Thousands Take on America’s Toughest Road Race at the 17th Annual Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon

April 27, 2026

Runners participated in distances from 1-mile to 101-mile, featuring record elevation changes

ROANOKE, Va. (April 27, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon saw high demand at its 17th annual event on April 18, with thousands of participants from around the country taking part in America’s Toughest Road Race. The event offers a variety of distance options, including a 1 miler, 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, double marathon and The Full Goat, a sold out challenge combining all distances for a 101-mile road run featuring 26,280 ft of elevation change.

Rob Perkinson, the men’s marathon champion and overall first-place finisher, completed the 26.2 miles in 2:49:11, an impressive feat at the road race with the most elevation change in the U.S. Perkinson was followed by the men’s marathon second-place finisher, Samuel Haynes, and Matthew Clements, the third-place finisher. The women’s marathon course was led by Emily Sharpe, who finished with a time of 3:18:06. Second and third-place finishers for the women’s division were Sydney Wenger and Victoria Newman.

“The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon is truly an event that showcases the community spirit that running is all about,” said Kait Pedigo, event organizer of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon. “The course is challenging, but the supportive people along the way are what make it such a fun and memorable experience. It’s always so rewarding to watch all the smiling faces cross our finish line, even after they just ran America’s Toughest Road Race.”

The men’s and women’s half marathon winners were Josephy Darwin, who finished with a time of 1:18:38, and Emily Honecutt in 1:36:04. Other notable accomplishments include the men’s and women’s 10K winners Mario Rodriguez and Gretchen Addison, with times of 39:20 and 51:00, respectively. A total of 26 participants took part in The Full Goat challenge.

As participants took on the challenging course, they were treated to ample on-course support by race organizers and community members. With the ‘complete, not compete’ mindset behind the event, resources and activations are placed along the route to help participants reach their finish line. Participants of all levels are celebrated, with an opportunity for runners of more common paces to earn the “Middle of the Pack” award sponsored by Altra for earning the exact median finish in the event. This year’s recipients included Travis Perdue of Roanoke, VA for the Anthem Star 10K, with a time of 1:17:34, Christina Adams of Olla, LA for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Half Marathon with a time of 2:38:20, Hope Trossen of Roanoke, VA for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon with a time of 5:10:55 and Chris Robertson of Vinton, VA for the Altra Blue Ridge Double Marathon with a time of 11:49:44.

Race weekend wrapped up with America’s Slowest 5K presented by Altra on April 19, an easy and flat out-and-back course along the Roanoke River Greenway. The race encourages participants to slow their pace after a challenging race day, and rewards the last person to finish as the winner. Martha Kilburn was the 2026 winner of America’s Slowest 5K.

The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon is recognized nationally for its unique offerings, with Runner’s World Magazine listing it as one of ‘The World’s Toughest Races’, and its half marathon distance being named the ‘Best Half Marathon’ in Virginia by Half Marathon Guide.

For more information about the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, visit www.blueridgemarathon.com and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT THE FOOT LEVELERS BLUE RIDGE MARATHON

The Foot Levers Blue Ridge Marathon isn’t your average city race — it’s a mountain-town adventure on pavement. Starting and finishing in downtown Roanoke, the course takes you up and down some of the most scenic miles in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, with over 7,430 ft. in elevation change. The event offers a variety of distance options, including a 1 miler, 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon and a double marathon. They also offer The Full Goat challenge – combining all distances for a 101-mile road run featuring 26,280 ft of elevation change. The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon is owned and operated by Roanoke Outside Foundation. The foundation builds Virginia Blue Ridge’s outdoor community through strategic partnerships, infrastructure investment, and signature events.