8 Hours of Brown County 2026

Description

DESCRIPTION We're back! And FREE for all Indiana Trail Running Association (ITRA) members! (Your discount is applied at checkout.)

What is this? This is ITRA's seventh annual 8-Hour of Brown County at Brown County State Park. We will have a challenging 8-hour course to run plus optional camping and meals for all participants!

The 8-Hour Run is scheduled for June 20, 2026, between 8 a.m. and 4:00 pm. For the 2026 Event, we will begin and finish at the Recreation Center next to Rally Camp 1.

Optional Camping will be from 6 pm on Friday, June 20, 2026, through Noon on Sunday, June 22, 2026. Those who come on Friday night we will have the Recreation Center open from 6pm to 9pm with food and drink to socialize with your fellow ITR members. New this year will do a Short Loop night run Friday night at 10 pm.

What’s the Course Like? The main course includes a single loop course with about 6 miles of single track trail . There will also be a "short" rugged loop that is about 3 miles. Both loops start and finish at our base camp for the day - The Recreation Center right next to Rally Camp 1. Run, walk, or crawl the loops as many times as you want during the 8-hour event.

Is this a race? Nope. Think of it as a glorified training run. But, we will give out a couple of special awards at the end. How about that?!

Do I have to run for 8-hours straight? Of course not. The Course will be open for 8 hours. Run, hike, or crawl as much or as little as you want. But be sure to hang around during and afterward to support your fellow runners and have fun!

Will there be course support? Yes. There will be a staffed aid station at the start/finish area and a fill-up station at Rally 1 (approximately 2 miles into the main loop). Please bring your own container (handheld/hydration pack). We will have cups on hand but we encourage trail runners to be as self-sufficient as possible and help us minimize our environmental footprint. As always, we will have plenty of food to share. Feel free to bring some stuff too!

Does this cost money? That depends. The total cost of the event (running, camping, and meals) is included as a membership benefit of the Indiana Trail Running Association. ITRA Members pay no money, zilch, nada! Your membership discount will be taken at checkout. Non-members will be charged $30 for the run and $20 (Optional - which will be paid to the park) for weekend camping if you choose. Certain fees from runsignup.com may also apply. Proceeds from the event are going to the Indiana Trail Running Association, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, as a fundraiser. The money is going to a good cause. Join the club and pay nothing!

Ok, you said something about awards… Yes! Once again we are doing a “Garmin Challenge.” A special award will be given to the male and female participants with the most mileage recorded during the 8-hour event on their GPS watches. Our awards are very impressive. Just ask around.

Camping? Yes. Once again we have reserved Rally Camp 1 for the whole weekend. ITRA Members camp for free (but you need to register in advance) and non-members pay $20 (Optional - fee goes to the park) for the whole weekend. There will be informal running opportunities, a campfire, and pitch-in meals. A great time will be had by all!

I am a Member, How do I get my discount? Your discount will be taken at check out. (When registering, use the same email you used for your ITRA membership.)

What if the event gets canceled? Sorry, there will be no refunds.

Anything else? Support your local non-profit trail running club!