JFK 50 Mile: America's Oldest Ultramarathon, run every November in Washington County, Maryland since 1963
Run every November in Washington County, Maryland since 1963. Fifty miles across the Appalachian Trail, the C&O Canal towpath, and the rolling roads to Williamsport.
America's Oldest Ultramarathon
The JFK 50 Mile was first held in the spring of 1963 as part of President Kennedy's push to bring the country back to physical fitness. It has run every year since, making it America's oldest ultramarathon. Though open to all, the race is in spirit a military event: its most prestigious award, the Kennedy Cup, goes to the top finishing military team. Today the JFK 50 Mile draws runners from across the country to Washington County, Maryland every November.
The Start
Downtown Boonsboro at 6:30 a.m. sharp, across from the Historic Boonsboro Inn. One mass start for the whole field, and the line closes at 6:35 a.m.
The Course
Up onto the rocky Appalachian Trail, down to 26 flat miles of C&O Canal towpath, then rolling country roads into Williamsport. 50.2 miles point to point.
The Finish
Springfield Middle School in Williamsport. Every finisher inside the 13-hour limit earns the JFK 50 Mile finisher's medallion.
Cumberland Valley Athletic Club is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity focused on running and amateur sports, founded in 1960. Located at 1012 Valleybrook Dr, Hagerstown, MD 21742. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
EIN: 52-1867770
Course
The first 5.5 miles climb 1,172 feet, joining the Appalachian Trail at 2.5 miles. From Weverton Cliffs the course drops to the C&O Canal towpath for 26.3 flat miles along the Potomac, then finishes with 8.4 miles of rolling country roads into Williamsport.
Follow the green arrow, Boonsboro to Williamsport. Tap for the full map (PDF).
Race Weekend
The 64th annual JFK 50 Mile, presented by Altra, runs Saturday, November 21, 2026. Registration sold out in record time. A minimum of 14 fully stocked aid stations support the field, and GPS tracking by Racine MultiSports lets family and friends follow along all day.
Packet Pick-Up & Pre-Race Expo
The Legends' Dinner
Race Day: The 64th Running
The Finish in Williamsport
Race Rules & Cutoffs
The field starts together at 6:30 a.m. Anyone still on the course after 7:30 p.m. is picked up by sweeper vehicles. No time is recorded and no medal is awarded after the finish cutoff, and missing a cutoff along the way means you must withdraw.
| Mile | Location | Cutoff | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | South Mountain Inn | 45 min | 7:15 a.m. |
| 9.3 | Gathland Gap | 2:45 | 9:15 a.m. |
| 15.5 | Weverton | 5:00 | 11:30 a.m. |
| 27.3 | Antietam Aqueduct | 7:30 | 2:00 p.m. |
| 34.4 | Snyder’s Landing | 9:15 | 3:45 p.m. |
| 38.7 | Taylor’s Landing | 10:15 | 4:45 p.m. |
| 41.8 | Dam #4 | 11:00 | 5:30 p.m. |
| 46.0 | Downsville | 12:00 | 6:30 p.m. |
| 50.2 | Finish, Williamsport | 13:00 | 7:30 p.m. |
Headphones
Personal listening devices are prohibited anywhere on the course. The Appalachian Trail is single-track with dangerous footing. Race officials will disqualify anyone caught using one.
Crew
Crew may meet you only at Weverton (15.0), Antietam Aqueduct (27.3), and Taylor’s Landing (38.7). No crew on the last 8.4 miles, and no bicycles on any part of the course. Violations disqualify the runner.
Bags & buses
Bag transport runs from the start staging area to the finish. Put your name, address, and phone on the bag, and leave valuables out. Buses return to the Boonsboro Educational Complex from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m. No numbers are given out on race morning.
Awards
Every official finisher under 13 hours gets a medallion. Top 10 men and women, age-group winners, men’s and women’s teams, and the Kennedy Cup (first five from the same military branch or base) are recognized at Springfield Middle School.
Lodging
Three official host hotels sit within steps of packet pick-up in Hagerstown. Mention "JFK 50 Mile" (discount code JFK) when booking, and host hotels will match or beat third-party prices.
Charities
The race gives back every year to the local schools, running clubs, scout troops, fire departments, and volunteer groups that make it possible, including the Liberty Ski Patrol, the race's medical support volunteers.
Coaching
Training for your first 50 miler or chasing a PR? Sundog Running, the race's coaching partner, offers personalized JFK 50 Mile training plans and full-service coaching.
Race Results
Every finisher, every year. Recent results are hosted on RunSignUp (2020 to 2025) and RaceResults360 (2016 to 2019). Search for yourself below, or pick a year to view the full results.
The 2026 results will be posted after race day.
Every finishers list back to the first running in 1963 lives here, under Older years. You can search by name for 1963 to 1969 and 1993 onward. The years in between were scanned from the original printed results, so those open as a PDF to read through.
Our Story
The JFK 50 Mile was first held in the spring of 1963, one of many 50-mile challenges held across the country as part of President John F. Kennedy's push to bring America back to physical fitness. After his assassination that November, nearly all of those events were never held again. The race here in Washington County took the name JFK 50 Mile Memorial in 1964 and has never missed a year, making it the only original JFK Challenge event held every year since, and America's oldest ultramarathon.
The Kennedy Challenge
President Kennedy challenged his military officers to meet Teddy Roosevelt's old standard: cover 50 miles on foot in 20 hours. Word got out, and soldiers and civilians alike lined up to take the test themselves.
A Military Race at Heart
Open to the public, but in spirit a military race, always has been, always will be. The most prestigious award each year is the Kennedy Cup, presented to the top-finishing military team.
Run Every Year Since
Every finisher from the first running in 1963 through last November is preserved in the results archive on this site, year by year, name by name.
Media
Fifty miles of scenery and sixty years of finish lines. Race films, livestreams, and photos from out on the course in Washington County.
Note: Race photos are used for event promotion. Contact us with any questions about our photo policy.
Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors who make JFK 50 Mile possible. Interested in sponsoring? Open the partnership form and Maria will follow up from the race office.
Become a Sponsor
Partner with America's Oldest Ultramarathon
Choose a package, tell us about your company, and Maria at the race office will follow up.
The JFK 50 Mile Finisher's Plaque
An 8x10 wooden engraved plaque with the traditional “John F. Kennedy 50 Mile Hike-Run” medallion mounted on it, engraved with your name, finishing time, place, and date.
$150, plus $15 shipping ($165 total). Plaques are ordered in advance through the race office and engraved to order, with payment by mailed check.
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Contact Us
Questions about the race, volunteering, or sponsorship? We'd love to hear from you.
Mailing Address
Cumberland Valley Race Management, LLC, 1012 Valleybrook Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Race Director
Mike Spinnler