Saturday, November 7, 2026, Carlisle, Iowa. Three start lines, one finish line, and a post-race spread that includes pie. If you are already thinking about your fall calendar, this is one worth circling now — registration is open, and races built around a good cause tend to fill up with people who heard about the biscuits and gravy.
The Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k, & Greubel Memorial 5k is a fundraiser for the Thrive church Mission Team, and it has quietly become one of the friendliest flat-and-fast days in Iowa. Here is what makes it worth your Saturday.
The Course: Flat, Fast, and Point-to-Point
The half marathon is a point-to-point road course, and it is USATF certified. That matters if you have been chasing a time — a certified course means the distance is what it says it is, so a personal best here counts.
The terrain is flat, and the half starts with a gentle downhill before leveling out into a smooth run to the finish. That opening mile is a gift. It lets you settle into rhythm without burning matches early, and it makes the back half feel less like a negotiation.
Because it is point-to-point, the race provides bus transportation to the start. You park once, ride out, and run back to your car. No shuttle gymnastics, no circling a parking lot at 7 a.m. wondering if you will make the gun.
All three races — the half, the 10k, and the Greubel Memorial 5k — start at 8:30 a.m. from three separate start lines and share one finish line in Carlisle.
The Experience: Pie, a PR Bell, and a Photo Booth
Plenty of races promise a party. Fewer deliver a finish line that smells like a church potluck in the best possible way.
When you cross in Carlisle, you are greeted with festive music, mouthwatering pie, biscuits and gravy, chocolate milk, and plenty of other treats, all handed out by volunteers who seem genuinely glad you showed up. If you have ever finished a race and been handed a warm banana and a lukewarm bottle of water, you understand why this matters.
There is also a PR Bell. Ring it if you earned it. There is a free photo booth, so you can take the finish-line photo you actually want to post instead of the one a stranger took at an unflattering angle.
Everyone gets chip timing, a super soft ring spun shirt, and a custom die cast medal. Top finishers earn trophies, and there are age division awards too. Between the four races, they anticipate 650 signups — big enough to feel like an event, small enough that you are not standing in a corral for an hour.
The Greubel Memorial 5k was added in 2017 to fundraise for three kids in the church and community who tragically lost their parents. Funds from that race go toward their college savings plans. Running for something bigger than a time is a nice bonus on an already good day.
Who It Fits
First-timers. This is close to an ideal debut. Flat, certified, point-to-point with a gentle downhill start, and a finish line full of food and friendly faces. The bus to the start removes one of the most stressful parts of a first half — figuring out the logistics. If 13.1 has been on your list, this is a soft place to land.
PR-seekers. Flat road course, USATF certified, chip timed, and a downhill opening mile. The pieces are all there. November in Iowa can hand you a cool, fast morning, and the PR Bell is waiting at the other end. If you have a time goal, this is a legitimate place to chase it.
50-state chasers. Iowa is on the map, and this one gives you a reason to actually enjoy the stop rather than just check the box. A quality score of 90 out of 100 puts it in Runner Favorite territory, which is a strong signal from runners who have been there. Add the pie and the mission behind the 5k, and it is a state you will remember.
Logistics and Weather
Race day is Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Carlisle, Iowa. All three races start at 8:30 a.m.
Parking is available at Carlisle High School (430 School Street) and surrounding areas, with bus transportation provided for the point-to-point half and 10k.
Typical race-day weather runs a high of about 58°F and a low of about 41°F. That is close to perfect for a half marathon — cool enough to keep you comfortable, warm enough that you are not layering up like a December long run. Plan for a chilly start and a pleasant finish.
The Bottom Line
A flat, certified, point-to-point half in a small Iowa town, with bus transport handled, pie at the finish, and a cause worth showing up for. Registration is open now for November 7, 2026, and races with this much personality do not stay quiet forever.
Whether this is your first half or one of many, take a look at the race page, check the course details, and get it on the calendar.
See the Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k, & Greubel Memorial 5k race page