Rick O'Donnell Memorial 5.22 Mile & Ultra Challenge

Rick O'Donnell Memorial 5.22 Mile & Ultra Challenge is a trail event held in Boonsboro, Maryland, on October 11, 2026. It offers a 5 Miler (8 km) alongside two timed formats, a 4 hour Ultra Challenge and an 8 hour Ultra Challenge, in which you cover as many loops as possible before time runs out.

Memorial races tend to carry a strong community spirit, and the mix of formats here reflects that: the 5-mile distance lets anyone take part, while the 4-hour and 8-hour challenges give more experienced runners a way to go long without the pressure of a fixed distance. Four hours is a reasonable first taste of ultra-style running, where a marathon distance is within reach for a steady runner, and eight hours opens the door to 50K or 50 miles. Boonsboro lies at the foot of South Mountain, so expect real hills on the loop. Train with 12 to 16 weeks of progressive mileage, long runs of two to four hours that mix running and hiking, and practice fueling at each pass through the aid station. For the 5 Miler, eight weeks of consistent running with a few hill sessions will do.