JFK 50 Mile
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| JFK 50 Mile | |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 November 2024 |
| Location | Boonsboro, Maryland to Williamsport, Maryland |
| Event type | Ultramarathon |
| Distance | 50 miles (80 km) |
| Established | 1963 |
| Course records | Men's: 5:08:27 (2024) David Sinclair Women's: 5:57:32 (2024) Rachel Drake |
| Official site | JFK 50 Mile |
The JFK 50 Mile or the JFK 50 Mile Memorial is an ultramarathon that takes place annually in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The first race was held on 30 March 1963, one of numerous 50-mile (80 km) races that year. After the Kennedy assassination, many of these events were never held again.[1] It is the oldest continuously held ultramarathon in the US.[2][3]
The current course records are held by David Sinclair (5:08:27) for men and Rachel Drake (5:57:32) for women, both set in 2024.[4] Rachel Drake is the only woman to have run the race in under 6 hours.
The race starts in the town of Boonsboro, Maryland; the official starting line is marked by two commemorative bronze plaques, one on each side of Boonsboro's main street.[5] It then heads east out of town toward the South Mountain Inn. The first 2.3 miles (3.7 km) are on a hardball road, which leads to the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail piece is approximately 13 miles (21 km). The trail then continues on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal for 26.3 miles (42.3 km), following the canal to Dam #4 on the Potomac River. The final leg of the Race follows 8.4 miles (13.5 km) of hardball roads to Williamsport, Maryland.[6] As of 2023, the race has a 13-hour time limit, runners that do not finish in 13 hours are required to withdraw from the race.[7]
The Race is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.[8]
The current race director is Mike Spinnler.[9]