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 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
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 more
Bull Run Run Postponed, Massanutten 100 Canceled
Due to the continuing public health crisis surrounding the COVID pandemic, the VHTRC will not conduct our usual races in spring 2021. BRR is postponed and MMT is canceled.
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 Sep 11
13.6 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Feb 21, 2020
A challenging yet chill race for women only … built for new trail runners and veterans alike.
Sat Oct 2
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.
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.
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 Aug 14
33 miles
Stokesville, VA
Entry opens: Jul 6, 2021
A low-key run exploring the other trails around Wild Oak in the Jefferson National Forest. A creation of the legend, Dennis Herr. The 2019 race was canceled due to construction that closed a road section used for support and as a part of the course, and the 2020 race was canceled due to COVID-19.
Entry is open
Sun Aug 15
Lorton, VA
The Virginia Happy Trails Running Club is again hosting its annual summer party for members, and for volunteers at its events. There is good conversation, bad jokes, and plenty of food and drink.
Entry opens Jul 30
Sat Sep 4
71 miles
Fort Valley, VA
Entry opens: Jul 30, 2021
If you want to run the Reverse Ring in late February (and who wouldn’t?!), you have to get this run done first! Entry may open in mid-August, depending on the status of the pandemic at that time.
Low-key runs with no formal sign-up. Just show up and run.
Wed Jul 28
Varies
McLean, VA
Runs every Wednesday at 6:00 pm in Great Falls National Park, in partnership with DC Capital Striders.
Sun Aug 1
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.
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.