What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — January 11

We head into the second weekend of January with 22 great events featured on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. The race calendar is a great tool for mapping out your 2025 race schedule with the ability to search by location, distance, terrain, field size and more. You might just discover a hidden gem or two.

In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we hit the trails in Texas, North Carolina, California and Illinois. Let’s see what’s on deck.

Bandera

**Moved to Camp Eagle due to extensive rain**

We begin in Bandera, Texas, for the Bandera (100k and 50k). Taking place at Hill Country State Natural Area, runners will navigate a 50k loop course with roughly 3,300 feet of elevation gain and descent. The 100k runners will run the loop twice on Saturday, and 50k racers will tackle one loop on Sunday. Participants can expect rugged and rocky trails where “everything cuts, stings or bites,” short and steep hills and beautiful Texas Hill Country views, with amazing sunsets and sunrises and starry skies. Race perks include well-stocked aid stations, great race swag and finisher medals, and a post-race hub area to gather for food, drinks, games and good times. The 100k runners have 25 hours to complete their two loops however, they must finish under 17 hours to earn a 2025 Western States qualifying time.

HAROC (Hanging Rock Challenge)

**Rescheduled for January 25, 2025**

Our second stop takes us to Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, North Carolina, for the of HAROC (Hanging Rock Challenge) 50k. Featuring a diverse trail system, HAROC challenges runners with 5,500 feet of elevation gain over a mix of smooth and technical single-track trails that pass by boulders, cliffs, waterfalls and beautiful sweeping vistas. The 50k starts on Saturday at 8 a.m., and runners have 9.5 hours to complete the course for an official finish. For their efforts, runners will be rewarded with a custom finisher award, race shirt, post-race food and the satisfaction of conquering a difficult course in one of North Carolina’s most iconic parks. HAROC is hosted by Tanawha Adventures who aim to run, inspire and conserve, while sharing some of the state’s best trails.

Avalon Benefit

Heading west, we sail over to Catalina Island off the coast of California for the scenic Avalon Benefit (50-mile and 50k races). First run in 1981, Avalon Benefit is one of California’s oldest ultra trail events and provides participants with the unique opportunity to run across the length of the island, including through the Catalina’s interior which is often closed. The 50-milers will set off on Saturday at 5 a.m. and run an out-and-back course that begins in Avalon, traverses the island, and then turns around at Two Harbors. The 50k runners will start an hour later and use the first and last parts of the 50-mile course. Both events take place on mostly runnable fire roads and feature incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, pass by historical sites, and include a chance to see some of the resident bison on the island. Avalon Benefit is managed by the Avalon Lions Club and helps generate funds to support island charities and Avalon schools.

Wildcard: Frozen Gnome

In this week’s Wildcard race, where we feature an event you may not be familiar with, we travel to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the 15^th annual Frozen Gnome 50k. Taking place on what race directors describe as a very challenging “triple black diamond” course, runners will attempt to complete five 10k loops on beautiful single-track trails through the winter wonderland of Veteran Acres and Sterne’s Woods. Race highlights include “butt slide hill,” helpful and friendly volunteers, great race swag and hot food and drinks to stay warm along the way. The 50k runners begin at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday and have 8.5 hours to reach the finish line and earn their Frozen Gnome finisher medal.

Other events this weekend include: Bridle Trails Winter Trail Running Festival (Bellevue, WA), Lost in Miami Ultra (Miami, FL), No Hands (Auburn, CA), South Mountains Marathons (Connelly Springs, NC), St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra (Hinckley, MN), San Diego 50 and Trail Runs (Escondido, CA), Crystal Springs Trail Run (Woodside, CA), and Frozen Falcon (Falcon Lake, MB).

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!