I have always maintained a soft spot in my heart for long-standing footraces that have been a part of the racing calendar for decades.
Of course, as a born-and-raised New Englander, at the top of that list is the Boston Marathon, which started 130 years ago. There are also the iconic Falmouth Road Race and Mount Washington Road Race, both of which have been in existence for over half a century. And, along with them, hidden in a little nook on the North Shore of Massachusetts, is the Yankee Homecoming 10 Mile, which will be celebrating its 66th running this July.
A group running together during the long-standing Mountain Washington Road Race. Photo: Joe Viger
The Yankee Homecoming, held on the last Tuesday night in July, is not just a race; it’s a community festival. For over six decades, the small fishing village of Newburyport, Massachusetts, has hosted this annual gathering, which brings folks back together from far and wide in an idyllic New England town to celebrate the past, plan for the future, and, at 6:10 p.m., attempt to run 10 miles as fast as they can.
I was fortunate enough to run the Yankee Homecoming a few times in the 1990s when I first came of age as a runner, and I was struck by the outpouring of community support for runners, as well as the feeling of belonging that appeared to be felt by everybody, runners and townspeople alike. It felt like everyone was sharing in this special event that truly felt like a homecoming.
Ultrarunning Homecomings
Homecomings, by their nature, are designed to bring people back together, typically in a place where they have some history, and after some time away. The best homecomings do this in a way that brings everyone back, no matter how long they’ve been gone, to a place that just feels right.
In my 35-plus years of trail running and ultrarunning, I have been privileged to enjoy four — and write about two — indelibly memorable spring races that exemplify the homecoming vibe for me. One of them, which was just this past weekend, was new to me, but I immediately felt like I was coming home.
Homecoming Races
The Way Too Cool 50k has marked the start of the Northern California spring ultrarunning season since 1990. Originally known as the Cool Canyon Crawl, the Way Too Cool is a fast 50-kilometer race held each year on the first weekend of March and run on several miles of the iconic Western States 100 course.
Frog parking only at the 2025 Way Too Cool 50k. Photo: Joel Corcoran
Back in the early 1980s, Arizona ultrarunner Bruce Wise and a couple of his buddies needed a long training run in their build-up to the Western States 100. After poring over maps of the area north of Phoenix, Arizona, they designed a course from the shores of Lake Pleasant to the small mining town of Crown King, high in the Bradshaw Mountains. The concept of the Crown King Scramble 50k was born, and the first official event was held in 1987. Now, more than 300 runners join the fun at the end of March each year to celebrate the beginning of the spring racing season.
The Crown King Scramble is known for its desert charm and old-school feel. Photo: Aravaipa Running
David Horton and Virginia trail running have been synonymous for over 40 years. In 2001, Horton, along with several of his friends from Lynchburg, Virginia, decided to stage the Promise Land 50k, starting and finishing at the Promise Land Youth Camp in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This late-April race, now 25 years old, has seen some of the country’s best runners come to test themselves, as well as provided locals with an annual fitness check heading into the summer racing season.
David Horton in front of the Hardrock 100 finish line rock in 2012. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
In 1995, Clem LaCava and Sander Nelson had the idea to launch a trail race at the McDonald Research Forest, a few miles north of Corvallis, Oregon, as a fundraiser for the local high school’s cross-country team. From their humble first race in 1996, the McDonald Forest 50k has become a staple on the U.S. Pacific Northwest ultrarunning calendar, and this year’s running featured six people who’d completed the race more than 20 times: Karen King (29), Jamshid Khajavi (29), Randall Law (26) and Kathie Lang (22), Jason Hawthorne (21), and Liz Kellogg (20). They ran alongside about 300 others — including myself — looking to test themselves on the rugged terrain of McDonald Forest.
Talk about a homecoming!
AJW training for the McDonald Forest 50k. Photo courtesy of Andy Jones-Wilkins.
I guess, in the end, it’s really true, home is where the heart is!
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Deluxe Brewing in Albany, Oregon. Wild Beaver Amber Ale is a delectably sweet amber ale brewed with local hops and featuring a deep malt edge. Eminently drinkable and reminiscent of classics such as Newcastle Brown, Wild Beaver is a keeper!
Call for Comments
- Do you have a race that feels like a homecoming?
- What draws you back to the same races repeatedly?
