Recover from the Holidays 50K

Recover from the Holidays 50K is held in Huntsville, Alabama, on December 31, 2026. Organized by the Huntsville Track Club, the event offers one format: a 50K (31 miles) trail run that starts at 7:00 a.m. on New Year's Eve. The single-distance setup keeps things simple, and the New Year's Eve date makes it a natural bookend to a season of holiday eating and easy running.

A 50K is the classic entry point into ultrarunning, and a late-December trail race gives you a concrete goal to carry through the fall. If you already run half marathons or marathons, a 12- to 16-week build that stretches your long run to about 20 miles on trails, with some hiking on climbs, is enough to finish comfortably. Practice eating on the move and running on uneven ground, and plan to take the early miles conservatively so you have something left for the final third. It also suits experienced ultrarunners looking for a relaxed season closer rather than a goal race.