Matt Pacheco is still a relatively new face on the New England ultrarunning scene, having made his debut in 2022. Still, he made a quick impact, winning the 50K race at the Chesterfield Gorge Ultra that year. Pacheco has been even stronger in 2023 as he has gained more experience and confidence.

In fact, the 38-year-old resident of South Hadley, Mass., has been simply dominant at times. He piled up at least four ultra victories this year. He opened the season by winning the Spring On the Trails 12-Hour Endurance Run in New York with a 72-mile effort in March. Three weeks later, he was victorious at the Traprock 50K in Connecticut. In May, Pacheco won the inaugural Free Spirit 50K in Leyden, Mass., in a sizzling 3:47:33. He also placed second at in the 50-miler at the Stone Cat Trail Festival in November.

Pacheco’s final victory of the year came the 13^th edition of Seth’s Fat Ass 50K on Saturday, Dec. 16, at Forest Park in Springfield, Mass. The popular event uses a paved 5K loop course that runners must complete 10 times.

Thirty-six runners finished this year’s race, and Pacheco was one of the new faces surrounded by a slew of event regulars. Sixteen of the runners had completed the race at least once before, including defending champion Albert Mendes, 33, of Middletown, Conn., who won the 2022 race in 4:08:15. Among the other frequent faces were nine-time finisher John Lavoie, 71, of Saint Albans, Vt.; eight-time finisher Tom Deluca, 68, of Agawam, Mass.; six-time finisher Ericka Emerson, 52, of Belchertown, Mass.; five-time finisher Eric Ciocca, 46, of Northampton, Mass.; and four-time finisher John Torrone, 47, of Westfield, Mass.

A fast pack pulled away from the field during the early loops, but Pacheco had the upper hand and gradually expanded his lead, ultimately winning in 3:37:08. His time ranked fourth-best in event history. Five minutes later, 23-year-old John Derosa of Shelton, Conn., finished second overall in 3:42:02. It was Derosa’s ultra debut, and he clocked the fifth-best time in course history. Another new ultrarunner – logging just his second – was third-place finisher Andrew Woodbury, 41, of Westfield, Mass. Woodbury’s time of 3:48:35 was the seventh-best in event history. Mendes – the defending champion – placed fourth in 3:52:45 despite running 16 minutes faster this year. Event newcomers Patrick Halloran, 27, of Oakdale, Conn. (3:57:55); Sean Meissner, 50, of Perkinsville, Vt. (4:08:00); and Edward Shibley, 45, of West Springfield, Mass. (4:19:05), were the next to finish. Ciocca – who won the race in 2017, 2019 and 2021 – was eighth this year in 4:25:35.

In the women’s race, a new face also took home the win. Sarah Nelson has run many ultras, but the 49-year-old from Florence, Mass., was a first-timer at Seth’s. She faced a stiff challenge from veteran Emerson, but Nelson ultimately prevailed with the win by a 93-second margin in 4:53:07. Emerson was second in 4:54:40. It tied for her best finish in six tries (she was second female in 2017) and this was Emerson’s fastest time ever on the course. Event newcomer Laura Becker, 38, of Manchester, Conn., was third in 5:07:53. Allison Lassoe, 61, of Sheffield, Mass. – a three-time finisher – had her best showing ever on the course by finishing fourth in 5:28:33. Mabeline Velez, 31, of Springfield, Mass., rounded out the top five in 5:31:50.