September Events Cancelled
The Ring and The Big Schloss are cancelled.
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
Update on the Women’s Half and Other Events
The COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon, so the VHTRC board and race directors have decided to cancel The Women’s Half Marathon, Catherine’s Furnace, Martha Moats Baker, and all other VHTRC events in July and August.
Read more
Sheila Vibert Sets FKT on the Appalachian Trail Through Shendandoah National Park
Sheila Vibert sets a new female FKT on the Appalachian Trail through Shenandoah National Park
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 12
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 27
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 Nov 15
Sat Apr 10
50.2 miles
Clifton, VA
Entry opens: Nov 15, 2020
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 15
100.6 miles
Fort Valley, VA
Entry opens: Jun 2, 2020
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.
Sat Sep 26
50 km
Wardensville, WV
A challenging, low-key, beautiful race that is closer to 32 miles. Generally held on the last Saturday in September, and limited to about 60 runners. Canceled for 2020. New direction in 2021 as Levi Mason and Cara Foley take the reins from Kirstin Corris.
Sat Oct 3
50 km
Quantico, VA
A runnable 50 km run comprised of two loops on the easy rolling trails of Prince William Forest Park, directed by the VHTRC’s Sarah Curtis. A final decision on the 2020 event will be made later this summer.
Low-key runs with no formal sign-up. Just show up and run.
Wed Aug 12
Varies
McLean, VA
Runs every Wednesday at 6:00 pm in Great Falls National Park, in partnership with DC Capital Striders.
Sun Aug 16
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.
Fri Nov 27
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.
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.