This was the 2nd 50k I’ve run and it was back in 2013 in Williamsburg, VA (note - 2013 the race was in May, I think it's in April now). This is a small ultra marathon with a fairly small field of runners but is wonderfully supported and organized. It started at a middle school which was open (indoor bathrooms!) beforehand and then quickly routed runners into the woods (less than a mile). The run is in Freedom Park and features a lot of hills, roots, bridges, creeks, wildlife, and solitude! I took one hard fall and several near-misses during the race. As I recall, there are several different loops and trails that make up the course (D trail is the most technical and difficult, that I remember!!) so it does change up every so often – nothing gets old! There is great support with well-stocked aid stations and enthusiastic volunteers, and you can have a drop bag ready as well.

I finished as the second overall female and won a cool ceramic clock shaped like a running shoe (it’s on my wall of fame) and all finishers receive a cool ceramic medal as well. The t-shirt was cotton but it’s one of my favorites (fitted, not baggy). I haven’t been focusing on ultras since I started running the 50 states, but I really liked this event (we lucked out with cooler weather in 2013, I think 2014 was warm and humid!). Enjoy the snacks at the finish line then go to Williamsburg and enjoy pancakes at one of the many breakfast joints in town!

Garden Spot Village Marathon is in beautiful rolling hills in Amish country. It's not a huge event, but very well done. The weather in 2013 was beautiful (blue skies, cool temperatures) but windy, combined with a pretty hilly route, so I wouldn't call it a fast course. It is scenic if you like country views, farmers, cattle, horses and buggies, and farmhouses. If you want big crowds and tons of support, it's not a good choice. Personally, though, I liked it a lot, and really enjoyed the "valley of no wires"...not a power line within view! The medal was nice, and the shirt decent. I stayed at a B&B that had a runners' breakfast and was walkable to the expo and pasta dinner, as well as the start/finish. It's been a few years since I ran it, but I'd recommend it, and I'd also suggest running the other race they put on, a half marathon called Bird in Hand Half (the medal is a horseshoe, very cool). If you do both in the same year, you get the Road Apple Award, which is just pure awesomeness.

This is a local race for me, about 25 miles from home. I ran it in 2013 when it was a relatively young race, mostly because it was close to home and benefited the Fisher House. It's a small marathon that takes place in Pocahontas State Park and features a very pretty course through the woods on a well-maintained trail. It's moderately challenging in that there are hills, but it's not very technical. It was well marked and well supported. I don't run a ton of trail races but I enjoyed this one a lot! The t-shirt was nice (navy blue with the logo) and the medal was decent as well. Again, it's a small race so logistically, it's very smooth and simple to get your packet, get to the start, park, run, and leave at the end. I highly recommend it if you like trail runs, smaller marathons, or are just bored and want to run something new.

The ICY-8 Hour event is put on by Athletic Equation. It stayed true to its name and was indeed about 14 degrees for the majority of the run, with snow falling by the end. The run is a timed 8 hour event but you can run as much as you want. I ended up running not quite 33 miles and chose to stop with a little time left so that my digits could thaw out.

You run the trails at Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania, VA. It is about 90% trail, actual trail as opposed to fire roads. There are two loops that you can run, a little less than 5 miles or about 8 miles with a big hill. The cool thing is that after the first lap, you can run whatever combination you want – short or long, forward or backward. After each loop you tell the timer if you ran the short loop or the long loop, stop at the tent for some chow, and get back out there. Note to self – count on your camelbak freezing if it’s as cold as it was in 2013!

This race is small and very personal. I ran with two friends and we all found the people to be super friendly and supportive. The shirt was fun and if it’s your first 50k/ultra, they give you a cool little plaque to commemorate it. Experienced finishers also got a pint glass (they accidentally gave me one too and when I tried to return it, they let me keep it). All in all, it’s a great race that’s well supported and gives you a lot of flexibility. I’d recommend it, especially if considering your first ultra.