Russ Evans
Longtime club member, Russ Evans, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, after a lengthy and valiant battle with cancer. For those who knew him, every run with Russ was a good one.
Read moreThe Virginia Happy Trails Running Club
Promoting trail running in the D.C. area for three decades.
Welcome to the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club
We are a fun group of trail runners of all abilities centered in northern Virginia. Many but not all of us run ultramarathons. Come play with us at our races and training runs!
Latest news
Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor — 1970-2024. Taken from us very unexpectedly and entirely too soon in the early morning hours of Monday October 7th. Two of his closest trail running friends, Kate Moga and Guy Towler, have drafted short remembrances of Tony, with some help from other friends.
Read more
Stan Duobinis
Stan Duobinis passed away on July 9. Stan and his wife, Margie Schlunt, were fixtures of the VHTRC from the earliest days of the club. They were avid participants of all club events and races — as runners, volunteers, and race directors.
Read moreUpcoming stuff
Here’s what we have coming up. See our calendar for a full list of our (and others’) events
The VHTRC was founded to put on races. We are mighty proud of our courses and hospitality.
Entry is open
Sat Apr 5
50.2 miles
Clifton, VA
Entry opens: Oct 1, 2024
A 50 mile trail run that parallels the Bull Run and the Occoquan River in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. The course traverses forested, rolling terrain during the height of Virginia’s spring beauty. The run’s unique character includes a Civil War theme that honors the battles that occurred here over 150 years ago. The 13 hour time limit makes Bull Run Run an excellent first 50 miler.
Entry is open
Sat May 17
100.6 miles
Fort Valley, VA
Entry opens: Oct 31, 2024
A challenging, rocky 100 miler on the trails of the Massanutten Mountains in the George Washington National Forest in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The course includes short but rugged mountain climbs with more than 18,000 feet of total ascent. There is a 36-hour cutoff.
Entry is open
Sat Sep 13
13.6 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Apr 1, 2025
A challenging yet chill race for women only … built for new trail runners and veterans alike.
Entry opens Jan 1
Sat Feb 28
50 km
Westminster, MD
Entry opens: Jan 1, 2026
31 miles of trails, old woods roads, open fields, and plenty of hills with a couple of stream crossings thrown in just for fun.
Events are open to the public and free to enter, but do require prior registration and many have entry limits.
Didn’t get in? Consider volunteering.
Entry is open
Sat Apr 19
25.9 miles
Luray, VA
Entry opens: Mar 17, 2025
A low-key, tough, night-time run on the southern section of the MMT course. Prior daytime experience on the MMT course is a prerequisite.
Entry is open
Sun May 4
8 miles
Fairfax Station, VA
Entry opens: Apr 1, 2025
A springtime training run for women only on Fountainhead’s infamous Do Loop trail
Entry opens Apr 11
Sun May 25
31.9 miles
McConnellsburg, PA
Entry opens: Apr 11, 2025
Entry closes: May 22, 2025
Stephanie Fonda hosts this holiday weekend event in south-central Pennsylvania’s Cowans Gap State Park. Very challenging course in a beautiful area, with a lakeside barbecue at the finish.
Low-key runs with no formal sign-up. Just show up and run.
Sun Apr 6
7-10 miles
Washington, DC
Explore the trails of Rock Creek Park on these low-key runs. We leave at 8:00 am from either Peirce Mill or Theodore Roosevelt Island and the runs are roughly 7–10 miles long.
Sat Jun 7
7 miles
Shenandoah National Park, VA
An introduction to trail running with emphasis on gear, in our local mountainous national park, Shenandoah National Park.
Fri Jul 4
23 miles
Washington, VA
Smooth, runnable loop up and over the Blue Ridge and back. Wear red, white, and blue.
Sat Jul 5
24.2 miles
Syria, VA
Also known as “Shenandoah’s National Park’s greatest hits,” this 24-mile loop’s highlights include White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, Stony Man, all connected by beautiful ridge running on the Appalachian Trail.
Sun Jul 6
15.5 miles
Washington, VA
A figure-eight loop on the trails in Shenandoah National Park, featuring an opening climb up Little Devil Stairs, a mid-run stop at Elkwallow, some excellent views from Hogback, and a long, bombing downhill finish. Also the shortest of the three Trifecta runs, but one that will still present a fair challenge for your running legs!
Sat Jul 12
9.9 miles
Quantico, VA
An introduction to trail running, with emphasis on trail navigation, in Prince William Forest Park.
Sat Aug 16
10.1 miles
Fort Valley, VA
An introduction to trail running with emphasis on nutrition, in the Massanutten Mountains.
Sat Sep 6
9.5 miles
A celebratory party in Shenandoah River State Park.
Fri Nov 28
25.3 miles
Nethers, VA
Often referred to as “Shenandoah’s National Park’s greatest hits,” this 25-mile loop’s highlights include White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, Stony Man, all connected by beautiful ridge running on the Appalachian Trail.
You can’t go trail running without trails.
This is our way of giving back.
Sat May 3
Edinburg, VA
Come join us in sprucing up the MMT course for this year’s race.
View our available SWAG More information
Featured run
Vicki’s Death March
Now that Shenandoah National Park is largely reopened, we can recommend Vicki’s Death March! Often referred to as “Shenandoah National Park’s greatest hits,” this 25-mile loop’s highlights include White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, Stony Man, all connected by beautiful ridge running on the Appalachian Trail. Just be sure to get an early start, as Old Rag is an especially popular trailhead… especially now.
On top of the world on Little Stony Man during the 2011 Vicki’s Death March.