Naked Nick

The Naked Nick event takes place along the trails of Blue Marsh Lake near Leesport, Pennsylvania on December 19th, 2026. The race offers runners two challenging distances: a 25K and a full 50K course through varying terrain around the lake.
On race morning in early winter, participants will gather at the Day Use Area along Palisades Drive, near Leesport, PA. The start time is to be determined but typically falls before sunrise given the cold temperatures that greet runners as they set out on this challenging trail run. Runners must finish by 5PM for a relaxed pace or hiker-friendly option.
The Naked Nick has been an annual tradition since its inception in 2014, attracting dedicated ultrarunners from across Pennsylvania and beyond to Leesport each December. Over the years, it has raised funds for local causes while fostering community among trail runners who brave cold weather conditions on Blue Marsh Lake’s trails.
The course winds through single-track trails and gravel roads that encircle Blue Marsh Lake in a lollipop formation. The 25K route covers approximately fifteen hundred feet of elevation gain over roughly eleven miles, with the 50K doubling this distance to include an additional loop around the lake. Aid stations are strategically placed along both routes at regular intervals starting from three kilometers out and continue every few miles thereafter until the finish line.
Weather conditions on race day average temperatures in the mid-thirties Fahrenheit range with a high of about forty-three degrees, making for cold but runnable trail running conditions. Trail surfaces can be firm or slightly soft depending on snow coverage; runners should expect possible ice patches and muddy sections due to winter precipitation risks.
The Naked Nick features two main distances: 25 kilometers and the full fifty-kilometer race option.