[May 27, 2026 – Pinkham Notch, N.H.]
The 65th Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race will consist of a deep and accomplished field as world-class athletes and every day runners prepare to tackle the daunting challenge of the legendary Mt. Washington Auto Road.
Headlining the men’s field is Joseph Gray, 42 of Colorado Springs, Colo., who is considered one of the greatest American mountain runners of all time. Gray, an eight-time winner at Mt. Washington, has a resume a mile long cluttered with top finishes and podiums and has to be considered the favorite again in 2026.
Joining Gray is reigning Mt. Washington champion Alexandre Ricard, 37 of Squamish, BC, who won the 2025 shortened version of the race in a sprint with Gray. Ricard’s explosive climbing speed has made him a standout in vertical racing formats. Ricard continued his rise with a podium finish at the Défi des Couleurs MSA Vertical and remains one of the favorites in steep mountain races. The question remains if Ricard has the stamina to hang with Gray if the race goes to the top.
Canadian standout Remi Leroux, 29 of Waterloo, QC, enters the race after a strong start to 2026 that included a top 20 finish at the Black Canyon 50k. His versatility across both mountain races and technical trail ultras makes him a dangerous contender on Mt. Washington’s unforgiving grades.
Veteran mountain specialist Eric Blake, 47 of West Hartford, Conn., continues to prove age is no barrier to elite performance. Blake captured victories at both the Crown King Scramble 50k, and Mount Baldy Run to the Top in 2025, and delivered yet another top ten performance at Mt. Washington, demonstrating the precision, durability, and stamina that have defined his long career.
Also competing is Philip Royer, 35 of Boston, Mass., whose recent transition into longer endurance events has helped build exceptional strength and stamina. Royer earned notable finishes at the Gorge Waterfalls 100k and Tamalpa Headlands 50k last season and will look to translate that endurance to the relentless climb of Mt. Washington.
Rounding out the men’s elite contenders is Jean-Philippe Thibodeau, 35 of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC, who enters 2026 in top form after winning the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival 100k and finishing second at the Quebec Mega Trail 50-miler. His endurance pedigree and climbing power make him a serious threat on race day.
The women’s race promises equal excitement with an exceptionally strong lineup led by Anne-Marie Comeau, 30 of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC. Coming off a breakthrough 2025 season that included an 18th-place finish at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships, Comeau combines elite marathon speed with world-class climbing ability. After reaching the podium at Mt. Washington last year, she enters 2026 as one of the top favorites.
One of the most explosive uphill athletes in the field, Hali Hafeman, 34 of Golden, Colo., arrives after a dominant 2025 campaign highlighted by national titles in Vertical and Mixed Relay at the USA Skimo Championships. Hafeman’s aggressive climbing style and standout performance at the Broken Arrow Ascent position her as a major contender.
Former world champion Kasie Enman, 46 of Huntington, Vt., returns once again to the Auto Road as a perennial podium threat. A multiple-time Mt. Washington winner, Enman continues to deliver elite performances and remains one of the sport’s most respected veterans thanks to her experience and deep familiarity with the mountain.
Endurance specialist Hannah Rowe, 34 of Boston, Mass., enters the race with momentum from strong performances at the Sunapee Scramble and Vermont 50. Her background in ultra-distance racing could prove critical during the grueling final miles of the climb.
Also returning is New England mountain racing standout Haley Heinrich, 34 of Newbury, NH, who enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season with victories across some of the region’s toughest mountain events, including the Chocorua Mountain Race, Baldface Scramble, and Kilkenny Ridge Race. Heinrich’s combination of climbing skill and consistency makes her one to watch this year.
Sponsored by Delta Dental, the race ascends the Mt. Washington Auto Road from Pinkham Notch, N.H., to the 6,288-foot summit of Mt. Washington. Runners can expect to be challenged by the unrelenting grade (averaging 12%), Mt. Washington’s famously high winds, precipitation, and unpredictable temperatures which makes this race truly one of a kind. Prizes include $1000 apiece for the first male and female finishers, smaller cash prizes for the next five men and women and the top three male and female masters (over 40), prizes for the first male and female finishers from New Hampshire, and a $500 bonus for setting a new course record.