If your ideal race includes power-hiking up steep terrain, deftly dodging roots and rocks, and galloping down gravelly descents, you’ve got a lot to look forward to in 2021.
With numerous road and trail running events being called off because of the coronavirus pandemic for most of 2020, runners have been left itching for competition and longing for the feeling of community that is so present on race day. But with a new year comes new possibilities, and race directors have been busy setting dates for trail runs in the months ahead.
The return to racing might look a little different in many of these events—nixed prerace dinners, social distancing at the starting line, minimal or no aid stations—but for those eager to get back at it, the safety precautions are well worth it.
So runners, mark your calendars for these exciting races in the coming year, and start San Tan Scramble!
January | February | March | April | May
June | July | August | September | October
January
January 1:
Just Survive 125
Hobe Sound, Florida
200K
January 1:
Clikapudi Trail Runs
Redding, California
Moab Red Hot 55K/33K
January 2:
San Tan Scramble
Queen Creek, Arizona
50Other Hearst Subscriptions
January 9:
Pikes Peak Marathon
Charleston, West Virginia
January 9:
Avalon Benefit 50-Mile/50K Run
Avalon, California
January 9-10:
Bandera Endurance Trail Run
Bandera, Texas
100K, 50K, 25K
January 16:
San Diego 50
Escondido, CA
50-miler & marathon
January 17:
Big Bend Ultra (Virtual)
Rio Grande Village, Texas
50-Advertisement - Continue Reading Below, 20K, 10K
January 23:
Mountain Mist 50K
Huntsville, Alabama
January 30:
Arches Ultra
Moab, Utah
50-Three Sisters Skyline
February
February 6-7:
Rocky Racoon 100 Endurance Trail Run
Huntsville, Texas
100-miler & 100K
February 13:
Black Canyon Ultras
Spring Valley, Arizona
100K & 60K
February 13:
Lake Tahoe, California
Huntsville, Texas
50-miler, 50K, Half Marathon
February 13:
Holiday Lake 25K & 50K
Appomattox, Virginia
February 13:
Give A Gift
Moab, Utah
February 13:
Algonquin 50K
Pocomoke City, Maryland
February 27:
Red Dirt Ultra
Provencal, Lousiana
100-miler, 100K, 50K
February 27:
Border to Badlands Ultra
Comstock, Texas
50-miler, 50K, Marathon, Moab Red Hot 55K/33K
Stay Hydrated on the Trail With These Electrolytes
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Bridgeport Trail Run
March
March TBD:
These Are the Worlds Fastest Marathoners
Catalina Island, California
Great for long runs and rides
March TBD:
Antelope Canyon Ultras
Page, Arizona
100-miler, 50-miler, 55The Spring Marathons of 2025
March 13:
Sean O’Brien 100K/50-Miler
Malibu, California
March 20:
September 4-5: Labor Day Weekend
Saint Helena, California
March 27:
Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
Saint Helena, California
April
April 10:
Romancing the Island Half Marathon & 10K
Tiburon, California
April 10:
Zion 50K
Virgin, Utah
April 16-18:
Desert RATS Trail Running Festival
Fruita, Colorado
50K, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K
April 24:
FlatRock 101
Independence, KS
101K, 50K, 25K
May
May TBD:
7 miler, 50K, 30K
Amherst, Massachusetts
12-mile
May 15:
Massanutten Mountain Trails 100-Mile Race
Fort Valley, Virginia
May 15:
Galena Sky Trail Race
Galena, Illinois
8-hour and 4-hour timed loop course
In this timed race, a chip keeps track of how many miles each participant runs, with awards given to those with the most mileage.
May 21-23:
James River Scramble
Richmond, Virginia
10K
May 29-31:
Stumptown Trail Runs
Portland, Oregon
50K and Half Marathon
June
June 6:
Steamboat Marathon
Steamboat, Colorado
Also includes: Half Marathon & 10K
June 5:
Golden Gate Dirty 30
Black Hawk, Colorado
50K
June 12:
Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run
Provo, Utah
June 13:
The Dipsea Race
Saint Helena, California
7.4-mile
June 26:
Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run
Voorheesville, New York
July
July TBD:
Half-Wit Half Marathon
Reading, Pennsylvania
July TBD:
Crow Pass Crossing
Girdwood, Alaska
22.5-miler
July 4:
Mount Marathon Race
Seward, Alaska
5K
July 10:
Beaverhead Endurance Runs
Salmon, Idaho
100K & 55K
July 18:
Barr Trail Mountain Race
Manitou Springs, Colorado
12.6-miler
July 19:
Badwater 135
Badwater Basin, California
135-miler
July 24:
Speedgoat 50K & 28K
K, 50K, 25K
July 31:
Canadian Death Race
Grande Cache, Canada
125K, 48K
August
August TBD:
Golden Gate Dirty 30
Bozeman, Montano
19.9-miler
August TBD:
Skratch Labs Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix 20 Count
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
50K & 16-miler
August TBD:
Eagle Creek Trail Marathon
Indianapolis, Indiana
August 2-7:
Under Armour TransRockies Run
Buena Vista, Colorado
120 miles in 6 days
August 7:
Emerald Bay Trail Run
Silverton, Colorado
100K & 60K
August 22:
Nuun Nuun Hydration Sport 10 Count
Manitou Springs, Colorado
September
September TBD:
Run Rabbit Run
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
100-miler, 50-miler
September 4:
Grand Traverse Mountain Run
Crested Butte, Colorado
40-miler
September 4-5: (Labor Day Weekend)
Jay Peak Trail Races
Jay Peak, Vermont
53.1K, 22-miler, 11-miler, 5K
September 11:
Imogene Pass Run
Ouray, Colorado
17.1-miler
September 11:
Emerald Bay Trail Run
Lake Tahoe, California
7-miler
September 12:
Jones Gap Trail Run
Marietta, South Carolina
9-miler
September 24-25:
Also includes: 100K
Logan, Utah
100-miler
October
October TBD:
Rock Creek Stump Jump
Chattanooga, Tennessee
50K, 10-miler
October 3:
How to Watch the NCAA XC Championships
Sisters, Oregon
50The Spring Marathons of 2025
October 23-24:
Uwharrie 100 Mile Trail Run
Mt. Gilead, North Carolina
Also includes: 100K
October 31:
Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon and Squirrelly Six Mile
Voorheesville, New York
November
November TBD:
Moab Trail Marathon
Moab, Utah
Also includes: Half Marathon & 5K
November TBD:
miler, 50-miler, 55The Spring Marathons of 2025
Steelville, Missouri
November TBD:
Your 2021 Trail Race Calendar
Moab, Utah
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December
December TBD:
Huff 50K Trail Run and Relay
Albion, Indiana
December TBD:
Bridgeport Trail Run
Bridgeport, Texas
54K, Marathon, 18K, 10K
Paige Triola is a freelance writer based in Boulder, Colorado, who covers a range of topics in the athletic and outdoor recreation sphere. She spends much of her time cruising the trails on foot or by bike, testing out the newest gear designed for playing outside. Paige has written articles and product roundups for a variety of publications including Runner’s World, Bicycling Magazine, Gear Junkie, and Trail Runner Magazine.
