Since running her first trail ultramarathon in 2015, Marie Gryszowka has steadily pushed her limits, tackling more mileage, taking on bigger adventures, and never backing down from a challenge. The 2019 season was her biggest yet, with at least seven ultramarathon finishes – including her first two 100-milers. Continue reading With Ultras On Hold, Gryszowka Makes a Difference One Mask at a Time
Monthly Archives: March 2020
TARC’s ‘Don’t Run Boston’ Canceled
One of New England’s original ultramarathons, the Trail Animals Running Club’s ‘Don’t Run Boston’ Ultras, has been canceled due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading TARC’s ‘Don’t Run Boston’ Canceled
Plymouth Ultra Postponed Until October
Those hoping to run the inaugural Plymouth’s Long, Hard & Dirty Ultra in April are out of luck. Those willing to wait a few months longer, however, might luck out. Continue reading Plymouth Ultra Postponed Until October
Wapack and Back is Latest Race to be Canceled
The Trail Animals Running Club’s classic Wapack and Back trail ultramarathon was canceled today, runners learned in an email from the race directors, followed by a post on the club’s Facebook page. Continue reading Wapack and Back is Latest Race to be Canceled
From the Editor’s Desk: Telling Stories While Our Sport Presses Pause
Whether you first started reading the site this year or you’ve been following along from the beginning in early 2016, you likely came to MassUltra because you care about your local ultrarunning community. You’re here because you want to know the latest news, because you draw inspiration from the people around you, or because you simply want to feel a little more connected. It’s probably some combination of all of those reasons; in fact, all of them played a role in my decision to launch this site four-plus years ago, and they are why it continues today. Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk: Telling Stories While Our Sport Presses Pause
Ultra-Endurance Researchers Urge Halt to Events Through June 15
Just weeks before the 2020 ultrarunning slate in New England was set to kick into high gear, the sport — and most of everyday life — is grinding to a halt thanks to the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Schools have been shuttered for weeks or more, workers have been ordered to stay home and work remotely if possible, layoffs have begun in the service industry and others, and life as normal has ceased to be, well, normal. Continue reading Ultra-Endurance Researchers Urge Halt to Events Through June 15
TARC Spring Classic is Latest Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
Michael McDuffie and Annie Gagliardi, co-Race Directors for the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC Spring Classic, hoped their race on April 25 in Weston, Mass., would be able to avoid cancellation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they let runners know not to get their hopes up. Just days ago, McDuffie pegged the chances of the race taking place at “15.2 percent.”
On Wednesday evening, the percentage dropped to zero when McDuffie made the announcement that the race was canceled. Continue reading TARC Spring Classic is Latest Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
Cape Cod Trail Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
The Cape Cod Trail Race is the second Massachusetts ultramarathon to be canceled in response to the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Continue reading Cape Cod Trail Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
MassUltra Roundup: Bel Monte and Everglades
As COVID-19 increases its spread throughout the United States, the ultrarunning season is grinding to a halt. At least a dozen ultras in the US were canceled or postponed during the March 14-15 weekend. Only a handful of ultras took place in what might be the final week of racing for the foreseeable future. There weren’t many local results to report, but there were a handful of big performances turned in by Massachusetts residents during a mostly quiet race weekend. Amy and Brian Rusiecki led the way as the South Deerfield residents made one of their annual early-season trips to Virginia and brought home podium finishes at the Bel Monte 50-miler, Amy taking first in the women’s race and Brian second among the men. Additionally, Cambridge resident Simon Guerard secured a spot on the podium with a speedy performance at the Everglades Ultra in Florida. Both of those races are covered in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Bel Monte and Everglades
Massachusetts Ultrarunning Groups Adjust as COVID-19 Situation Evolves
Since its first documented cases in November 2019, the novel coronavirus — known as COVID-19 — has spread from China to the rest of the world. During that time, it has brought business, sporting events and many other aspects of everyday life to a halt.
New England has not been immune to the impacts of COVID-19, or its spread. Cases have been identified throughout the region, including 123 cases here in Massachusetts as of today, up from 15 on Thursday, most of them linked to a conference held by biotechnology company Biogen Inc. in downtown Boston. On Tuesday, March 10, Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts in response to COVID-19. A day later, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic, having infected more than 115,000 people worldwide, more than 4,200 of those cases resulting in death. Since then, both numbers have continued to swell. Continue reading Massachusetts Ultrarunning Groups Adjust as COVID-19 Situation Evolves
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