OSS 50 Miler
John Calabrese reports on his battle to complete the 2025 edition of local trail legend Alex Papadopoulos’s OSS/CIA 50-Mile Night Run, held on June 14-15 in Prince William Forest Park.
Read moreThe Virginia Happy Trails Running Club
Promoting trail running in the D.C. area for three decades.
Welcome to the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club
We are a fun group of trail runners of all abilities centered in northern Virginia. Many but not all of us run ultramarathons. Come play with us at our races and training runs!
Latest news
John Kelly Tackles the Virginia Stretch of Appalachian Trail with Blue Train Support
As John Kelly chases an Appalachian Trail speed record, several VHTRC runners stepped in to support him as he made his way through Virginia. Read about their reflections of the experience.
Read more
The Case of the Missing Rock
After a full year of being AWOL from its perch overlooking the Shenandoah Valley from the side of the Kerns Mountain section of the Massanutten Trail, a trio of misfits with too much time on their hands launched a Rock Rescue Mission. John Dodds reports on the successful recovery of the landmark rock at Q’s View, just in time for the MMT 100 runners in the 2025 race.
Read moreUpcoming stuff
Here’s what we have coming up. See our calendar for a full list of our (and others’) events
The VHTRC was founded to put on races. We are mighty proud of our courses and hospitality.
Entry is open
Sat Sep 13
13.6 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Apr 1, 2025
A challenging yet chill race for women only … built for new trail runners and veterans alike.
Entry opens Jan 1
Sat Feb 28
50 km
Westminster, MD
Entry opens: Jan 1, 2026
31 miles of trails, old woods roads, open fields, and plenty of hills with a couple of stream crossings thrown in just for fun.
Sat Apr 4
50.2 miles
Clifton, VA
Entry opens: Oct 1, 2024
A 50 mile trail run that parallels the Bull Run and the Occoquan River in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. The course traverses forested, rolling terrain during the height of Virginia’s spring beauty. The run’s unique character includes a Civil War theme that honors the battles that occurred here over 150 years ago. The 13 hour time limit makes Bull Run Run an excellent first 50 miler.
Entry opens Oct 31
Sat May 16
100.6 miles
Fort Valley, VA
Entry opens: Oct 31, 2025
A challenging, rocky 100 miler on the trails of the Massanutten Mountains in the George Washington National Forest in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The course includes short but rugged mountain climbs with more than 18,000 feet of total ascent. There is a 36-hour cutoff.
Events are open to the public and free to enter, but do require prior registration and many have entry limits.
Didn’t get in? Consider volunteering.
Entry is closed
Sat Jul 19
29.1 miles
Luray, VA
Entry opens: Jun 19, 2025
Entry closes: Jul 16, 2025
Popular event on the little-used trails in the southern section of the Massanutten Mountains, under the direction of Chelsea Smith.
Entry is open
Sat Jul 26
24 hours
Mason Neck, VA
Entry opens: May 27, 2025
Entry closes: Jul 24, 2025
The VHTRC’s twist on the popular Backyard race concept, with a 24 hour/100 mile limit. Directed by Tracy Cooley.
Entry opens Jul 9
Sat Aug 9
38.7 miles
Stokesville, VA
Entry opens: Jul 9, 2025
Entry closes: Aug 2, 2025
A low-key run, created by Dennis Herr and now hosted by Q, exploring some of the other trails around the famous Wild Oak Trail in the Jefferson National Forest.
Entry is open
Sat Aug 16
13.1 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Apr 1, 2025
Entry is open
Sun Aug 17
13.1 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Apr 1, 2025
Entry is open
Sun Aug 24
Potomac, MD
Entry opens: Jun 24, 2025
One of the highlights of the VHTRC social calendar. All VHTRC members, their families, and volunteers are invited for good conversation, bad jokes, and plenty of food and drink.
Low-key runs with no formal sign-up. Just show up and run.
Sun Jun 29
7-10 miles
Washington, DC
Explore the trails of Rock Creek Park on these low-key runs. We leave at 8:00 am from either Peirce Mill or Theodore Roosevelt Island and the runs are roughly 7–10 miles long.
Fri Jul 4
23 miles
Washington, VA
Smooth, runnable loop up and over the Blue Ridge and back. Wear red, white, and blue.
Sat Jul 5
24.2 miles
Syria, VA
Also known as “Shenandoah’s National Park’s greatest hits,” this 24-mile loop’s highlights include White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, Stony Man, all connected by beautiful ridge running on the Appalachian Trail.
Sun Jul 6
15.5 miles
Washington, VA
A figure-eight loop on the trails in Shenandoah National Park, featuring an opening climb up Little Devil Stairs, a mid-run stop at Elkwallow, some excellent views from Hogback, and a long, bombing downhill finish. Also the shortest of the three Trifecta runs, but one that will still present a fair challenge for your running legs!
Sat Jul 12
9.9 miles
Quantico, VA
An introduction to trail running, with emphasis on trail navigation, in Prince William Forest Park.
Sat Aug 16
10.1 miles
Fort Valley, VA
An introduction to trail running with emphasis on nutrition, in the Massanutten Mountains.
Sat Sep 6
9.5 miles
A celebratory party in Shenandoah River State Park.
Fri Nov 28
25.3 miles
Nethers, VA
Often referred to as “Shenandoah’s National Park’s greatest hits,” this 25-mile loop’s highlights include White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, Stony Man, all connected by beautiful ridge running on the Appalachian Trail.
View our available SWAG More information
Featured run
Vicki’s Death March
Now that Shenandoah National Park is largely reopened, we can recommend Vicki’s Death March! Often referred to as “Shenandoah National Park’s greatest hits,” this 25-mile loop’s highlights include White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, Stony Man, all connected by beautiful ridge running on the Appalachian Trail. Just be sure to get an early start, as Old Rag is an especially popular trailhead… especially now.
On top of the world on Little Stony Man during the 2011 Vicki’s Death March.