Dan Aghdam Selected as New MMT Race Director
Dan Aghdam is the next race director for the club’s 100-miler. He will replace longtime director, Kevin Sayers, who is retiring after the 2022 race.
Read moreThe Virginia Happy Trails Running Club
Promoting trail running in the D.C. area for more than 25 years.
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
Trail-work trifecta in the Massanuttens
The VHTRC led three work trips in June, clearing trails in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Over three days, 18 volunteers contributed 153 hours of work.
Read more
Kevin’s Retiring: We Need a New MMT Race Director
We’re looking for a new RD for the club’s 100-miler. Longtime director Kevin Sayers will retire after the 2022 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.
Sat Feb 26
50 km
Westminster, MD
Entry opens: Jan 3, 2020
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 9
50.2 miles
Clifton, VA
Entry opens: Jan 15, 2021
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 is open
Sat May 14
100.6 miles
Fort Valley, VA
Entry opens: Jun 1, 2021
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 35 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 open
Sat Oct 23
44.8 miles
Pen Mar, PA
Entry opens: Sep 13, 2021
Entry closes: Oct 20, 2021
You run in four states in one day, traditionally held on the Saturday the weekend before the Marine Corps Marathon. It’s a long run over challenging trail - you will have to move with dispatch to finish in daylight. Entry is limited to VHTRC members; and will open a few weeks prior to the run.
Entry is open
Sat Oct 30
50 km
Quantico, VA
Entry opens: Sep 15, 2021
A runnable 50 km run comprised of two loops on the easy rolling trails of Prince William Forest Park.
Entry is open
Sun Nov 7
30.5 miles
Washington, DC
Entry opens: Oct 1, 2021
Entry closes: Nov 5, 2021
The event that proves that there are beautiful trails inside the Beltway. Entry opens October 1.
Thu Nov 25
2 hours
Potomac, MD
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.
Sat Dec 11
50 km
Clifton, VA
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.
Low-key runs with no formal sign-up. Just show up and run.
Sun Oct 17
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.
Wed Oct 20
Varies
McLean, VA
Runs every Wednesday at 6:00 pm in Great Falls National Park, in partnership with DC Capital Striders.
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.