We unfortunately have to make the difficult decision to scale back the event this year, and will be hosting running relays only.  That means we will not be holding the triathlon relay. We made it a great 10 years with the triathlon relay, but ultimately the cost and logistics of this type of a race have exceeded our capacity. We certainly look forward to having you on race day for a fun night of running.

Join us for these events on SATURDAY July 18th, 2026 at Kroger Field in Lexington, KY and help us raise funds for cancer patient support care.

THIS YEAR'S RACE WILL BE CUPLESS, SO BE PREPARED TO BRING YOUR OWN CUP/OTHER WATER CONTAINER FOR HYDRATION.  

For 2026, you have multiple options for our running events - all intended to take you through the night as a TEAM. It takes a team for a patient to fight cancer, and it takes a team to help raise money for that fight. There will be friends, family, food, loud music, and an overall great time as teams race under the stars in the fight against cancer! You don't want to miss this!

Run the MARATHON RELAY on a new paved course! Grab up to ten of your friends and family and cover the distance of a full marathon, 26.2 miles! The run will take place on a paved course as you camp out and cheer your team members on. Don't worry, the lap distance is manageable for the casual runner and walkers and if you are up for a bigger challenge (a full or a half marathon or any distance in between), you will have an awesome, unique course and can run as many laps as you choose based on the number of members on your team. Let's see if you can survive the night! Please see https://www.ironcology.org/relays for more details.

New this year, we have the option to run our paved course for a double marathon relay OR an all night relay on our newly updated road course. Grab up to ten of your friends and family and cover the distance of two full marathons, 52.4 miles! Or more, if you'd like to tackle the challenge of a full 12 hour ultra on the paved course--great preparation for those teams planning to run a long road relay later in the fall! The lap distance will be the same as our marathon relay, manageable for the casual runner and walkers. If you are up for a bigger challenge (a full or a half marathon or any distance in between). Please see https://www.ironcology.org/relays for more details.

And third, we have the Ultra Event! Introduced in 2021, we now offer the opportunity to run solo or with a team all night long, for as many miles as you want, on a course that includes a grassy trail-like section. Runners/walkers complete as many loops of the course as they want over a 12 hour period, and we're excited that we've been able to add some changes to the course for our ultra runners as well.

Members of the Bluegrass Runners get an automatic $5 or $10 discount off of the registration fee. If you are not already a member, you will have the opportunity to join BGR and get the discount as part of the race registration process! In addition to the discount on the Marathon Relays, BGR members receive discounts on the Thoroughbred Classic 5K, additional race discounts, and other benefits! For more information on the Club, visit our website: www.bluegrassrunners.org

Early registration discounts until 1 June 2026. Make sure to register by June 20th, 2026 in order to get shirts in your chosen size for all the members of your team. Create team uniforms! Wear costumes! Set up a tent city! We want to see spirit, and most of all FUN as you cheer on your team members and SURVIVE THE NIGHT! 

Because we donate all proceeds to charity, no refunds, no exceptions. 

PLEASE NOTE - The Team Captain will have to pay the entire team registration cost upon creation of the team. Team members then join the team without any additional payments and select their shirt size. Click here to view the Team Captain Requirements.