KROP – Kaizen Rite of Passage 2027 — Tahlequah, OK

KROP — Kaizen Rite of Passage Saturday, September 25, 2027 Welling Ridge Trails — Tahlequah, Oklahoma KROP is a 12-hour trail running event at Welling Ridge Trails. Runners can choose from 4 miles, 8 miles, 16 miles (25K), 32 miles (50K), or 40 miles (65K). All distances use the same 4-mile loop, with runners returning through the start/finish area after every lap. The course is single-track trail with 417 feet of elevation gain and loss per loop. Whether you're new to trail running, moving up to your first ultra, or looking for a longer training effort, KROP offers several distances on the same course. RACE LOCATION Welling Ridge Trails 19679 S 550 Rd Tahlequah, OK 74464 Google Maps — Welling Ridge Trails Typing "Welling Ridge Trails" into Google Maps will take you directly to the start/finish area. The race location is about 15 minutes from downtown Tahlequah. PARKING Race parking is across the street from the race address. Parking is in a large field with plenty of space. Please park with consideration for other participants. If you are bringing a personal canopy or aid station, you may drive into the race area to unload your equipment. Please unload and then move your vehicle to the designated parking field. Important: There is a dirt road near the parking entrance that is not the parking entrance. This can be difficult to see before sunrise. Do not take the dirt road. Instead, use the cattle gate immediately past it to enter the large parking field. After parking, it is a short walk across the street to the start/finish area. RACE START TIMES 6AM: 65K and 50k 8AM: 25K and RUCK Team Relay 8:30AM: 8 mile and 4 mile Find Your Rite of Passage KROP was designed to provide several steps between common running distances: 4 miles: A manageable first trail race or step beyond a 5K. 8 miles: A bridge between the 10K and half marathon distances. 25K: A step beyond the half marathon without going all the way to a marathon. 50K: An introduction to the ultra distance. 65K: A step toward the 50-mile and 100K distances. You do not need to be an experienced trail runner to participate. KROP can also be your first trail race. COURSE The KROP course is a 4-mile single-track loop at Welling Ridge Trails. The course includes rocks, roots, and technical sections, with 417 feet of elevation gain and loss per loop. Every distance uses the same loop, so runners return through the start/finish area each lap for access to their crew, personal aid, food, water, and race support. It's supposed to be hard. And you can absolutely finish it. Course Video Facebook Course Video TRAIL SAFETY & SELF-RESCUE Welling Ridge Trails is a serious trail system. On this course, falling isn't really an "if I fall" situation. It's more of a "when I fall" situation. Rocks, roots, uneven ground, and technical single-track create a genuine risk of falling and injury. You are your own first responder. We will have a roaming EMS professional on site during the event. However, Welling Ridge is a trail system, and even on a bicycle it can take time for medical assistance to reach you. If you are able to safely self-rescue, do so and return to the start/finish area. If you are injured and cannot safely move yourself, STAY STILL and wait for help. If you need assistance: Notify another runner that you need help. Have them note your exact location on the course. Stay where you are so the medical team can locate you. Do not attempt to move if doing so could make your injury worse. Because the course is a loop, other runners are never far away. If you see someone who needs help, stop and assist them or notify race personnel. CUTOFF & PACE REQUIREMENTS The overall race cutoff is 6:00 PM. There are no extensions to the cutoff. If you cross the finish line after 6:00 PM, you will not receive an official finish. For the ultra distances: 50K: 32 miles must be completed by 6:00 PM. This requires an average pace of 22:30/mile. 65K: 40 miles must be completed by 6:00 PM. This requires an average pace of 18:00/mile. Your average pace includes all stops, aid-station time, bathroom breaks, walking, etc. No Drop-Downs If you register for the 50K or 65K, you must complete the distance you registered for in order to receive the corresponding finisher award. For example, a 65K participant cannot decide during the race to stop after 32 miles and receive a 50K finish or 50K buckle. If you don't finish your registered distance within the cutoff, you can always come back and try again the following year. RACE DAY SCHEDULE Saturday 5:00 AM — Race-Day Packet Pickup Opens (we do offer early packet pick-up the Friday before from 4-7pm at the start line) 6:00 AM — 50K & 65K Start 8:00 AM — 25K & Ruck Relay Start 8:30 AM — 4-Mile & 8-Mile Start 6:00 PM — Final Cutoff Participants should have their shoes on, bib attached, and be ready to start at least 15 minutes before their scheduled start time. Race-day packet pickup is available, but you must pick up your packet at least 15 minutes