Report

On Saturday, April 4, 2026, 193 runners toed the line at the 32nd Bull Run Run 50 Miler at Hemlock Overlook, VA. It proved to be a brutal day, with only 46% of starters reaching the finish.

Record-breaking heat defined the race. Temperatures at nearby Dulles Airport climbed to 87°F, setting a new high for the date and running roughly 25 degrees above normal, breaking the previous record of 85°F set in 2011. The unseasonable conditions took a heavy toll on the field from the earliest miles.

At the same time, there was beauty in it. Despite the heat and a modified course necessitated by holiday weekend crowds on the Bluebell Loop, the bluebells bloomed in force along the trail.

Hard-earned wins…
After leading the race for the entire day, Gabriel Loader took the overall win in 7:44:10. Matthew Wilson and Randolph Shingler took 2nd and 3rd in 8:00:00 and 8:20:38, respectively.

Justyna Wilson clutched her second consecutive win in 8:39:16, followed by Nora Jodrey in 8:58:28 and Jenna Chandler in 9:52:19.

…and repeat performances
Bull Run Run has always been a race that runners come back to year after year — and the 2026 edition offered some remarkable milestones worth celebrating.

Gaynor Bourgeois completed her 20th Bull Run Run 50 Miler this year, placing her among the all-time finish leaders in race history. If you want advice on how to conquer this course — year in, year out — Gaynor is the person to ask.

Steve Anderson marked his 10th finish in especially memorable fashion, celebrating his 65th birthday on race day. There may be no better way to mark the occasion.

Beth Kohl also crossed the line for her 10th finish, joining a small and elite group of runners who have returned to Hemlock Overlook a decade or more.

We love seeing familiar faces on the course. These runners are the backbone of Bull Run Run — their dedication, their stories, and their continued passion for this trail are what make this race feel like a homecoming every single year.

The best support around
If the runners are the heart of Bull Run Run, the volunteers are its soul. More than 125 volunteers showed up this year, and they showed up in a big way.

The 2026 event asked a lot of them. A last-minute course modification required quick communication and flexibility, and record-setting temperatures demanded that every aid station be stocked, staffed, and ready to care for runners who were pushing through conditions neither they nor we had wished for. Our volunteers delivered — with ice, encouragement, and genuine care for every single person on the course.

Volunteer efforts began on Friday, April 3, with course marking and early check-in. On race day itself, volunteers supported many posts, including parking, runner check-in, aid stations, the finish line, timing operations, and the beloved post-race spread at Furbutt Café. And on Sunday — long after the last runner had finished — volunteers gathered again to organize race gear in our storage unit, quietly preparing us for next year.

A special shoutout to our hosts
We are beyond grateful for the continued generosity of Horizons at Hemlock Overlook. Their support of this event — from pre-race logistics to day-of operations — is foundational to what Bull Run Run is able to offer its runners. Their facility and team make us feel genuinely welcome every year.

We also extend our sincere thanks to NOVA Parks, which impeccably maintains the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail year-round. The trail’s beauty — the serenity, the bluebells, the sense of awe that comes from running through it — is something runners experience directly because of NOVA Parks’ ongoing dedication. We are grateful for their unwavering support of this race.

A fresh new look
The 2026 Bull Run Run introduced a refreshed logo, designed by our talented in-house designer, Sara Davidson. The new design honors tradition by retaining the iconic cannon wheel of years past while bringing in a new focal point: the bluebell, the flower that has come to define the race’s identity and the spring season.

Thank you to our runners, our volunteers, our hosts, our partners, and the entire Virginia Happy Trails Running Club community. We’ll see you on the trail.

Photos

• Official race photos from Josh Glazer
• Kirk Masterson's photos from throughout the course
• Finish line photos (from the RD)
• On course photos (from Peter Flint)

Photos from our official photographer, Josh Glazer, and from Kirk Masterson, will be available soon!