Who doesn't want to run deep into the night? I found this 24 hour ultra while looking up races on…read morerunningintheusa.com. I signed up too late but managed to get into the 30 mile race event, which is a few more miles than the marathon distance.
The Ghost Train 24 hr ultra & Haunted 30 miler is a themed ultra distance event in the heart of Milford, New Hampshire. The course was designed to be this way, since it was close enough to Halloween. The course was 15.5 miles per loop, set in a park trails around the Milford, NH area. The 24 hour event started at 9am on Friday and the Haunted 30 mile event started at 5pm on Saturday. It was an odd hour to start an evening race, but it was cool to be able to run in the middle of the night. Head lamps are required for a night time race. I arrived here at the race venue around 4pm via Uber. After picking up my race number, I chatted with the locals before we need to line up for the race start. At 5pm, we were off and started my 1st loop of 15.5. There was 2 aid stations on the course, along with the one at the start/finish area. The course was good and nice. Quite flat trail with an unexpected hill with roots and plenty of places to fall and hurt yourself. Since this is event largely takes place in the overnight hours, best thing to do is to carry a headlamp so you can see in the dark. As far as me though, I'm thankful that I had mine juiced up to an appropriate level so I could function in the dark and didn't have to avoid any injuries during the event. Safety first! It's
It's a good one for New Hampshire and it's generally held in mid October. The weather is fairly good, but could get chilly in the overnight hours. Bring layers if you need to.
The overall experience at the Ghost Train Ultra marathon event was good, fun,and definitely an educational experience. Doing this kind of thing at night has its hazards but brings a lot of rewards as well. I guess you just need to want it more if you are chasing a goal like many who sign up for these kinds of endurance events anywhere around the world. For someone like me who doesn't live in the area, knowledge of the event course and the general area can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it. Thanks to the volunteers and everyone who made this event possible. It was cool to see Halloween themed items out there on the course, but if you're prone to seeing things that aren't there late into the night, it may be a problem! It was a fun addition though and kept up with the Halloween atmosphere. It was cool to be there, especially when the leaves were changing and the traditional fall weather was there to keep us cool, although for some, it was a little too cold. Not me though. Temps in 2024 started around 72 F and dropped to 45 F around 8pm, then 39 F around 3am. It was cool that they had a fire pit with a roaring fire to keep those who needed to keep warm. I was happy that the fire was there. I was happy that a volunteer at the aid station suggested that I warm up at the County building nearby. It was open and I could warm up there while using the restroom facilities too. It was great and much needed. After sunrise, I called an uber and got a quick reply to head back to the hotel. And so, if you want to run your first ultra marathon in New Hampshire or run with an Halloween themed race, consider this one in middle October. The Ghost Train 24 hour Ultra marathon and Haunted 30 miler is a good one. Definitely recommended but be aware of the hill!
The Ghost Train 24 hour ultra marathon & Haunted 30 miler is staged in Milford, New Hampshire. Race organization was good and was good to have packet pick up on race day. It's a small ultra that feeds the soul. Like many others out there, race registration is online and requires a major credit card. They did offer merchandise sales on race day and required cash on site. Many participants drove, but the parking options here generally limited parking here for anyone and everyone who either volunteers or is participating. As for
Me though, I ended up taking Uber to and from the event venue, which was good. Best bet would be to have some sort of reliable transportation option here since I don't know if the city of Manchester or Milford, New Hampshire has public transportation options to get you here. Or even from Boston, Massachusetts. Just be prepared for the long haul and you'll be definitely rewarded. The aid stations are stocked with your favorite foods, mostly snacks and water but the real food comes out later in the evening and the overnight hours. It's super fun and I encourage everyone and everyone to be inspired and run a marathon or beyond at least once in their lifetime. The Ghost Train 24 hour ultramarathon and Haunted 30 miler in Milford, New Hampshire is a great starting point. Definitely recommended!
5.0 stars for the overall experience.
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