The Grindstone Running Festival by UTMB takes place in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, sending runners deep into the George Washington National Forest. With relentless Appalachian climbs, rocky ridge trails and remote mountain terrain, this is East Coast ultrarunning at its most demanding.
In the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, the Grindstone Running Festival by UTMB offers a raw Appalachian mountain experience. The course launches from Natural Chimneys Park into the George Washington National Forest, traversing rocky ridgelines, dense hardwood forests and remote mountain hollows where the only sounds are your own footsteps and the wind through the trees.
The Appalachian terrain is deceptively tough. What the mountains lack in altitude they make up for in relentless, steep climbs on rocky, root covered trails. The footing is technical throughout, and the cumulative vertical gain is punishing. Runners who underestimate these mountains quickly learn that East Coast ultrarunning has a character all its own.
As part of the UTMB World Series, Grindstone brings international caliber racing to a landscape cherished by the American trail running community. The forested beauty of the Blue Ridge, the warmth of Virginia hospitality and the honest difficulty of the course make this festival a highlight of the fall racing season.
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Natural Chimneys Park, VA , USA |
17 Sep - Sep 20, 2026