Arc of Attrition, Arches, and Alabama are at the top this weekend. It’s still early in the trail running year, but let’s catch up on some more January results.
Let us know in the comments what else was happening.
Arc of Attrition by UTMB – Cornwall, U.K.
The event dates back to 2015, but this was its first year in the UTMB World Series. The races were on coastal but muddy trails on England’s far southwestern tip.
Arc 100 Mile
The long course stats put it just six-tenths of a mile short of 100 miles, and with nearly 14,000 feet of climbing. The field had 515 starters and the race name stuck, nearly half the field dropped before the finish. At the end though, it was Noor Van Der Veen (The Netherlands) and Lewis Ryan (U.K.) in first in 22:30 and 19:22. Van Der Veen got to seventh overall among the 261 finishers.
Arc 50 Mile
Eleanor Davis and Tom Evans won the 50-mile race for the home country in 7:55 and 6:54, respectively. Both marks were new course records.
Last year’s winner Poppy Collingwood (U.K.) finished in 9:21 for second and only third-place Amanda Basham (U.S.) prevented a British sweep. Basham ran 9:42.
Hugh Chatfield and Keith Wigley, both from the U.K. too, were second and third man in 7:01 and 7:13.
Arc 25 Mile
Sara Alonso (Spain) and Kristian Jones (U.K.) were best over 25 miles with 3:04 and 2:41 winning times.
Mountain Mist 50k – Huntsville, Alabama
It was the race’s 31st year adventuring through Monte Sano State Park.
Luci Searels led the women in 5:32. Rachel Biber-Brewer ran 5:35 for a really close second, and three-time U.S. 1,500-meter Olympian Jenny Simpson was third in 5:43.
Simpson raved about the race on social media afterward, “This race is unhinged … I hands-and-feet climbed UP A WATERFALL, crawled through a cave, hopped a fence, and ran until my legs felt like my quads were detaching from my femurs. I have never, in my life, said so many times, ‘what the actual f*ck is happening right now!'”
Luci Searels, the 2025 Mountain Mist 50k female winner. Photo: Mountain Mist 50k
No man approached a sub-four-hour mark to get close to the all-time chart, but James Outland led the group in 4:28, Max Simpson — son of legendary ultrarunner Billy Simpson — came next in 4:35, and Brandon Sullivan got on the podium third in 4:38.
James Outland, the 2025 Mountain Mist 50k men’s winner. Photo: Mountain Mist 50k
Additional Races and Runs
Oman Desert Marathon – Oman
The five-day stage race totaled 165k, or 102 miles. Aziza Raji (Morocco) gained the women’s crown in 22:39, and men’s winner Mohamed El Morabity (Morocco) beat out brother Rachid El Morabity (Morocco) with 15:44 and 15:56 marks. It was Mohamed’s third win here. Full results.
Fort Ord 50k – Monterey, California
Race winners were Mathilde Giroud and Owen Firebaugh in 5:15 and 4:19. Full results.
Mathilde Giroud celebrates winning the 2025 Fort Ord 50k. Photo: Jesse Ellis/Let’s Wander Photography
Owen Firebaugh, the 2025 Fort Ord 50k men’s winner. Photo: Jesse Ellis/Let’s Wander Photography
La Cuesta Ranch 50k – San Luis Obispo, California
A small field followed Nicole Rice and Travis Madden and their 7:23 and 6:24 finish times. Full results.
Wilson Creek Frozen 50k – Melba, Idaho
Ellyse Tingelstad and Cole Campbell were champs with 5:07 and 3:56 on the clock. Campbell is racing the Black Canyon 100k in two weeks. Full results.
Arches Ultra – Moab, Utah
Casey Brady took the women’s 50-mile crown in 8:55, and Devin Pancake was nearly an hour better than the second-best man in 6:24. Anna Fisher and Tyler Green won the 50k in 4:23 and 3:39. Full results.
Chehaw Challenge – Leesburg, Georgia
The event was held at its namesake park in southwest Georgia with several distances raced. A small group of 50k runners was led by Melissa Jerry and Beau Camp in 6:30 and 5:35. Full results.
Snow Bird Challenge 50k – Seneca, South Carolina
Kaitlyn Martin went sub-four hours for the women’s win in 3:56, and Luis Fuentes led the men in 3:20. Full results.
Monroe Cross Trail – DeBary, Florida
It was the race’s fourth year, all on point-to-point courses. Jordyn Osterland and Arron Ocheltree were victorious over 50 miles in 9:08 and 8:18, and Rachel Alexander and Peter Christopher were tops in the 50k in 5:27 and 3:52. Full results.
Call for Comments
Anything else catch your eye?
