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The second weekend of 2026 includes 20 North American ultramarathons on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we highlight events in California, Texas, Illinois and Manitoba, Canada. If you’re a race director and would like your event to be featured in the calendar, register here.
Featured: Avalon Benefit 50 (Avalon, CA)
The 43rd running of the Avalon Benefit 50 takes place Saturday, January 10, 2026, on California’s stunning Catalina Island. The popular 50-mile and 50k ultramarathons begin and end in the town of Avalon and send runners along rolling fire roads for a scenic tour of the island, complete with Pacific Ocean views, dramatic coastline and the chance to spot one of Catalina’s resident bison. The 50-mile runners will set off at 5 a.m. and have 12 hours to complete an out-and-back course that traverses the entire length of the island (turning around at Two Harbors). The 50k participants start at 6 a.m. and have 11 hours to navigate a similar course that uses the first and last sections of the 50-mile route. Race proceeds help benefit island charities and local Avalon schools. Read more about the race here.
Other West Events:
Pacific
- San Diego 50 and Trail Runs (Escondido, CA)
- No Hands (Auburn, CA)
- Double Double Double 50K (Placerville, CA)
- BIRR Hilo to Volcano (Hilo, HI)
- Perpetua FatAss (Yachats, OR)
- Bridle Trails Winter Trail Running Festival (Bellevue, WA)
- Pullman Winter Ultras – Jan (Pullman, WA)
Mountain
- No other events
Featured: Frozen Gnome (Crystal Lake, IL)
The 16th annual Frozen Gnome 50k will be held this weekend in Crystal Lake, Illinois. A true winter ultra, participants will battle snowy trails and likely frigid conditions as they attempt to complete five 10k loops on hilly singletrack trails through Veteran Acres and Sterne’s Woods, totaling more than 4,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain. Known for its fun and festive vibe, race highlights include the infamous “Butt Slide” hill, the Gnome Depot aid station at the start/finish of each loop serving hot drinks, soup and homemade treats, great race swag and finisher medals, and delicious chili at the finish. The race begins at 7:15 a.m., and runners have until 4:15 p.m. to complete all five loops. Check out a video from the 2023 race here.
Other Midwest events:
- Winter Challenge Cross Country (Chicago, IL)
- St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra (Hinckley, MN)
- Rocks and Roots Trail Series #1 (Alum Creek State Park, OH)
Featured: Bandera (Bandera, TX)
The 24th annual Bandera (100k and 50k) returns to Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera, Texas, this weekend, bringing together one of the more competitive fields of the early ultrarunning season. The 100k race begins Saturday and challenges runners to complete two laps of the rugged 50k course within 25 hours, with sub-18-hour finishers earning a lottery qualifier for the 2027 Western States Endurance Run. Each lap features around 3,300 feet of elevation gain and loss with plenty of short and steep hills and enough rocky terrain to keep runners on their toes. The 50k (competitive division) event gets Sunday underway, with runners having 11 hours to complete a single lap. Race highlights include scenic Texas Hill Country trails, great swag and support from Band of Runners aid station volunteers, and an organization that helps “support veterans and surviving family members through training for running races, trail camp and community events throughout the year.” Read more about the race here and shoutout to my friends from back in Ohio making the trek to take on Bandera this weekend.
Other South Events:
Southwest
- San Tan Scramble (Queen Creek, AZ)
Southeast
- Lost in Miami Ultra (Miami, FL)
- Frosty Cox 6 Hour Trail Race (Concord, NC)
- Frozen: H3 (Bethera, SC)
- Bell Lap/Broke Back 30 Hour Endurance Run (Greenville, SC)
- Frozen Sasquatch Trail Race (Charleston, WV)
No events this weekend.
Featured: Frozen Falcon (Falcon Lake, MB)
Established in 2018, the Frozen Falcon is a fixed-time winter endurance run held on the snowy trails of Falcon Trails Resort in Falcon Lake, Manitoba, located within the beautiful Whiteshell Provincial Park, 120 kilometers east of Winnipeg. Participants have 8 hours to push their limits by running as many loops as possible on the 6.5k groomed High Lake winter multi-use trail. Runners who complete eight loops (50k) earn a Frozen Falcon 50k finisher toque (knitted cap), while veteran runners who reach 40 cumulative loops receive a special award. After each loop, participants can warm up and refuel with hot soup and snacks at the main aid station hosted inside a yurt. Read more about the race here.
Email corys@ultrarunning with questions about adding your event to the UltraRunning Magazine calendar.