The ultrarunning scene in Western Massachusetts is getting a new race in 2019.
The inaugural Mt. Toby Ultra is the newest addition to the growing ultramarathon racing schedule in the Bay State’s more mountainous half, and it’s the second Massachusetts ultra to be organized by Race Director Amy Rusiecki.

A veteran race director, Rusiecki has been in charge of the Vermont 100 and the 7 Sisters Trail Race for several years in addition to extensive volunteer work at numerous other New England races. A resident of South Deerfield, Mass., Rusiecki has long dreamed of playing host to ultras on the trails where she trains. Her first step toward turning that dream into a reality came in 2018 with the creation of the Chesterfield Gorge Ultra, a 30-hour event, in West Chesterfield, Mass. That race will return for a second year on June 1-2.

With one event up and running, Rusiecki is now launching another with the Mt. Toby Ultra, a 50K race on Saturday, April 6, at Sunderland Town Park in Sunderland, Mass. A 22K race will also be offered.

The race will start and finish at Sunderland Town Park. The course will take runners around, up and over Mt. Toby while racing on rugged singletrack and doubletrack trails. Runners in the 50K will summit Mt. Toby; 22K runners will touch the top once.
Online registration is handled through RunReg.com and closes at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 4. The entry fee is $75 for the 50K and $40 for the 22K. Proceeds from the race will benefit Girls On the Run of Western Massachusetts.