What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — December 9

While many ultrarunners have closed the books on the 2023 racing season, the depth of our UltraRunning Calendar indicates that the year is anything but over. Headliners include the 20th Hellgate 100k in Virginia, the Bigfoot 50k in Ohio, the 42nd Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50/50 and more.

The Hellgate 100k is a northeast classic in Fincastle, Virginia, entering its 20th year. Taking place in the vast Blue Ridge Mountains, the point-to-point course is known as one of the toughest on the Beast Coast. Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday at the northern terminus of the Glenwood Horse Trail, the course is longer than 100k, coming in at a devilish 66.6 miles. The current weather forecast is calling for rather tame conditions compared to the 15th edition in 2018 dubbed Snow Gate by race director Dr. David Horton. 

Also on Saturday, in Lore City, Ohio, is the Bigfoot 50k—a three-loop course with rolling hills that runs entirely within the 17,229-acre Salt Fork State Park. Boasting approximately 4,000 feet of ascent and descent, the course is challenging but still runnable. Registration is still open, and you can sign up for the race here.

Heading south to Florida, we find the 42nd Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50/50 on Saturday. This old school ultra is a road race held at the beautiful Wakulla Springs State Park situated just 15 miles south of Tallahassee, Florida’s capital city. Both the 50k and 50-mile courses are on a USATF-certified paved 10k loop.

The aforementioned events aren’t the only races happening this weekend. There’s also the Deception Pass 50k in Oak Harbor, Washington, the Bell Ringer 50k in Burns, Tennessee, the Hunter S. Thompson Fear & Loathing 50/50 in San Francisco, California, the Dallas 50k in Texas, the Hitchcock Experience 50-mile/100k/100-mile in Honey Creek, Iowa, the Trail of Fears last person standing in Jackson, Tennessee, the Tucson 50k in Oro Valley, Arizona, and the Frozen Trail Run Fest 50k in Eugene, Oregon. 

What’s Up in Ultra in your neighborhood this weekend that we should know about? Drop a note in the comments below, let us know what we missed and what’s lighting your winter ultra fire. Check back on Sunday for results from these races and more in our Ultra Weekend Recap.