Despite it being mid-December, the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar is still jam-packed with exciting races. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we’ll travel to Virginia, Arizona, Washington and North Carolina. Let’s hit the trails and chase down one more race finish in 2024.
Hellgate 100k
We kick things off at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia, for the 22nd annual Hellgate 100k. The brainchild of David Horton, Hellgate takes runners on a physically and mentally demanding 66.6-mile trail running journey through the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, participants will have 18 hours (17 hours for a Western States qualifying time) to make their way from the northern terminus of the Glenwood Horse Trail, near Big Hellgate Creek, to Camp Bethel, near Fincastle, Virginia. Along the way, runners will have to navigate the darkness, challenging terrain with over 13,000 feet of elevation gain and decent, and the potential for wintery conditions including below-freezing temperatures and icy trails. Over the years, Hellgate has attracted some of the top runners in the sport looking to test themselves in the extreme terrain. To enter, runners must apply through a competitive application process where entrants are selected based on their previous race history and the likelihood of completing the course under the cutoff time.
Desert Solstice
Switching gears to a completely different type of ultrarunning event, we venture to Phoenix, Arizona, for the Desert Solstice 24-hour and 100-mile track invitational. Limited to only 25 entrants, Desert Solstice is designed for setting records and trying to earn a spot on the 2025 USATF 24-Hour National Team. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, runners will race around a certified 400-meter all-weather track located at Central High School. Participants will be tracked by electronic chip timing which will be submitted to the USATF and IAU to verify distance and record-breaking performances. All runners are entered in the 24-hour event, however, each runner is eligible to set records of any standard ultra distance or timed run during their performance. Additionally, prize money will be awarded to athletes achieving certain performance standards or setting new records in the 24-hour and 100-mile competitions. Click here for a complete list of this year’s field.
Deception Pass 50k
Heading back to the trails, we journey to Oak Harbor, Washington, for the 14th annual Deception Pass (50k). Held in the beautiful Deception Pass State Park which spans two islands connected by a series of bridges separating Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands in the northern Puget Sound, the race showcases incredible Pacific Northwest scenery, including a mix of dramatic ocean cliffs and quiet old growth forests. On the course, runners will have to navigate rugged terrain with technical and winding trails which combine for 4,300 feet of elevation gain and descent. Participants have 8 hours to complete the course, with all runners invited to enjoy a finish line celebration complete with music, beverages and handmade, woodfired pizza.
Wildcard: Beast of the East 100
In this week’s Wildcard race, where we feature an event you may not be familiar with, we shuffle down to Kings Mountain, North Carolina, for the Beast of the East 100 (100-mile and 100k ). Taking place throughout the Crowders Mountain Park trail system, just a 30-minute drive from Charlotte, the event features an old-school vibe and challenging trails that will test even the most experienced ultrarunners. The 100-mile runners have 34 hours to tackle 19,368 of elevation gain and descent, while 100k entrants get 20 hours to overcome 9,684 feet of gain. Beast of the East 100 is a Trail Sisters-approved race, whose mission is “to increase women’s participation and opportunity in trail running through inspiration, education and empowerment.”
Other events this weekend include Dallas Marathon 50k (Dallas, TX), Magnus Gluteus Maximus (Clifton, VA), Frozen Trail Run Fest (Eugene, OR), Bigfoot 50k (Lore City, OH), Fonta Flora 50k (Nebo, NC), Daytona 100 (Daytona Beach, FL), Bell Ringer 50K (Burns, TN), Mel Williams Memorial Seashore (Virginia Beach, VA), Frosty Looper 8-hour (Pennsauken, NJ), and Naked Nick (Leesport, PA).
Check out the full list of events on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar and good luck to everyone racing this weekend.