The 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

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Tony Taylor

  • Oct 12, 2024
  • Club news

Tony Taylor — 1970-2024. Taken from us very unexpectedly and entirely too soon in the early morning hours of Monday October 7th. Two of his closest trail running friends, Kate Moga and Guy Towler, have drafted short remembrances of Tony, with some help from other friends.

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Stan Duobinis

  • Jul 18, 2024
  • Member news

Stan Duobinis passed away on July 9. Stan and his wife, Margie Schlunt, were fixtures of the VHTRC from the earliest days of the club. They were avid participants of all club events and races — as runners, volunteers, and race directors.

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2024 Massanutten Trail Work Party

  • May 9, 2024
  • Trail work, MMT

Last Saturday, 18 volunteers coordinated by the VHTRC help clear trails in the Massanutten Mountains. Together, we cleared 29.6 miles of trail, removed 56(!) trees, and contributed 140.5 hours of labor to our public lands.

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Upcoming 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.

Sat Feb 22

50 km

Westminster, MD

Entry opens: Jan 1, 2024

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 5

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.

Sat May 17

100.6 miles

Fort Valley, VA

Entry opens: Oct 31, 2024

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

Sun Nov 3

30.5 miles

Washington, DC

Entry opens: Sep 3, 2024
Entry closes: Sep 22, 2024

The event that proves that there are beautiful trails inside the Beltway. Entry opens a few weeks before the run .

Entry opens Nov 14

Thu Nov 28

2 hours

Potomac, MD

Entry opens: Nov 14, 2024
Entry closes: Nov 26, 2024

The VHTRC version of this traditional fall running classic. Thanksgiving morning on the C&O Canal and the trails around Great Falls, on the Maryland side. Hosted by Mike Bur.

Entry opens Nov 11

Sat Dec 14

50 km

Clifton, VA

Entry opens: Nov 11, 2024
Entry closes: Dec 12, 2024

The first event in the now-storied history of the club. Very low-key, a lot of fun, and no fee for those who RSVP and then show for the run. Come ring in the holidays with Furbutt and the VHTRC! Be sure to fill out the online RSVP to enter.

Entry opens Nov 18

Sat Dec 28

40.3 miles

Luray, VA

Entry opens: Nov 18, 2024
Entry closes: Dec 26, 2024

This classic holiday fat ass includes a nice mix of Massanutten Trail sections and dirt roads, with miles of spectacular views of the Fort Valley, Page Valley and Shenandoah Valley.

Low-key runs with no formal sign-up. Just show up and run.

Sun Nov 3

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.

Sat Nov 16

27 miles

Stokesville, VA

A supported run on The Wild Oak Trail (TWOT), either a full loop or an alternative out-and-back, as a tribute to Tony Taylor.

Fri Nov 29

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

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