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 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
Free membership extensions
2020 was rough. If you were a member of the VHTRC as of March 1, 2020, your membership has been extended by one year free of charge.
Read more
2021 Hashawha Hills 50K
The 2021 race is canceled but, if there is sufficient interest, we may have a virtual event on the weekend of February 27–28 where runners can run the course on their own.
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 Apr 10
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 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 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 opens Jun 1
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 closed
Sat Mar 13
30.5 miles
Fort Valley, VA
Entry opens: Feb 4, 2021
Entry closes: Feb 10, 2021
A challenging, low-key 50 km in the Elizabeth Furnace area of the Massanutten Mountains, utilizing the old Dogwood Half Hundred course. Excellent training for those inclined to run the MMT 100 miler in May.
Sat Apr 3
25.9 miles
Luray, VA
Entry opens: Mar 15, 2020
A low-key, tough, night-time run on the southern section of the MMT course. Prior daytime experience on the MMT course is a prerequisite.
Sat Apr 17
35 miles
Luray, VA
Entry opens: Feb 24, 2020
This MMT training run covers the final third of MMT, from Camp Roosevelt to the finish.
Low-key runs with no formal sign-up. Just show up and run.
Wed Mar 3
Varies
McLean, VA
Runs every Wednesday at 6:00 pm in Great Falls National Park, in partnership with DC Capital Striders.
Sun Mar 7
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.