Tough

Laying out the "toughest" trail races in the Northeast isn't intended to be a testosterone fest of who's tougher. In my experience, a mile race on the track, while flat and shorter in duration, is more painful than any ultra or mountain course I've run. I've drifted towards "tougher" races because they often entail mountainous and technical terrain which has fed my spirit, taken me

The Northeast Trail Running community has grown significantly over the past decade. Trail races can now often be found in many of the scenic gem areas of our region and filling the calendar. It's good to recognize who our trail event pioneers were, and continue to experience classic trail vibes as they run on. Additionally, I set their inaugural runnings in the context of top

Much of the mediasize and romance with trail running over the past decade + has circled around ultra. The press, the sponsorship dollars, where the bar is set for a sense of challenge and achievement. However, shorter distances don't require consumption of life in training and breakdown. The 25k distance is long enough to pace, but not long enough to have to fully bury yourself.

Much of the mediasize and romance with trail running over the past decade + has circled around ultra. The press, the sponsorship dollars, where the bar is set for a sense of challenge and achievement. However, shorter distances don't require consumption of life in training and breakdown. While 5 and 10 mile road races were an early rage in the US, you'll find more in

Although the Speedgoat's motto may be "100 miles is not that far", for nearly everyone else, it really is. Nearly all will experience significant mileage in the pain cave. Moments of doubt and darkness. Mental refrains where you question not just whether you're physically capable of going on (you're pretty certain you're not), but emotional anguish. When the glitz has faded, when you question what

Despite their being fewer options, some of the northeast's biggest cult classic trail races are over the 100 km distance. 100 km is long enough to take you into, and hopefully out of, the second waive of pain cave miles. Several in the lineup below start runners at night, and, in two in the dead of winter as an extra kick in the gut. But

Much of the mediasize and romance with trail running over the past decade + has circled around ultra. The press, the sponsorship dollars, where the bar is set for a sense of challenge and achievement. The 50 mile is often the next step after the 50k gateway drug experience. A distance where the mythical wall comes to back to remind you that you're not dead

Much of the mediasize and romance with trail running over the past decade + has circled around ultra. The press, the sponsorship dollars, where the bar is set for a sense of challenge and achievement. The 50k distance represents that gateway. It's long enough to reach the mythical wall and have nearly half your distance left to go. In the lineup of toughest rankings it

Much of the mediasize and romance with trail running over the past decade + has circled around ultra. The press, the sponsorship dollars, where the bar is set for a sense of challenge and achievement. Though it's the marathon that occupies and endurance milestone for many. In the mix below you'll find gems such as Trapp Mountain or CatsTail with prime foliage, mountain views in

Much of the mediasize and romance with trail running over the past decade + has circled around ultra. The press, the sponsorship dollars, where the bar is set for a sense of challenge and achievement. However, shorter distances don't require consumption of life in training and breakdown. In the lineup of Half'ish distance races below you'll find historic classics such as Pisgah, exposed mountain ridges