4.5
1,000-plus runners handled with a wave start, bag transport, return buses 3:00 to 8:30 pm and clear crew rules. · Medium confidence
- Community and vibeWarm4.0
A 22-time finisher describes a reunion feel at the pre-race gym; the large field dilutes it on course. · Medium confidence
Support
Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
- Aid stationsGood4.2
At least 14 stations on 80.8 km (50.2 mi), about every 5 mi (8 km) per a 2021 report; only nine are named on the race page. · Medium confidence
- Crew accessSome points2.8
Three crew points only, at mile 15.0, 27.3 and 38.7 (24, 44 and 62 km (38.5 mi)), and none on the last 8.4 mi (13.5 km). · High confidence
- Drop bagsNone1.2
No drop bags at aid stations: the race only moves bags from the start to the finish, and crew points serve for swaps. · Medium confidence
- PacersNot allowed1.0
Pacers are not allowed. · High confidence
Course
Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Course markingImpossible to miss4.5
Appalachian Trail blazes, then a marked towpath and roads; no wrong-turn reports found. · Medium confidence
- SceneryBeautiful3.6
Ridge views on the Appalachian Trail and the Potomac, but 26.3 mi (42.3 km) of canal towpath can feel the same. · Medium confidence
- Trail experienceFine3.2
Rocky trail, then a long flat canal and a road finish; several runners call the middle and the last 8.4 mi (13.5 km) a grind. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- FootingModerate3.2
The first 13 mi (21 km) on the Appalachian Trail are rocky and leaf-covered, which the race calls dangerous footing; the rest is flat towpath and road. · Medium confidence
- RunnabilityMostly runnable3.8
About 58 km (36 mi) of dead-flat towpath and gently rolling road after the first 25 km (15.5 mi). · Medium confidence
- ClimbingGently rolling4.2
Total gain not published; main climb is 1,172 ft (357 m) in the first 5.5 mi (8.9 km). · Low confidence
Conditions
Race-day temperature and how predictable the weather is. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- Race-day temperatureWarm or cold3.4
Cold starts of -7 to 6 °C (19 to 43 °F), warming to 10 to 15 °C (50 to 59 °F); wind and sleet in some years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Start temperatures ranged from 19 to 44 °F (-7 to 7 °C (45 °F)) across 2008 to 2021, with sleet in 2016. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- AltitudeSea level4.5
Start at 174 m (570 ft) and finish at 138 m (452 ft); the ridge high point is not published. · Low confidence
Cutoffs
How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Overall cutoffGenerous3.8
13 h for 80.8 km (50.2 mi), about 15:30 per mile (9:38 per km); 933 of 1,030 starters finished in 2021. · High confidence
- Intermediate cutoffsReasonable2.8
Eight checkpoints, the first at 45 min for mile 2.5 (4 km); missing one means withdrawal and the last four allow only about 14 min per mile (8:42 per km). · High confidence
Intermediate cutoffs (2026)
| Where | Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| South Mountain Inn (mi 2.5) | 4.0 km (2.5 mi) | 0:45 elapsed, 07:15 clock |
| Gathland Gap (mi 9.3) | 15 km (9.3 mi) | 2:45 elapsed, 09:15 clock |
| Weverton (mi 15.5) | 25 km (15 mi) | 5:00 elapsed, 11:30 clock |
| Antietam Aqueduct (mi 27.3) | 44 km (27 mi) | 7:30 elapsed, 14:00 clock |
| Snyder's Landing (mi 34.4) | 55 km (34 mi) | 9:15 elapsed, 15:45 clock |
| Taylor's Landing (mi 38.7) | 62 km (39 mi) | 10:15 elapsed, 16:45 clock |
| Dam #4 (mi 41.8) | 67 km (42 mi) | 11:00 elapsed, 17:30 clock |
| Downsville (mi 46.0) | 74 km (46 mi) | 12:00 elapsed, 18:30 clock |
Not part of the score
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
Flat for more than half the distance with strong support, but strict cutoffs and a rocky first 15.5 mi (25 km) catch unprepared runners. · Medium confidence
- Getting inHard2.2
The 2026 race sold out in record time; there is no qualifier or lottery, so it comes down to registration day. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Travel easeFair3.0
Hagerstown regional airport is the nearest; larger airports are about an hour or more away, unconfirmed. · Low confidence
- Places to stayBook early3.0
Small towns at both ends, so book early; room counts are unchecked. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Point-to-point with bag transport to the finish and return buses to Boonsboro 3:00 to 8:30 pm. · Medium confidence
- ValueFair3.3
The entry fee is not on the race page, so value is a guess from the size and quality of the event. · Low confidence
Key facts
Checked against the 2026 edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter. Blank means the race does not publish it.
- Location
- Boonsboro (start) to Williamsport (finish), Washington County, United States
- Region
- Mid-Atlantic US
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 21 November 2026
- Start time
- 06:30
- First held
- 1963
- Distance
- 50.2 mi (80.8 km)
- Course shape
- Point to point
- Surface
- Mixed: About 2.5 mi (4 km) paved start, Appalachian Trail to Weverton at mile 15.5 (the page is inconsistent on the AT start), 26.3 mi (42.3 km) flat C&O Canal towpath from 15.5 to 41.8, then 8.4 mi (13.5 km) of country roads.
- Footing
- Rocky, leaf-covered Appalachian Trail with a steep 1,000 ft (305 m) switchback descent to the Potomac at Weverton; towpath is flat dirt and gravel.
- Overall cutoff
- 13 hours
- Pace to make the cutoff
- 15:30 per mi (9:38 per km)
- Cutoff notes
- Finish closes 19:30 (13 h). Official: missing an intermediate cutoff means withdrawal. Overall elevation gain is not published on the page; only 1,172 ft (357 m) of climbing in the first 5.5 mi (8.9 km).
- Aid stations
- 14
- Drop bags
- None
- Crew access
- Some points
- Pacers
- Not allowed
- Support notes
- At least 14 aid stations per the race (minimum stated), only 9 locations named. Crew only at Weverton (mi 15.0), Antietam Aqueduct (27.3) and Taylor's Landing (38.7), none on the final 8.4 mi (13.5 km). The race has no aid-station drop bag system: it only transports bags from the start staging area to the finish. Bicycles are banned; violations mean disqualification.
- Water crossings
- None
- Water notes
- None described.
- Night running
- Some
- Entry
- Open
- Finish rate
- 91% of starters in 2021
- Air temperature
- -7–12 °C (19–54 °F)
- Weather notes
- Late November: starts as cold as 19 F (-7 C) in 2008 and 28 F (-2 C) in 2021, 43 to 44 F (6 C) in 2009, sleet and 20s F wind chill in 2016.
- Nearest airport
- HGR (Hagerstown) with larger airports at BWI, IAD or DCA
- Stay notes
- Start in Boonsboro (elevation 570 ft, 174 m), finish at Springfield Middle School in Williamsport (452 ft, 138 m). Buses return to Boonsboro 3:00 to 8:30 pm.
- Course record (men)
- 5:18:40 Hayden Hawks (2020)
- Course record (women)
- 6:12:00 Ellie Greenwood (2012)
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What runners and reviewers say
- NRV Runs, 2024 JFK 50 race reportRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
First-time finisher at 54, 7:27:22 and 64th. AT was more manageable than expected, switched to road shoes at Weverton and held about 8:25 per mile (5:14 per km) on the towpath. Headwind after the towpath and a start from the fourth row to avoid trail congestion. Crew met him at Weverton to restock.
“You can, you will, you are strong.”
- HMRRC Pace Setter, JFK 2021Raced 2021 · blog · Mixed
Under-trained on trail, so struggled on the rocky, leaf-covered AT; medics pulled her near mile 40 (64 km) with a worsening hip. Aid every 5 mi (8 km) had food, gels and Advil. Cold 28 F (-2 C) start in the dark with over 1,000 runners.
- American University Magazine, 2019 JFKRaced 2019 · article · Positive
Profile of a 2019 finisher (8:30:20, 116th of 959). Course starts on road, climbs the AT 1,172 ft (357 m) and ends with 26 mi (42 km) of hard-packed towpath. 13 h limit.
“It was long and hard, but I did what I wanted to do.”
- Zhurnaly, JFK 2006 split analysisRaced 2006 · blog · Mixed
Early-start finisher in 11:25 tracked margins at each cutoff: more than an hour ahead at Weverton and about 90 min ahead at Snyder's, the tightest. AT sections ran 14 to 17 min per mile (8:42 to 10:34 per km) while the towpath was about 12 min per mile (7:27 per km). Frigid at the finish.
- VHTRC reflections after 22 JFKs (2004)Raced 2004 · blog · Mixed
Describes JFK as a duty more than a joy, but a reunion at the pre-race gym. The wet descent to Weverton is steep and a rail crossing there can catch runners. Towpath felt like the long middle; the road section decides the race, with three aid stops over 8 mi (13 km).
“JFK is more like a demanding religion.”
Show 3 more
- Kate Abbott and Ken Swab, JFK 2009 reportsRaced 2009 · blog · Positive
Two finishers: AT is steep, rocky and leaf-covered with cliff sections; one ran the towpath nonstop in 10:30, the other did 4 min run, 1 min walk. 43 to 44 F (6 C) starts, a coal train blocked a crossing near Harpers Ferry, unofficial club aid stations helped.
- Random Forest Runner, 2016 JFK 50Raced 2016 · blog · Mixed
Finished 9th in 6:30:59. AT was fun, technical but runnable; the towpath is a pancake-flat marathon and the last 8 mi (13 km) of road were miserable. Weather turned from the 60s F to sleet and a 20s F wind chill within an hour.
- Runner's Gazette, 2021 JFK 50 resultsRaced 2021 · article · Positive
1,030 started and 933 finished inside 13 h. AT very rocky across the ridge; towpath called lonely and long and tedious in the late miles. Steep switchbacks drop over 1,000 ft (305 m) to the canal at about mile 14.5.
Ran JFK 50 Mile? Your notes on the footing, cutoffs and aid stations help the next runner decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings.
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