2027 Steel Rail Race

The Steel Rail Race starts in Adams, a western Massachusetts mill town where the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail runs straight through the heart of the Berkshires. The half marathon shares the day with a marathon and an 8K, and the whole event exists to support the trail itself — a rare race where your entry fee directly maintains the ground you run on.

The course is a flat, paved rail trail, and the field is intimate: about 240 finishers in recent years, with runners traveling from around 13 states. It's a growing race — up from a median of roughly 220 — and roughly one in five runners comes back. The winning time hovers around 74 minutes, so there's pace at the front, but the vibe stays local and low-key.

Run since 2012, the race has become a quiet fixture in the Berkshires. The weather is usually kind — 50s to 60s, low precipitation — and the trail setting means shade and a forgiving surface. It's the kind of race where you might set a personal best without ever feeling like you're at a big-city event.