Promoting trail running in the D.C. area for three decades.
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!
Anstr Davidson pays tribute to his good friend, Alan Gowen, who passed away on June 27. Alan was the founder at RD of the Hashawha Hills 50 km, a past president of the VHTRC, and the nine-time MMT finisher.
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Steph Hill has submitted a report on her race at the 2025 Hellbender 100 Miler. The course is located in the Black Mountain region of western North Carolina, and the race was dramatically impacted by the after effects of Hurricane Helene that devastated the area seven months earlier.
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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 moreHere’s what we have coming up. See our calendar for a full list of our (and others’) events
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.
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.
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.
Sat Jul 19
29.75 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.
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.
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.
Sat Aug 16
13.1 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Apr 1, 2025
Sun Aug 17
13.1 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Apr 1, 2025
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.
Sat Aug 30
71 miles
Fort Valley, VA
Entry opens: Jul 7, 2025
Entry closes: Aug 27, 2025
If you want to run the Reverse Ring in late February (and who wouldn’t?!), you have to get this run done first!
Sun Jul 20
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 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.
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.
