Pemberton 24: Festival of 5ks
The Pemberton 24 is a wild, one-of-a-kind endurance challenge where you—and/or your team—can run as many 5Ks as you'd like over a 24-hour period. Starting Friday, September 19th, 2025 at 6:00 PM, a new 5K will begin every hour on the hour, with the final one kicking off at 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 20th.
Each 5K takes place on the scenic trails of Pemberton Park in Salisbury, Maryland, hosted by Algonquin Ultras Inc. and Wicomico County. An aid station at the start/finish will be stocked with cold water, snacks, gels, sodas, and plenty of surprises. Runners are encouraged to set up a camp area to rest, sleep (if you can), and connect with fellow participants and volunteers between runs.
Important Reminders
This is a cupless race. All runners must bring:
A headlamp (required for nighttime running)
Their own hydration (bottle, vest, belt, or handheld)
A chair to rest between events
Timing & Scoring
Traditional chip timing won’t be used. Instead, runners earn points for each completed 5K, provided they finish within the hour and start on time with the group. Time doesn't matter—placement does, especially for the top 5 male and female finishers.
Point System:
1 point for completing each 5K (up to 24 points)
+1 bonus point for each 5K run during midnight through 4:00 AM (up to 5 bonus points)
Placing Points (per 5K):
1st: +4 points
2nd: +3 points
3rd: +2 points
4th & 5th: +1 point each
Bonus: +10 points for completing all 24 5Ks
In case of a tie, a 0.6-mile sprint will decide the winner.
Categories:
Individual Division
Team Division (teams of 4 runners)
Teams accumulate a combined score from their members. The top five male and female team runners can earn placing points, using the same system as individuals.
Awards:
Top 3 individuals (men & women) and top 3 teams will receive awards.
Rules to Remember:
No bib transfers, deferrals, refunds, or bandits
Bibs must be visible at all times to receive credit
No littering—pack it in, pack it out
Stay on course; off-course runners are disqualified
No pacers, no crew on the course
Crews are allowed at the start/finish area only
No early or late starts (you may choose to skip any number of 5Ks)
No dogs or animals allowed
Just to be clear:
You could run the first 5K at 6 PM, skip a few during the night, then come back Saturday morning, run a few 5ks, take a nap and then run the last three 5ks —your race, your 24 hours.
Event's current local time: 5:20 AM ET
