Is January a good month for an Ultra?
January sits in the middle of the year for the Ultra, carrying 15 against 45 in October and 4 in August. Enough to choose from, and easier to get into than the races at the peak of the season.
Race calendar · January 2027
January 2027 Ultra Races in the United States
15 Ultra races across the US in January 2027, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
15 Ultra races in January 2027
What the field actually runs
January Ultra Races, By the Numbers
6:38:05Median finish time
4:14:46Median winning time
32Median field size
7January Ultra races with published results
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Sep 22, 2026.
When in January
The January Race Weekends
Ultra races do not spread evenly across January. The busiest weekend is January 9 and January 10, with 4 of them. Another 6 fall on a weekday.
By the numbers
The Biggest and Longest-Running
The January Ultra races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
January Ultra Races by State
January Ultra Races by City
Soonest Ultra Races in January
15 total Fri, Jan 1, 2027Badwater 267 VR Death Valley, CAFrom $93Details Fri, Jan 1, 2027Canyon of the Eagles New Year's Trail Challenge · 100K & 50K ULTRA, Marathon, 13.1M Run & Ruck, 10K, 5K Burnet, TXFrom $50Details Thu, Jan 7, 20272027 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend Kissimmee, FLFrom $125Details Thu, Jan 7, 20272027 WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon Weekend Orlando, FLFrom $75Details Fri, Jan 8, 2027Frosty Fifty Trail Races 5K Winston Salem, NCFrom $20Details Sat, Jan 9, 2027Frozen Sasquatch Trail 50k/25k Charleston, WVFrom $60Details Sat, Jan 9, 2027Avalon Benefit 50 Mile/50K Run Avalon, CAFrom $165Details Sat, Jan 9, 2027Memory Lane 30 Hour Endurance Run (Bell Lap) Anderson, SCFreeDetails Sat, Jan 9, 2027San Diego 50 & Trail Runs Escondido, CAFrom $15Details Sat, Jan 16, 2027RUN JEKYLL Jekyll Island, GAFrom $65Details Sun, Jan 17, 2027SPASM Crystal Springs Trail Run Woodside, CAFrom $60Details Mon, Jan 18, 2027White Continent 50k, Marathon & Half-Marathon Minneapolis, MNFrom $1000Details
Common Questions About Running a January Ultra
When in January are most Ultra races held?
The busiest weekend is January 9 and January 10, with 4 Ultra races on those two days, and the single busiest day is Saturday, January 9 with 4. Another 6 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
When should I sign up for a January Ultra?
As early as you can. 9 of these January Ultra races already have a price increase on the calendar, and 15 are open for entry right now.
How much does a January Ultra cost to enter?
The typical entry is $60, with paid entries running from $15 up to $1000, and 1 that are free to enter. Entry fees climb as race day gets closer, so the same race is usually cheapest the week it opens.
What is a good Ultra time?
Across the 7 of these January Ultra races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 6:38:05, and the median winning time was 4:14:46. So anything under 6:38:05 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
How big is a typical January Ultra field?
The median one finished 32 runners, across the 7 of these January Ultra races with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 8:40:37.
Are there trail Ultra races in January?
Yes, 6 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 6 are trail races. Surfaces are not always published, so it is worth checking a specific race before you register.
Ultra Races in Other Months
December and February sit either side of January, which is where most people look next when a date does not fit.