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Hopefully, the lottery gods smiled on some of you Saturday. But if they didn’t, there are still plenty of incredible ultramarathons to choose from in 2026. Check out UltraRunning Magazine’s comprehensive race calendar to start planning your race season. The first weekend of December featured 55 North American ultras, including featured events in Texas, Indiana, California and Arizona. Congratulations to everyone who raced this weekend, and be sure to check out all the race results as they roll in on our results page.
Brazos Bend
We kick things off at the “fastest trail race in Texas,” the Brazon Bend 100 (100-mile and 100k races). In Saturday’s 100-mile event, Jimmie Strahorn surged into the lead after a speedy second lap and never looked back, cruising to victory in 14:30:55. Art Hurtado ran to a second-place finish in 16:08:48. Thierry Joffrain (17:29:37) snagged the last male podium spot in third and finished fifth overall. Kayla Straub ran the fifth-fastest Brazos Bend 100-mile time to earn the women’s win in 16:23:01. Straub placed third overall. Jaclyn Foroughi was the second woman across the line and fourth overall finisher in 17:17:35. Erica Garner (17:44:05) finished third female and sixth overall.
Top 100k finishers:
Women
- Hayley Reis (10:48:22)
- Karin Atkinson (11:25:59)
- Christina Alanis (11:58:55)
Men
- Tyrel Stout (9:03:40)
- Jocelin Guillaume (9:30:25)
- Justin Parker (9:51:05)
Full results here.
Jackson County Ultra
Our second stop takes us to Brownstown, Indiana, for the 12th annual Jackson County Ultras (100k and 50k ultramarathon distances). There were 86 runners who finished Saturday’s 100k race, paced by women’s winner Rachel Schack in 11:10:02. Schack ran the second-fastest women’s course time and placed second overall. Madeline Lilly raced to second female and ninth overall in 12:30:20. Alia Abiad (13:18:18) took third. Jem Stuart broke the tape in the men’s contest, winning in 11:03:30. Brian Collins (11:26:45) was second and third overall. Matt Ramiller (11:59:28) finished third-place man and fourth overall.
Top 50k finishers:
Men
- Zach Eagle (4:11:22) *New Course Record*
- Patrick Withered (5:02:49)
- Jude Bane (5:06:49)
Women
- Mindy Jaramillo (5:27:48)
- Heather Proft (6:40:50)
- Claire Betz (6:41:26)
Full results here.
Anza Borrego Cuyamaca 50
Heading west, we land at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park near Julian, California, for the seventh annual Anza Borrego Cuyamaca 50. Over 160 runners completed Saturday’s point-to-point race, paced by men’s winner Juan Rocha in 07:09:32. Rocha’s time ranks as the third-fastest ever on the course. Magnus Ross finished runner-up in 7:25:44. Ethan Herrera (08:26:29) snagged third. On the women’s side, Brittany Poor ran the second-fastest women’s course time to secure the win in 9:06:21. Poor placed eighth overall. Claire Mathieu (9:08:25) finished just 2 minutes back in second place and tenth overall. Daniela Perry earned third place female honors in 9:44:50.
Full results here.
McDowell Mountain Frenzy
Our final stop takes us to McDowell Mountain Regional Park in Fountain Hills, Arizona, for the McDowell Mountain Frenzy (50-mile and 50k events). Saturday’s 50-miler saw Abby Hall race to the outright win in a new female course record time of 7:12:27. Hall took over 15 minutes off the previous CR and also ran the 13th-fastest overall time in the race’s 14-year history. Natalie Nicholson was the second female runner across the line in 8:16:21. Nicholson placed third overall. Samantha McClay rounded out the women’s podium and finished seventh overall in 9:39:09. Keegan Oldani cruised to victory in the men’s race and was second overall in 7:23:14. Zach Henderson finished second male and fourth overall. Patrick Hallahan was third-place male and fifth overall in 8:53:50. Full results here.
Top 50k finishers:
Men
- Greg Close (3:40:28)
- Addison Porcelli (3:42:07)
- Isaih Ford (3:51:08)
Women
- Natalie Sandoval (3:57:06) *New Course Record*
- Meghan Slavin (4:30:24)
- Maude Ariosa (4:39:08)
Other results from this weekend include: Hitchcock Experience (Honey Creek, IA), San Joaquin River Trail (Friant, CA), Bigfoot 50k (Lore City, OH), Crooked Creek Ultra Trail Race (Shepherdsville, KY), Shakori 40 (Pittsboro, NC), Climb 89 (Richland, WA), Island View Endurance Runs (Lompoc, CA), and The Guv’nor Frozen 50 (Dodgeville, WI).