This week on The Running Mullet…

What happens when you mix trail runners, a moving train, and a little Appalachian magic?

You get the legendary Highball to Thurmond — one of the most unique races in the area.

Set deep in the New River Gorge of West Virginia, runners can choose from multiple distances — from a shorter scenic 50k to rugged 50 mile run, ruck, and relay distances that wind through historic rail towns, forested trails, crushed gravel, and relentless Appalachian climbs.

But no matter the distance, the mission stays the same: Beat the train.

Participants race toward Thurmond while the Amtrak line rolls alongside the gorge below.

Finish before the train arrives, and you’ve officially outrun it.

Then, after the suffering is over, runners climb aboard for one of the coolest post-race traditions anywhere — riding the train back to the start with a full car of exhausted trail runners swapping stories and survival tales.

This week, we’re breaking down the course, the strategy, the train logistics, and why this race has become such a great event for trail runners across the region.

Appalachian grit, rail-town history, and a finish line unlike anything else — this week on The Running Mullet.