The Next Loop Endurance Series • Cliff Cave
- Date
- August 22, 2026
- Location
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Organized by
- The Next Loop Endurance Series
Distances and entry
- The Next Loop — $101.35
About The Next Loop Endurance Series • Cliff Cave
The Next Loop: Endurance Series – Cliff Cave
👉 First time in the St. Louis area — limited field
👉 Discount ends soon
👉 Be part of the first class of St. Louis finishers in The Next Loop Series
Run a 5K trail loop every hour until you decide you’re done. One loop or many — your endurance, your pace. Separate 40M and 50M continuous options available.
Course Overview
Scenic 5K loop: The course at Cliff Cave Park follows a clearly marked 3.1-mile trail through wooded terrain, rolling hills, and bluff-side sections overlooking the Mississippi River, offering a dynamic experience each lap.
Loop-based structure: Runners begin each loop on the hour. After finishing, you rest, refuel, and decide whether to continue.
Flexible distances: You’re never locked into a set goal — each completed loop builds toward a common distance milestone: 1 loop = 5K, 2 loops = 10K, 4 loops = Half Marathon, 9 loops = Marathon, 10 loops = 50K.
Strategy-friendly: Run 1 loop or all 10 — every loop counts toward your official result, and your time is tracked per loop.
Scoring & Format
Hourly starts: Each loop begins at the top of the hour, giving all runners equal rest and reset time between efforts.
Loop timing: Your loop time is recorded from the start of the hour to when you cross the finish line.
Total result: Final results are ranked by the number of loops completed and your combined total time.
No penalties: There are no DNFs, no missed cutoffs, and no timeouts — stop whenever you choose, and your completed loops still count.
Aid Stations & Support
Hourly aid: An aid station is available at the central base area before the start of each loop to provide hydration and basic nutrition.
Supportive venue: The centralized loop format makes it easy for friends, family, and crew to cheer, assist, and support between loops.
Runner Experience
Inclusive atmosphere: Whether you're aiming for one loop or ten, the event encourages all levels of runners to push their own limits without fear of failure.
Strategic challenge: With recovery breaks between loops, athletes can test pacing, endurance, and decision-making on a course that mixes runnable sections with moderate climbs and technical variety.
Data-driven results: Loop-by-loop timing allows runners to analyze performance trends and use results for future training or racing benchmarks.
Practical Details
Location: Cliff Cave Park, St. Louis County, Missouri
Event hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM CDT
Who This Race Is For
This event is perfect for new runners curious about longer distances and experienced runners looking to test endurance without the pressure of fixed distances. Expect a supportive atmosphere where you choose how far you go — one loop at a time.
EverFurther Events
The Next Loop: Endurance Series is produced by EverFurther Events, co-founded by veteran endurance athletes Joe Johnson and Terry Madl. EverFurther was created to reimagine what endurance events could be — inclusive, progression-focused, and built for real-world athletes at every stage of their journey. Unlike traditional races that require a fixed distance commitment, EverFurther’s loop-based model emphasizes personal growth over elimination, and celebrates every mile earned. With decades of racing, directing, and life experience between them, Joe and Terry are on a mission to build events that are accessible, repeatable, and centered on community — giving athletes the freedom to define success on their own terms.