The Snowdrop ULTRA 55 Hour Race and Relay in Missouri City, Texas, is a fundraiser for the Snowdrop Foundation, which supports pediatric cancer research and provides college scholarships to pediatric cancer survivors. Participants endure 55 hours of running and walking on a 0.69-mile loop lined with photos of the children they are fighting for. For many, the race has become an annual tradition, though each year welcomes a new wave of participants into the Snowdrop family.
The ULTRA 55 took place from 7 a.m. on December 30, 2024, to 2 p.m. on January 1, 2025, at Buffalo Run Park. Now in its 12th year, the event attracts runners from across the United States, combining the love of running with a meaningful fundraising effort.
Runners faced high temperatures in the low 80s on the first day of the event. However, those who paced themselves conservatively early on were rewarded with cooler conditions in the following days and weather conditions were mostly favorable in terms of precipitation.
In the men’s race, Josh Jenkins was the first to reach 100 miles, achieving this milestone in 21:44:44. He was soon followed by Dena Carr who became the first female to reach 100 miles.
In the men’s overall race, Juan Acevedo displayed unwavering consistency, and climbed the leaderboard to finish first with an impressive 200.92 miles. This marked Juan’s fourth consecutive win at the event, each time surpassing the 200-mile mark.
For the women’s event, Dena Carr was not only the first female to reach 100 miles, but she also logged 181.58 miles to finish second overall and claim the women’s title.
The relay race remained competitive for several hours until teamULTRA, led by Kathleen Hanley, pulled ahead. They ultimately logged an astounding 421.86 miles, becoming only the second team in the event’s history to surpass 400 miles.
A remarkable performance came from Letha Cruthirds, who broke the US 48-hour record for women aged 70-74. She ran an incredible 142.232 miles in 47:59:25, surpassing the previous record by an astounding 16.5 miles.