MassUltra Roundup: Cabin Fever, Whispering Pines, and Psycho Wyco

From ultramarathon debut performances to returning to the sport after time away, the Feb. 19-20 weekend saw Massachusetts ultrarunners turn in some memorable performances at races around the country. From West Virginia to Florida and Kansas, we have them covered in this edition of the roundup.

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MassUltra Roundup: Black Canyon, Last Skier Standing, and the Algonquin

Scott Traer is no stranger to laying it all on the line at an ultramarathon. The resident of Woburn, Mass., has been among New England’s fastest ultrarunners and fiercest racers any time he toes the line. On Saturday, Feb. 12, he earned an opportunity to test his abilities against some of the best competition in the world in June when he earned a Golden Ticket entry into the Western States Endurance run by finishing at the podium at the Black Canyon 100K. Traer’s sizzling performance leads off this edition of the roundup.

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TARCtic Chill: McEnaney Endures Ice, Frigid Temps En Route to 100-Mile Finish

WESTWOOD, Mass. – Thirty miles and around 7 1/2 hours into his race, Patrick McEnaney made efficient work at the aid station. A wardrobe change, some extra snacks and refilled fluids, and he was ready to head back out for more. As McEnaney prepared to return to the trail, he paused to check in with a friend whose race was done and commend them for a successful day.

After a few congratulatory words and a fist bump, it was time to go.

“I have to get moving,” McEnaney said, a look of urgency on his face. “I’m starting to freeze.”

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Snowshoe Running for Ultra Runners: A Guide to Getting Started

For ultra marathon runners in New England, snowshoe running is an ideal complement to a training routine. Because ultra runners have long training cycles, sometimes it’s difficult to avoid training for races during the winter months. But snowshoe running can seem a little intimidating.

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MassUltra Roundup: Elephant Mountain, Angry Tortoise, Sean O’Brien, and Rocky Raccoon

A one-week postponement of the TARCtic Frozen Yeti meant that the Trail Animals Running Club’s cold-weather event took top billing for most New England ultrarunners who raced during the Feb. 5-6 weekend, but a handful sought warmer climate to race in places like Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Two of the runners who traveled – Abby Hotaling of Oak Bluffs and Rachel Glazer of Needham – brought victories back home to Massachusetts. Their winning performances lead off this edition of the roundup.

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Results: TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra and 15-Mile Night Race

Following a one-week postponement due to a massive Nor’easter, the Trail Animals Running Club played host to the third running of the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra and the first edition of the 15-mile night race on Feb. 5-6 at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass.

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MassUltra Roundup: AZT Oracle Rumble, The Itch, Skydive, Arches, and Winter Beast of Burden

The Trail Animals Running Club’s TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra was originally slated for Jan. 29-30 weekend, so the majority of New England ultrarunners looking to race selected that event as their primary objective for the weekend, though it was ultimately postponed by a week due to the massive Nor’easter that brought more than two feet of snow to much of the state. Several runners headed out-of-state to race, however, most of them escaped the storm’s clutches to run in warmer climates during the final weekend of January. Those races are featured in this edition of the roundup.

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Watuppa Trail Races to Return in May

After five years as a short-distance event, starting as a 5-miler before switching to a 10K, the Watuppa Trail Race went long in 2018 with the addition of a 30K race and a 50K ultramarathon. Both options proved popular, and the 50K provided a welcome addition to the growing ultra scene in southern Massachusetts.

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