May 16, 2026
Registration Opens Jan. 1, 2026
2025 Results & Photos
John’s Bluegrass Racing Company is thrilled to present the 2026 Run the Bluegrass!
Join us Saturday, May 16, at Talon Winery and Vineyards, located at the very southern tip of Lexington near the Kentucky River. Situated amongst some of the most beautiful country roads you’ll traverse anywhere in the U.S., this is the perfect way to experience quintessential Bluegrass Country.
Enjoy the peaceful, quaint, and downright heavenly running spots afforded by Talon Winery and its surrounding 13.1 miles.
And don’t forget all of the unique attractions near Talon, like the Kentucky Palisades, Boone Creek Outdoors, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, and Clays Ferry.
Run the Horse Country Classic and Save!
Soak in even more Bluegrass beauty by participating in the Horse Country Classic — two half marathons in sister seasons, Run the Bluegrass in the spring, and The Iron Horse in the fall. These two races highlight the true beauty of Kentucky through its most beautiful seasons.
Bundle them for 20% off both races! Those who run both races will get a special race award after the Iron Horse.
Race Start and Finish Time
You will need to be on Talon property by 6:30am. Our races start at 7:00am. We will be enforcing a strict 14 minute/mile cutoff time to ensure the safety of all participants during the race. We will have extremely visible (and encouraging!) pacers to help everyone keep on pace! If you are asked to leave the course at a checkpoint, you will be shuttled back to the race start/finish, where you will still receive your race award and split times.
Official Swag
We’ve partnered with BROOKS RUNNING to bring you super premium swag, and are thrilled to offer a short-sleeve Brooks technical running shirt with a beautiful Run the Bluegrass theme. Additional Run the Bluegrass swag apparel, like our Dash 1/2 Zip, and Luxe Hoodie are also top-notch Brooks Running athleisure pieces specifically selected for quality and functionality.
Our Major Partners
