MassUltra Roundup: Monroe Cross, Hanging Rock, AZT Oracle Rumble, and Arches Ultra

It was cold and quiet on the trails of New England during the January 24-26 weekend, but the racing was hot for runners from the region who headed to the South or out West. New Englanders raced ultras in Florida and North Carolina, as well as Arizona and Utah, but nobody had a better weekend than New Hampshire’s Peter Christopher who won the 50K race at the Monroe Cross Trail Ultra in Florida. His victory leads off this week’s edition of the roundup.

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MassUltra Roundup: Coldwater Rumble, Long Haul 100, Dark Anchor, and MAD Backyard Ultra

Cold temperatures and snow snuck into New England during the Jan. 17-19 weekend, but several ultrarunners from the region escaped to warmer climates to race. That included Maine’s Ben Grasso who journeyed to Arizona to complete 100K at Coldwater Rumble, and New Hampshire’s Rick Horton and Aaron Sylvain who ran 100 miles in Florida at the Long Haul 100. A handful of others raced for 34 hours at Dark Anchor in Georgia, while Connecticut’s Lauren Defeancesco tackled a backyard ultra in Tennessee. We have it all covered in this edition of the roundup.

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MassUltra Roundup: Bandera and Frozen: H3

The 2025 ultrarunning season is underway, and the New Englanders are here for it! That much was certain during the January 10-12 weekend as runners from the region snagged several podium finishes even though just a handful of early-season ultras were held. The biggest show was at Bandera in Texas, which relocated to a new venue but still saw Stephen Bennett of Swampscott, Mass., and Lila Gaudrault of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, deliver third-place finishes while being joined in the men’s and women’s top 10 by a few more New Englanders. Additionally, William Clifford of Chatham, Mass., earned a podium finish in his ultra debut for 50 miles at the Frozen: H3 ultras in South Carolina. Read all about it in this edition of the roundup.

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Results: G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K

The 25th running of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K took place on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, Mass. The New England classic was organized by Gil’s Athletic Club and played host to around 200 runners. Runners took on a 10K loop course through the park as many times as they wanted, up to five loops for a 50K finish. Some completed four loops and an additional out-and-back for a marathon.

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MassUltra Roundup: Across the Years and San Tan Scramble

The 2025 ultrarunning season kicked off in New England with the 25th edition of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K in Topsfield, Mass. We will have that covered in a separate recap, but a handful of runners from the region also welcomed in the new year with big performances at ultras out West. Nobody went bigger than Rhode Island’s Cole Crosby who eclipsed the U.S. National 24-Hour Running Team’s qualifying standard with his course record-setting 24-hour victory at Across the Years in Arizona, while Massachusetts resident Shae Regan earned a podium finish in her ultra debut at California’s San Tan Scramble. We have them both covered in this happy new year edition of the roundup.

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MassUltra Roundup: West Rock Winter Extravaganza, Tuscobia, and Run Undead

The 2024 ultrarunning season is officially over, but a few-dozen New Englanders squeezed in one last ultra finish before the ball dropped, or shortly after. Several took advantage of the last ultra in New England, with rising star Lila Gaudrault of Maine securing one final victory and course record at the West Rock Winter Fat Ass Extravaganza in Connecticut to close out a magnificent season. Meanwhile, New Hampshire’s Justin Blais conquered the cold at the Tuscobia Winter Ultra in Wisconsin, and Massachusetts residents Seng-Lai Tan and Heidi Mendoza earned ultra finishes at the Run Undead Ultra Trail Party in Alabama as the new year rang in. Read all about it in this edition of the roundup.

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