MassUltra Roundup: Tussey Mountainback, Javelina, Kansas Rails-to-Trails, Nor’witch, and the IAU 24-Hour World Championships

After a few busy weeks of ultramarathon racing in New England, the Oct. 26-27 weekend had a lighter load of races. Still, a few runners from the region traveled to take on courses in new places. That included Tyler Andrews of Cambridge whose trip to Pennsylvania included a victory at the USATF 50-Mile Road National Championship at Tussey Mountainback. Several runners ventured to Arizona for the Javelina Jundred, including Brookline resident Davis Cutter who finished in the top 10 percent of the field at the massive race in the desert. Those performances and more are included in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Tussey Mountainback, Javelina, Kansas Rails-to-Trails, Nor’witch, and the IAU 24-Hour World Championships

Film Documenting Robidoux’s Western States Experience Set for Nov. 7

Six months following Kyle Robidoux’s barrier-breaking moment when he became the first legally blind runner to start the legendary Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, a film documenting the experience will make its local premiere. Continue reading Film Documenting Robidoux’s Western States Experience Set for Nov. 7

MassUltra Roundup: Moab 240, Castle to River, and Wawayanda Wonderful

The Oct. 19-20 weekend was huge in New England as hundreds of ultrarunners took a ride on the Trail Animals Running Club’s 30-hour Ghost Train Rail Trail Races just across the border in New Hampshire. A few found other venues to run, however, and all turned in strong performances. From Kehr Davis winning the same race twice in one year in New York, to Garrett Simon’s runner-up finish at the Wawayanda Wonderful 50-miler in New Jersey, to Ryan Fecteau’s top-10 outing at the Moab 240, runners from the region represented it well. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Moab 240, Castle to River, and Wawayanda Wonderful

MassUltra Roundup: Lake Tahoe, Batona, Cloudsplitter, Big Brad, Muleskinner, and Tesla Hertz

The Oct. 12-13 weekend was a big one for ultramarathons – and not just in Massachusetts. Sure, several runners took part in the Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail races and a few dozen more tackled the Race for DFL, but several runners ventured beyond the Bay State to race. From victories at the Ultra Trails Lake Tahoe 100-miler in California by Haroldas Subertas of Amesbury, Mass., and the Cloudsplitter 50K by Tyler Dion of Leominster, Mass., to a first-time ultra for Brian Bayness of Winchester, Mass., in New Jersey, to the Big Brad Ultras in Maine, the Muleskinner 50 in Pennsylvania and the Tesla Hertz ultras in New York, there was plenty of racing to go around. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Lake Tahoe, Batona, Cloudsplitter, Big Brad, Muleskinner, and Tesla Hertz

Massive Challenge: Midstate Trail Pushes Runners to the Limit at Inaugural Ultra

BARRE, Mass.  – The precise moment may have varied from runner to runner, but for all of them it came somewhere between Wachusett Mountain and Barre Falls Dam. That’s where – more than 40 miles into the inaugural Midstate Massive 100-mile ultramarathon – darkness began to fall and the runners became acutely aware of the magnitude of the challenge they’d taken on.

They’d already conquered the most technical terrain and biggest climbs that the course had to offer, but now they had to navigate the leaf-covered Midstate Trail through thick forest by the glow of headlamps and a full moon. Continue reading Massive Challenge: Midstate Trail Pushes Runners to the Limit at Inaugural Ultra

DFL Means WIN for Anthony at Last Person Standing Race

PELHAM, Mass. – About a dozen runners – some with weary legs, others still surprisingly fresh – lingered by their aid supplies just a few feet from the starting line. They had three more minutes before it was time to go again. Continue reading DFL Means WIN for Anthony at Last Person Standing Race

Results: Race for DFL

The inaugural Race for DFL, a last person standing event from race director Amy Rusiecki, took place Oct. 12-13 on the singletrack trails of Pelham, Mass. Runners took on a 4.16-mile loop and had one hour to complete the loop and return to the starting line to go again. The loop was repeated on the hour, every hour, until one last runner remained. In addition to the last person standing race, runners had the option to run one loop of the course while hopping in at the hour of their choosing. Continue reading Results: Race for DFL

Results: Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail

The inaugural Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile trail ultramarathons took place Oct. 12-13, crossing the state of Massachusetts from north to south, beginning in New Hampshire and crossing into Rhode Island before finishing back in Massachusetts at Douglas State Forest. Continue reading Results: Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail

Photos: Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail

The inaugural running of the Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile ultramarathons took place Oct. 12-13, 2019, on the Midstate Trail crossing Massachusetts from north to south. The following are a sample of photos from the race. A full photo gallery can be found on the MassUltra Facebook page at this link. Continue reading Photos: Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail