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Running

Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026

Date
September 12, 2026
Distance
Half Grit and Guts (13.1) @Mt. Nebo · Full Grit and Guts (20 miles) @Mt. Nebo
Register →

From the Organizer

Do you have the GRIT and GUTS to traverse up and down Mt. Nebo… TWICE? 

GRIT and GUTS is back!! Half Grit and Full Grit will be hard. And they will be beautiful.It will be equal parts VERT and equal parts fast flow, we promise! 

That said: A warning. This is a tough race! The trails are amazing but rocky. Bring your climbing legs and big girl pants because it will get hard. Most race days start cool and then heat up.  Not to scare anyone but this is probably not a good very first race. It will take you longer than a normal half marathon.  You are welcome to bail early just come back to the start and check out. No judgement and no worries!

The race is a fun run so is FREE unless you would like a shirt to commemorate the day! Our sweet soft 50/50 shirts from Rock City Outfitters return! Shirts are unisex fit. The link to order shirts is: Grit 26 shirt order  The shirts are $15 plus tax.  We will pick up the shirts the week of the race. 

All of the proceeds from this race go to local Cross country teams along with a donation to the Friends of Nebo.

We will have an aid station every 4-6 miles and would love to have you volunteer, run, or enjoy the mountain with family. If you're running and have family there we can put them to work!  Parking will be in the 2 parking lots at Sunset point and temporary parking across the road. DO NOT park at the visitor center.  Bathrooms are located at the campground/pool area when you first get up top!

The race starts from the Sunset point parking lot and after a quick look at the point and a short section of the 3C trail, you’ll head down the Sunset connector and take a left onto Lizard tail. You’ll go roughly a mile on Lizard past the seasonal waterfall. Then up to the Rim trail where you’ll take a right and end up at Sunrise point for another beautiful view of the river valley. Then you’ll go down the Sunrise connector taking a right. You’ll make your way down to the Bench trail crossing and go right onto Miller’s Goat. You’re at the 5k point and will follow Miller’s 4 miles (including a water stop) to end up at the aid station. Proceed on Miller's another mile past the Bench overlook to the Ox pull trail. Go down Ox 1.7 miles to the bottom and you’ll find another aid station to lift your spirits for the climb back up. Once you get back up turn right briefly on Miller's to the Overlook and then stay on the Bench trail back a mile to the Aid station. If you’re doing 13 head up the Sunset connector to the finish. For the 20 you will head right down the Chickalah (pronounced like tequila!) loop trail for a mile and go left at the Y and do the loop clockwise. Then back up to the aid station one last time and up Sunset connector a long half mile to the finish. Piece of cake!

 

Events

Half Grit and Guts (13.1) @Mt. Nebo7 AMRegister →
Full Grit and Guts (20 miles) @Mt. Nebo7 AMRegister →

Weather

Typical Conditions

It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.

Typical High

88°

Typical Low

63°

Chance of Rain

17%

Based on US Climate Normals data from Dardanelle, 3 mi from the venue.

Sunrise 6:54 AMSunset 7:26 PMDaylight 12h 32m

Host City

About Dardanelle, AR

Elevation

361 ft

Nearest Airport

HOT

Memorial Field Airport · 50 mi

Time Zone

Central Time

From Endurance Grid

Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.

Race Location

Your Next Start Line

What Are You
Waiting For?

Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.

96

Days to train

Race
Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026
Date
September 12, 2026

From Endurance Grid

About This Sport

Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.

With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.

Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.

Read the Guide

Running

From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026?
Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026 is a running race held in Dardanelle, Arkansas on September 12, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
When and where is the Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026?
Saturday, September 12, 2026 in Dardanelle, Arkansas at 16728 W State Hwy 155, Dardanelle, AR. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
How do I register for the Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026?
Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.

Grit and Guts Trail Race 2026

Sep 12, 2026

Register →