After more than a year of race cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person ultrarunning is gradually returning to Massachusetts and local runners have a new opportunity to log some major mileage thanks to the Needham Running Club.

On Saturday, May 1, the Needham Running Club will play host to the inaugural Needham May Day Distance Classic at Cutler Park. Starting with the 5:39 a.m. sunrise, runners will have 14 hours and 5 minutes to cover as many miles as they wish on a 7.2-mile loop. The run will conclude at sundown at 7:44 p.m.

The course consists entirely of flat to rolling dirt trails with a few rocks and roots. The course will be unmarked, but a map is available at this link and runners must follow it.

Entry to the Needham May Day Distance Classic is free, and registration will take place on site the day of the event. Runners are allowed to start anywhere along the course that they want, and partial loops count toward the mileage total.

While the 7.2-mile loop will allow ample opportunity for runners to spread out, COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place including mandatory mask-wearing at the aid station and when at least 6 feet of distance from others cannot be maintained.

For more information, the event flyer can be viewed at this link.