The Vashon Island Ultramarathon & Trail Run returns Saturday, June 7, to Island Center Forest and Fisher Pond.

The annual races are non-profit charity events, whose purpose is to raise funds for island youth and introduce islanders and visitors to the trails Vashon has to offer, including Island Center Forest and the serene trails surrounding Fisher Pond.

Runners will attempt 10 and 20 mile distances in addition to the flagship 50k distance (31 miles).

In addition to runners from Washington, race directors Nick Keenan and Bruce Cyra will welcome runners arriving from Alaska, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon and Texas. Many will be meeting up with relatives and friends from the island. A nice weather forecast for the weekend may help draw more runners than 2024.

The races rely on support from island volunteers, such as the trail marking crew led by Casey Lawrence, the “Heavy Metal” aid station captains Dave Woelki and Nick Wiggins, and HQ aid station captain Megan Minier. The course is “swept” after the races by island cross country runners and supporters.

Work crews from Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust and King County Parks Department are grooming the trails into perfect condition, and thanks go out to those crews, whose work was repeatedly mentioned by the trail runners.

Results and information can be found at vashonultra.com.

Bruce Cyra is the co-race director of the Vashon Island Ultramarathon & Trail Runs.