What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — May 27

The first three-day weekend before summer has arrived on our UltraRunning Calendar. Whether you’re celebrating the break from school by getting out of town for a race or staying closer to home, we’ve got you covered with the top events to check out around North America during this Memorial Day weekend. 

In Ancaster, Ontario, the Sulphur Springs 50k/50-mile/100k/100-mile races are on Saturday, May 27. The contests start at the Ancaster Community Center and weave through the beautiful trails of the Dundas Valley, one of southern Ontario’s most spectacular natural treasures. Highlights of the 1,200-hectare (2,965-acre) conservation area include lush forests, colorful meadows, stunning geological formations and a plethora of rare plants and wildlife. All distances will use the same 20k loop. On Sunday, May 28, there are two sub-ultra trail races to check out as well. There are only a handful of spots left in all of the ultra distances on Race Roster.

Also taking place in Canada, in Edmonton, Alberta, is the 20th Blackfoot Ultra 50k/50-mile/100k races also on Saturday. The courses follow a 25k loop passing through wetlands, pastures, forests and around several small lakes. “Death by 100 hills on the Prairies,” is the tagline for these deceptively challenging races. All of the events are sold out.

Belleville, Wisconsin, is where we find the Sugar Badger 50k/50-mile out-and-back races on very flat rails to trails. Each of the past two years have seen the front-runners post some of the swiftest times in the country, so we’d expect nothing less in 2023. If you’re looking for a race to hop into, registration is still open on URultra and there are plenty of spots.

The UltraRunning Calendar also has the Nanny Goat 6/12/24 and 100-mile races in Riverside, California, the Trail Festival at Pineland Farms 50k/50-mile and 24-hour races in New Gloucester, Maine, and the Bubbletown What The Duck Ultra 12-hour in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 27. On Sunday, May 28, check out the Sweat, Swat ‘n Swear 50k in Inverness, Florida, and the Rocky Mountain 50k Laramie, Wyoming. For Memorial Day on Monday, head over to Portland, Oregon, for the Stumptown Trail Runs 50k. 

Are you planning to attend one of these events or ultrarunning somewhere else fun this long holiday weekend? Drop a note below and keep us in the loop with What’s Up in Ultra in your community. Don’t miss Sunday’s Ultra Weekend Recap or forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter that arrives each Thursday.