What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — March 14, 2026

The weekend before St. Patrick’s Day has 45 North American ultramarathons on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we feature events in California, Missouri, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and British Columbia, Canada. If you’re a race director and would like your event to be featured in the calendar, register here.

Featured: Marin Ultra Challenge (Sausalito, CA)

The 13th edition of the Marin Ultra Challenge takes place this weekend in Sausalito, California. The 50-mile and 50k races begin at Rodeo Beach and take runners on a tour of some of Marin County’s most scenic trail systems, including the Marin Headlands, Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods. Along the way, runners will enjoy epic single track, exposed fire roads with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and technical sections beneath towering redwood canopies.

The 50-mile competitors will tackle a course with just under 11,000 feet of elevation gain, while 50k runners will navigate about 6,000 feet of climbing and descending. This year’s male and female podium finishers will share a $3,500 prize purse. Check out the 2025 race video here.

Other West Events:

Pacific

• Tanana River Challenge (Fairbanks, AK)
• Folsom Lake South Side Trail Run (Folsom, CA)
• Old West Trail Runs (Julian, CA)
• Santa Barbara Nine Trails (Santa Barbara, CA)
• Ruck A Chuck 50k (Foresthill, CA)
• Frosty Moss Relay and 50K (Port Angeles, WA)
• Little Backyard Adventure (Olympia, WA)
• Jill’s Twelve Hour Run, Marathon & Half Marathon (Lynnwood, WA)

Mountain

• The Drift 100 (Pinedale, WY)

Featured: Howard Aslinger 12/24-Hour Endurance Run (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)

The Howard Aslinger Endurance Run benefits the Howard L. Aslinger Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which helps individuals with disabilities further their education. Established in 2010, the run features 12-hour (day and night) and 24-hour fixed-time events that take place March 13–14 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Participants run on a paved, USATF-certified loop course around Arena Park as many times as possible within their allotted time.

On course, runners have access to a fully stocked aid station, with a post-race meal and entertainment following the race to celebrate runners and scholarship recipients. Donations to the Howard L. Aslinger Memorial Scholarship can be made here.

Other West Events:

• Tombstone 30k/50k/50 mile (Valparaiso, IN)
• Shamrock Shuffle (Haysville, KS)
• Miola Madness – Spring Into Daylight Savings (Paola, KS)
• Three Creeks Torrent Trail Runs (Columbia, MO)
• Buzzard Day Trail Race (Hinkley, OH)

Featured: The Pistol Ultra (Alcoa, TN)

The 13th annual Pistol Ultra kicks off this weekend in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains just outside Knoxville, Tennessee, with multiple race options, including four ultramarathon distances: 50k, 50 miles, 100k and 100 miles.

The 50k and 100k runners will complete multiple laps on a 10.35-mile USATF-certified loop course, while 50-milers and 100-milers will navigate a slightly shorter USATF-certified 10-mile loop. Both courses feature gently rolling hills, well-maintained paths, fully stocked aid stations and scenic views of surrounding ponds and Pistol Creek. This year’s 50k race will serve as the 2026 RRCA Tennessee Ultra Championship. Check out the official Pistol Ultra website.

Other South Events:

Southwest

• Mesquite Canyon (Waddell, AZ)
• Chili Pepper Series (Las Cruces, NM)
• Gomez Grind (Silver City, NM)
• Snake Run (Tulsa, OK)
• The Green Ultra at Millican (College Station, TX)
• 12 Hours Border Run (Laredo, TX)

Southeast

• THUNDER KISS 100M/100K and 20 Miler (Sterrett, AL)
• Natural State Backyard Ultra (North Little Rock, AR)
• GR-8H Trail Race (Flagler Beach, FL)
• Two Prairies Ultra (Fort McCoy, FL)
• Gulf Coast Conservation Trailfest (Panama City Beach, FL)
• Miccosukee Glades Runner (Miami, FL)
• The Cove (Chickamauga, GA)
• Land between the Lakes (Grand Rivers, KY)
• Warbird 100 (Hyden, KY)
• The Next Loop Endurance Series – Shreveport, LA (Keithville, LA)
• The Next Loop: 50-Mile Challenge, Louisiana (Keithville, LA)
• The Next Loop: Endurance Series – Louisiana (Keithville, LA)
• Death by 10K (Brandon) (Brandon, MS)
• Llama Experience Ultra (Lake Toxaway, NC)
• Run Stubborn 25K and 50K (Fayetteville, NC)
• Peyton’s Wild and Wacky Ultra 10x5K (Mount Pleasant, SC)
• Viper 300 (Memphis, TN)
• Bel Monte (Waynesboro, VA)
• Elizabeth’s Furnace (Fort Valley, VA)

Featured: Blazing Saddles (Hanover, PA)

Blazing Saddles returns to southern York County, Pennsylvania, for its third edition and the first to include a 50k distance. Hosted by the York Road Runners Club and the York Ridge Runners, the race takes place at Codorus State Park, where runners will gather for a “rootin’-tootin’ trail showdown.”

The 50k participants will set off at 8 a.m. and have 9 hours to complete four loops on rolling single-track and horse trails, with shiny prizes awarded to the top three female and male finishers. Race proceeds help support a local animal rescue. Read more about Blazing Saddles here.

Other Northeast Events:

• Shamrock Shenanigans Ultra (Douglassville, PA)
• F.I.T. ‘Rock Trail Race (Cumberland, RI)

Featured: Fat Dog Backyard Ultra (Abbotsford, BC)

The sold-out Fat Dog Backyard Ultra is a traditional last person standing event held at Abbotsford Exhibition Park in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Runners will set off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, and complete as many 6.7056-kilometer (4.167-mile) loops as possible every hour on the hour until only one competitor remains.

On course, runners can expect a mix of pavement, hard-packed gravel and dirt surfaces, with no running on roads. All participants are eligible to earn a spot on the at-large list for the Canadian National Backyard Ultra and a chance to compete at Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra World Championships in October. Check out the Fat Dog Backyard Ultra race website.

Other Events in Canada & Mexico:

• Ultramaraton Baja Trail (Tijuana, MX)

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