What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — August 2, 2025

The first weekend of August features 36 races on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we highlight events in Oregon, Wisconsin, Louisiana, New Jersey and Alberta, Canada. If you’re a race director and would like your event to be featured in the calendar, register here.

Featured: Waldo (Crescent Lake, OR)

A deserving addition to UltraRunning Magazine’s list of Old School Ultras, the Waldo 100k, established in 2002, is a classic Pacific Northwest race that combines some of Oregon’s best trails with a low-key, welcoming atmosphere, complete with ham radio operators and a dedicated group of volunteers who even open up the aid stations to thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. On course, runners must navigate more than 11,000 feet of elevation gain, three climbs over 2,000 feet and the challenging summit of Maiden Peak (7,818 feet) during the late stages of the race. Participants have 18 hours to complete the course to earn their Waldo hat and Western States 100 qualifier, with special prizes going to the male and female runners who reach the summit of Mt. Fuji first (and finish the race), swim in the most lakes and show the most race spirit. In its 23-year history, Waldo has raised well over $100,000 for the Willamette Pass Ski Patrol. Race day tracking here. Read more.

Other West Events:

Pacific

• Drew’s Angel Creek 50 (Fairbanks, AK)
• Hatcher Pass 50 Mile, Marathon and Relay (Willow, AK)
• Skyline 50K (San Leandro, CA)
• Angeles Crest (Wrightwood, CA)
• Rodeo Valley Trail Run (Sausalito, CA)
• Folsom 100 (Granite Bay, CA)
• Riley Park Trail Races (Coto de Caza, CA)
• Tufted Puffin Endurance Run (Newport, OR)
• Volcanic 50 (Cougar, WA)
• Hamster Endurance Runs (Bellingham, WA)

Mountain

• Sheep Mountain Trail Runs (Fairplay, CO)
• Aspen Backcountry Marathons (Aspen, CO)
• Owyhee 50/50 Night Run (Homedale, ID)
• HURL Elkhorn Endurance Runs (Helena, MT)
• El Vaquero Loco (Afton, WY)

Featured: Badger Trail Races by Ten Junk Miles Racing (Belleville, WI)

Badger Trail Races feature four ultra events, including 100-mile, 100k, 50-mile and 50k distances. Races take place on the Badger State Trail in Wisconsin and the Jane Addams Trail in Illinois, with 95% of the courses on crushed stone rail trails and less than 5% on asphalt. Along their journeys, runners will traverse farmland, prairies, rolling meadows and quaint Midwest towns, with the opportunity to drop in the historic 70-year-old Dot’s Tavern at mile 35.1 for a unique souvenir and the chance to grab a drink and cool off in the air conditioning. The 100-mile runners have 36 hours to complete the race, with those who finish in over 30 hours set to receive a special buckle. Race headquarters for all events is at Belleville Community Park in Belleville, Wisconsin. Read more.

Other Midwest Events:

• • Trail of the Dragon 50K/50 mile Run (Ida Grove, IA)
  • Marsh Madness (South Rockwood, MI)
  • Bob’s Big Timber Backyard Ultra (Glenmont, OH)

Featured: A Louisiana Summer Night Ultra (Lafayette, LA)

A Louisiana Summer Night is a 10-hour fixed-time ultra that goes through the night in the deep, swampy south of Lafayette, Louisiana. The race kicks off at 8 p.m. and participants will run as many 2-4-mile loops as they can before 6 a.m. Runners can expect a flat course with a mix of single-track trails, gravel roads and wooden boardwalks, one fully stocked aid station manned by cheering volunteers and of course, plenty of hungry mosquitoes. Awards will be given to all runners who complete “20-ish” miles, with additional awards going to the top three female and male finishers. Read more.

Other South Events:

Southwest

• Philmont Trail Race (Cimarron, NM)
• Blazin’ Summer Sufferfest (Cedar Hill, TX)
• NIGHT CLAW (Glen Rose, TX)

Southeast

• River to Sea (Marineland, FL)
• DURTY B-EE-RR-UN 6hr St. Pete Fat Ass (St. Petersburg, FL)
• The Inferno (Lehigh Acres, FL)
• Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail 50K (King George, VA)
• Jarmans Invitational Marathon (Crozet, VA)

Featured: Loopy Looper (Pennsauken Township, NJ)

Described as one of the fastest loop course races in the country, Loopy Looper features 12-hour, 24-hour and 101.25-mile races on a 3.75-mile paved course around Coopers River Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The 12 and 24-hour runners will attempt to run as many miles as they can in their allotted time, while 100-milers will have 30 hours to complete 27 laps. Race highlights include great swag, special finisher’s awards, scenic views of the lake and the Philadelphia skyline and a fully stocked aid station serving pizza at night to the 24-hour and 100-miler runners. All races begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 2. Read more.

Other Northeast Events:

• Blue Hill Mountain Trail Fest 5k/10k/50k (Blue Hill, ME)
• Ragged 75 Stage Race and 50k (Danbury, NH)
• MCW Westfield Ultra (Westfield, NJ)
• RunPA Trail Jamboree (Newmanstown, PA)

Featured: Canadian Death Race (Grande Cache, AB)

The Canadian Death Race boasts a storied history as one of Canada’s most challenging and scenic ultramarathons. Established at the turn of the millennium, the race takes runners on a tour of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where they’ll have to “cheat death” and survive a 118k course that includes rugged and technical terrain, over 17,000 feet of elevation gain and loss, three mountain summits, a boat ride across the river at Hell’s Gate Canyon, bears and mountain lions and the chance of blistering heat or bitter cold. The race begins at 8 a.m. at Central Park in Grande Cache, Alberta, and runners have 24 hours to complete the course to earn an official finish and a 2026 Western States Endurance Run qualifier. Live tracking here. Read more.

Other Events in Canada and Mexico:

• Persistence Backyard Ultra (Arva, ON)
• Bonshaw Trail Races (Charlottetown, PE)

Email corys@ultrarunning with questions about adding your event to the UltraRunning Magazine calendar.