Northeast Race Management, LLC has been putting on trail and road races for runners in Massachusetts since 2012. After five years of organizing races with shorter distances, the organization is expanding to offer its first trail ultramarathon in 2017 with the Big Bear 50K.

“This has been in the works for a while,” said Dan Lamoureux, race director and Northeast Race Management founder. “We started producing races in 2012 and produced our first trail race, the Watuppa 5, in 2013. That event has grown organically over the years (now a 10K), and many of the runners from year one were new to trail races. Over the years we’ve watched many of them develop into ultrarunners. We feel we want to progress with them.”

The Big Bear 50K was the response to that progression, and it is now part of a two-day running festival at Massasoit State Park in East Taunton, Mass. Northeast Race Management will play host to the fourth annual Massasoit 5K and 10K races on Saturday, May 20, at the state park. Then, the Big Bear 50K will follow at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 21. The race will start and finish near Big Bear Hole Pond, and runners will take on a 10-kilometer loop five times. The loop will showcase multiple sections of singletrack within the state park, as well as some fire roads. Runners will pass five different ponds or lakes and cross new boardwalks and bridges along the way.

“The course will take them through hard-packed fire lanes and singletrack, along with many rooty sections, a few short paved sections and some stretches of loose gravel,” Lamoureux said. “For much of the race loop, the runners will be running downhill or on flat terrain, but the within the final mile they will be rolling through the trails along LeBaron Hill. This is a moderately technical course overall. With an eight-hour time limit, we welcome all skill levels.”

Runners in the 50K will complete the loop five times. For those who aren’t ready for an ultra distance, a three-loop 30K option is offered.

A portion of the proceeds from the weekend’s races will be donated to the DCR Conservation Trust and be earmarked for Massasoit State Park, so the race will benefit the park and trails where it takes place.

“It is important to our organization to support causes with each of our events,” Lamoureux said. “We support many local conservation organizations and want to continue to see improvements made at DCR Massasoit State Park for years to come.”

Registration may be done via UltraSignup.

Two-dozen runners are entered in the 50K so far, and three-dozen are registered for the 30K.