No matter the year, one thing is consistent at the Jug End Loop Ultra: the miles are hard-earned.

The event has seen its share of challenging conditions through the years, from rain and sloppy mud, to extreme heat and humidity. This year’s race stood out for offering conditions as close as possible to perfection at the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service’s (BURCS) ninth annual event on Saturday, Aug. 24, in Egremont, Mass.

Temperatures lingered in the mid-50s when runners gathered for the start of the 6-hour and 4.2-mile races. The course was almost bone dry, save for a few random spots of lingering mud. The temperature climbed into the upper 70s by mid-afternoon, and sunny skies shined throughout, making it an ideal day for runners to put up big miles.

In typical Jug End format, runners ran laps on the 4.2-mile Jug End Loop Trail for the first five hours before pivoting to a .88-mile mini-loop in the fields and orchard by the start/finish during the final hour.

Nobody hit the loop harder than Adam Coogan. The 31-year-old from North Providence, R.I., began running ultras in 2023, but has made a quick impact on the region with a sixth-place finish at the 2023 Runamuck 50K in Vermont, followed by a third-place finish at the Rhode Island Trail Classic 11-hour race that fall. He then finished third in the men’s field at the inaugural 6 at the Springs in June before making his BURCS debut at Jug End. Coogan completed nine loops of the course before closing out a 38.1-mile performance and a first-place finish. It was a solid tune-up before Coogan attempts his first 100-miler in October at the Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail. Coogan was followed by Jeffrey Uzzel, 39, of Easthampton, Mass., who completed 34.65 miles in a runner-up effort. It was Uzzel’s third straight podium finish at an ultra, following strong efforts at the BURCS’ Vegan Power 50K and Notchview 6-hour. Christopher Gumprecht, 45, of Stanfordville, N.Y., rounded out the men’s podium with a 33.15-mile effort in his second ultra and BURCS debut.

Benjamin Niebla, 27, of Manchester, N.H., and Eric Dziedrinski, 38, of Bondsville, Mass., were the fourth and fifth-place men (sixth and seventh overall) with 29.71 and 28.2 miles apiece.

In the women’s race, 41-year-old Caitlin Rossi of Torrington, Conn., capped her return to Jug End for the first time since 2019 by delivering a winning effort with 29.73 miles, which was also good for fourth place overall. It was the latest in a string of impressive performances for Rossi this year to go along with a victory at the Ansonia 6-Hour Ultra in June, a finish at the Vermont 100 in July, and an eighth-place finish at the Sweltering Summer 8-Hour Ultra on Aug. 10.

Joining Rossi on the women’s podium were Sarah Connor, 35, of New Haven, Conn., and Erika Mincarelli, 30, of Plainville, Mass. Connor posted 29.72 miles and Mincarelli logged 25.252 miles in the BURCS debut for both women. Anna Wolf, 52, of Lenox, Mass., Jodi Kapes, 50, of Clinton, N.Y., and Gwendolyn Adam, 53, of Williamstown, Mass., were fourth, fifth, and sixth, with 23.25 miles apiece.

Twenty-one runners completed 20 miles or more at Jug End.

Fourteen runners took part in the 4.2-mile race, which consisted of one loop through the course. Runners made the long, winding 830-foot ascent before dropping back down to the start/finish. Though the course records survived, a pair of New Yorkers were victorious in their BURCS debut performances. Bill Martin, 47, of New York, N.Y., cruised to the win in the men’s field in 33:48, and Kate Osofsky, 52, of Pine Plains, N.Y., topped the women’s field in 57:01.

Martin was joined on the men’s podium by Bill Wakeley, 61, of Sharon, Conn. (40:29) and Jay Durand, 48, of Adams, Mass. (41:13). Osofsky’s fellow women’s podium finishers were runner-up Marie Gryszowka, 40, of Leicester, Mass. (59:06) and Sharon Alpert, 67, of Williamstown, Mass. (1:01:32).

BURCS Make Big Donation to Louison House

Proceeds from the Jug End Loop Ultra benefited Louison House, a homeless shelter in North Adams, Mass., that serves northern Berkshire County. Jug End has raised money and supplies for Louison House for years, totalling more than $10,000 in contributions in the event’s history, according to Race Director Benn Griffin’s records. This year’s event raised more than $800 for Louison House, in addition to 12 backpacks full of school supplies, 15 pairs of running shoes, and a variety of personal care items.