We’re looking for a few good local people to volunteer at each of the four Route 66 UltraRun Time Stations.
You’ll love volunteering with Route 66 UltraRun dedicated, returning volunteers, meeting amazing crew support folks, and cheering on incredible runners. Choose any of the Time Stations locations and days/times you can volunteer in approximately 4 shifts.
To Register Now for the Time Station location(s) where you want to volunteer:
As A Race for Everyone you are invited to join Route 66 UltraRun runners, crew, and volunteers for the first mile of the 140-mile race. Arrive at the race start in front of Angel and Vilma’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop in Seligman before 6:30 AM Saturday, November 14. Everyone walks together for the first mile following pace vehicles, including the Seligman Fire truck and a classic T-Bird, to the outskirts of Seligman. Cool, right?
Your Co-Race Director Marshall Ulrich calls this a “rolling, Indy-type” start he created to keep Everyone together in the spirit of working in cooperation to keep Historic Route alive and thriving. Enjoy visiting with our volunteers, runners, and their crew folks and share in the excitement of the start of Route 66 UltraRun Centennial Celebration.
Don’t want to walk? Bring your classic car, truck, bus, or hot rod and join the fun as part of the lead pace pack.
Whether you walked or drove a pace car, stick around on the Route to cheer on the runners, visit Grand Canyon Caverns, Peach Springs, Keepers of the Wild, Hackberry, Antares, Kingman, SOS Donkey Haven, Cool Springs, Oatman, and Topock66.
To Register Now to walk or be a pace car at the 7AM start in Seligman on Saturday, November 14.
The 2026 event includes the original 140 mile race from Seligman to Topock66 and, to commemorate the Centennial of Route 66, the new 100 mile CenturyRun from Peach Springs to Topock66. Both races take you through expansive valleys, pinon pine forests, rugged mountains, desert landscapes, and marshes past iconic Americana.
With 60 hours to complete the 140-mile race, and 48 hours to complete the CenturyRun, and no intermediate cutoffs, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty and iconic stops along the way. Both distances have Crewed Runner and Relay Team divisions. Each Crewed Runner must have at least two crew members/pacers (included with your registration) with a third or fourth crew member allowed as addons.
Relay Teams for the 140 mile race can be 3 to 6 people, and 3 to 5 people for the CenturyRun. Each person on the Team counts – whether they are only driving, crewing, and/or pacing – or will be running parts of the Route. Whatever size Relay Team you choose, all teams compete equally against each other in the Relay Team division for that distance. Who will be your team captain? What size team will be the fastest out there on the Historic Route? Or which size team is the most fun? There are no set distances or transition points; decide who runs when and for how long, and adjust your plan as needed along the Route. Use one vehicle and all stay together (3 person teams must stay together the entire race). Or you can have a main crew vehicle, always with at least two people who are not running at the moment on board, and a shuttle vehicle to allow some members to go to a hotel to rest during part of the race. It’s all about strategy, baby!
The 140 mile race is sold out, but we are taking wait list registrations for Crewed Runners and 3, 4, 5, or 6 person Relay Teams.
Registration for the 140 mile Journey Runner division is closed.
A couple of Crewed Runner spots are available for the 100 mile race, as well as one each 4 and 5 person Relay Team spots. We will take wait list entries for Crewed Runners and 3, 4, and 5 person Relay Teams for the CenturyRun.
Remember: Relay Teams include everyone on the team, even if some members only drive, crew, and/or pace.
Crewed Runners and Journey Runners in the 140-mile race will compete equally for the chance to be the first to the finish line to win the one and only traveling trophy in ultrarunning: The Andy Payne Cup. Like the Stanley Cup – seriously, look at the resemblance! – the first place runner will have his or her name added to the Payne Cup and will get to keep the cup for the year, returning it to the race the next year to await the new champion. How unique and amazing is that?
2022 Grant Maughan
2022 Nancy Levene
2025 Amy Adams
2024 R.A.D. Reds
The Route 66 UltraRun is honored to have been approved as a Certified Route 66 Centennial Event by the Route 66 Centennial Commission.
The Commission was created by an act of Congress to review and approve activities that are fitting and proper to honor Route 66 on its 100th anniversary in 2026 and exists because:
“Route 66 has become a symbol of the heritage of travel and the legacy of seeking a better life shared by the people of the United States, and because Route 66 has been enshrined in the popular culture of the United States”
As A Race for Everyone that is also 140 Miles of History, we are pleased that the Commission recognized our dedication to celebrate the history of the Mother Road and leverage the race to help the millions of people who live, work, and travel along it. Always the second weekend of November, the UltraRun brings people and revenue to mom-and-pop shops, motels, and restaurants during a shoulder season.
Co-Race Directors Heather and Marshall Ulrich are grateful the Commission recognized that the UltraRun is all about celebrating the history and supporting the people along Route 66 in Arizona. Come out and celebrate the 100th birthday of America’s Highway with us!
The race recognizes and celebrates the history of the Mother Road, from the Bunion Derbies; “Oakie’s” during the Dust Bowl; the boom years of family road trips after WWII; decline after the interstate system bypassed mom- and-pop motels, restaurants, and shops; to grassroots resurgence leading to official recognition that Route 66 had “become a symbol of the American people’s heritage of travel and their legacy of seeking a better life.”
The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Their vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.
The Route 66 UltraRun supports the association by donating a portion of every entry fee, and asking for your support. Our inspiration is always and forever Stray Dog Mark ‘Mace’ Macy as he has transitioned into memory care with the loving support of his wife Pam and his family. You can donate now to help all of those affected with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and promotion of both the surface, and the memories along Arizona’s portion of Route 66. The Route 66 UltraRun works closely with the Historic Association to ensure the Mother Road will be enjoyed by generation after generation for years to come. You can donate now to personally help the Association continue their tireless work to preserve, protect, and promote Route 66.
In 2024 employees of the Associaiton and the City of Kingman put together a Relay Team and finished hte 140-mile UltraRun. And they’re coming back out for the Centennial Celebration. That’s true support of the race! THANK YOU!!
Our artist Karlee Iacino has created centennial-specific artwork for race banners, lapel pins, general race shirts, finishers medal, belt buckles, finishers shirts, and more. We are honored to have her talent and creativity as a huge part of the Route 66 UltraRun brand. Because of her we are able to provide our participants with truly not to be missed, once in a life time swag and awards to honor 100 years of the Mother Road. Thank you Karlee!
With 60 and 48 hour cutoffs everyone should experience and enjoy:
Unique finishers medals, belt buckles, and awards showcasing amazing custom artwork; the only traveling trophy cup in ultrarunning; special recognition for two runners; and an amazing Award’s Banquet are additional “Kicks” to the Route 66 UltraRun.
Come Out and Join us!
Questions? Comments? Let’s hear it! We’re quick to respond.
