From the Organizer
!!!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)
Half-way cut-off time for 50K is 3hrs (missing the cut-off makes you a 25K runner) - 5K, 10K, 25K and 50K prizes: trophy to top male/female; 10-year age group awards, age-graded award, finisher’s awards and USATF certified time.
- Age groups for 5K: -12, 13-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70+
- Age groups for 10K, 25K and 50K: -19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70+
- Age-Graded Performance ranking is based on a US Masters handicap system, creating a level-playing field for all participants, regardless of gender, age or race distance. For details, please check usatfmasters.org/age-grading
- All participants will receive a USATF-certified time for any distance or split they complete
- 50K RRCA Championship medals and cash prices for M/F Open Class ($100), 40yr+ ($50), 50yr+ ($50) and 60yr+ age groups ($50)
- Any MO age record set in the 5, 10, 25, or 50K receives a special MO-record award, an online MO-record certificate and a MO age record listing on MO staterunningrecords.com and on KCRunning.org.
- Award ceremony for 5K will be around 10:00am; award ceremony for the 10K around 11am. Other than the top awards, the 25K and 50K runners receive their awards upon arrival. Age-graded awards will be announced after final runners in that race have finished and their ranking has been calculated.
- Gift certificates, BBQ vendor, Coffee and snack vendors, music and free race photos!
- Bring Your Own Chair!
Events
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
57°
Typical Low
36°
Based on US Climate Normals data from Carthage, 2 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Carthage, MO
Population
15,513
as of 2023
City Elevation
1,035 ft
Nearest Airport
JLN
Joplin Regional Airport · 10 mi
Major Hub
TUL
Tulsa International Airport · 110 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Hit The Road, Jack!, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
149
Days to train
- Race
- Hit The Road, Jack!
- Date
- November 21, 2026
Coming Up
More Running races near Carthage, MO
27th ANNUAL RED, WHITE AND BOOM RUN 5K
From $30 · 2000 Richard Webster Dr., Carthage, MO
Less than a mile away
Runaround Cross Country Festival
Other · 3950 Newman Rd
8 miles away
JRR Prediction Run
5K · From $20 · 3404 West McIntosh Circle Drive
13 miles away
Soles 4 Paws 5K
1K · 5K · From $25 · 521 Robert Ellis Young Drive
Less than a mile away
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.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an 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 Hit The Road, Jack!?
- Hit The Road, Jack! is a running race held in Carthage, Missouri on November 21, 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 Hit The Road, Jack!?
- Saturday, November 21, 2026 in Carthage, Missouri at 2113 West Old 66 Blvd. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Hit The Road, Jack!?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Hit The Road, Jack!
Nov 21, 2026