Devon Yanko runs the 2024 McDowell Mountain Frenzy in Arizona. Photo Jesse Ellis | Let's Wander Photography

What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — December 6, 2025

Drew Dinan
Drew Dinan

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After a quiet Thanksgiving weekend on the ultramarathon race calendar, things heat back up during the first weekend of December, with 55 exciting events scheduled. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we highlight ultramarathons in California, Arizona, Indiana and New York. If you’re a race director and would like your event to be featured in the calendar, register here.

Featured: Hunter S. Thompson Fear & Loathing (San Francisco, CA)

Founded in 1985, the Hunter S. Thompson Fear & Loathing urban ultramarathon is back on the streets of San Francisco for its 41st edition. Dreamt up “amid the haze of the taverns in Haight Ashbury,” where runners fantasized about running San Fran’s scenic 49-mile drive, the iconic fatass (no fees, no awards and no guarantee of aid), takes participants on a tour of the city’s major landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, China Town, City Hall and Fisherman’s Wharf. The race begins and ends at Twin Peaks, the highest point in the city, and runners can choose either a 50-mile or 50k loop. Runners will rely on maps to get around town (this is an unmarked course) and may or may not have access to aid stations, although race directors post a list of potential locations that volunteers might park throughout the route. The event is proud to support Shoes for Runners by donating running gear to Mexican villages and around the world. Learn more about the race and its history here.

Other West Events:

Pacific

Mountain

Featured: Jackson County Ultras (Brownstown, IN)

The 12th annual Jackson County Ultras (100k and 50k ultra distances) kicks off Saturday, December 6, at Pyoca Camp & Retreat Center in Brownstown, Indiana. Both races take place on a challenging 10-mile loop course through the Jackson–Washington State Forest, where they will have to navigate a combination of double-track and single-track trails featuring steep climbs and descents and over 1,600 feet of elevation gain and loss per loop. Runners return to Pyoca between laps, where they can warm up with hot food before heading back out into the winter cold. Both races have a 24-hour cutoff time, and if 100 runners or more earn an official 100k finish, Jackson County Ultras will become the Midwest’s only 100k Western States qualifier. Follow the live race tracking here.

Other Midwest Events:

Featured: McDowell Mountain Frenzy (Fountain Hills, AZ)

First held in 2010, the McDowell Mountain Frenzy showcases the beautiful trails and desert landscape of Arizona’s McDowell Mountain Regional Park and McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Participants in the 50-mile and 50k ultramarathon distance events can expect a runnable yet challenging test with plenty of rocky sections, short steep climbs and descents, rolling terrain, desert conditions, and the occasional cactus you’ll want to avoid. 50-milers have 16 hours to complete a course with 7,026 feet of elevation gain and loss, while 50k runners must tackle 3,020 feet of vert in under 15 hours. Watch a McDowell Mountain Frenzy race video here to learn more about the event and follow all the runners’ progress on Aravaipa Live.

Other South Events:

Southwest

Southeast

Featured: PPTC Endurance Fest (Brooklyn, NY)

“The spiritual successor to NYC’s heritage of road ultras,” The PPTC Endurance Fest (50-mile and 50k ultra distances) is set in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, and offers runners the chance to experience a supportive, community-oriented ultramarathon without leaving the city. Both events take place at Prospect Park and feature a paved, 3.33-mile loop course that 50-milers will run 15 times, and 50k entrants will run nine times in addition to a short out-and-back section. Organized by Prospect Park Track Club (PPTC), who emphasize community, accessibility, and inclusive running in NYC, the race offers a supportive, beginner-friendly ultramarathon experience. The predictable terrain, flat course, helpful volunteers and easy crewing make it an excellent option for first-timers and experienced runners alike. Learn more.

Other Northeast Events:

No events this weekend.

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

Drew Dinan traded the tropics of the Florida Keys for the trails of Bend, OR. Once living the Jimmy Buffett lifestyle, working on fishing boats and owning only a single pair of flip flops, he now has way too many running shoes in his closet and never hears the end of it from his loving wife. He is on a constant quest to find the best happy hours, likes to complain when it’s cold outside, and one day hopes to travel the country writing reviews on chicken wings.

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