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.

West Rock Winter Fat Ass Extravaganza

In a year where she won at least 15 ultramarathons, including at least seven outright wins, and smashed numerous course records along the way, Lila Gaudrault saved one last masterpiece to close out the 2024 season. Gaudrault, 22, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, added one last victory to her resume during the final ultra of the year in New England when she raced the West Rock Winter Fat Ass Extravaganza 8-hour on Saturday, Dec. 28, in Hamden, Conn.

Gaudrault was one of 32 runners who took part in the event, which challenged runners to complete as many 1.6-mile loops around Lake Wintergreen as they could within the time limit. Seventeen runners surpassed the marathon distance, 14 completed at least 30 miles, and three eclipsed the 40-mile mark. Only Gaudrault broke the 50-mile barrier, and she set a new overall course record with 54.4 miles, topping the previous women’s record by around 5 miles and beating the men’s record by about a half-mile. Overall runner-up and top male finisher Tobias Tello, 20, of Cheshire, Conn., followed with 41.6 miles, and 27-year-old Sean Richard of West Haven, Conn., was third with 40.0 miles. Robert Sens, 45, of New York, N.Y., was fourth overall and the third male finisher with 36.81 miles, which was matched by 25-year-old Ryan Hanna of West Hatfield, Mass.

Gaudrault was joined on the female podium by sixth overall finisher Casey Mendrala, 36, of Springfield, Mass., who logged 35.2 miles, and seventh overall finisher Doree Jeffrey, 62, of Prospect, Conn., who completed 33.6 miles.

After a year of dominating ultras throughout the Northeast, Gaudrault will take on her first major ultra outside the region when she races the high-profile Bandera 100K on Jan. 11-12 in Bandera, Texas.

Tuscobia Winter Ultra

One of the final trail ultramarathons of 2024 was also one of the coldest and most difficult, and that was the attraction for a New Englander.

While several athletes at the 15th edition of the Tuscobia Winter Ultra opted to take on the course in ski or bike disciplines during the event on Dec. 27-29, Justin Blais of Portsmouth, N.H., was among those who opted to run. The event covered 80 miles on the Tuscobia Trail, with some runners making a one-way 80-mile trip while others tackled it as a 160-mile out-and-back adventure between Rice Lake and Park Falls, Wisc. The trail was covered in snow, and athletes had to carry a variety of mandatory gear at the self-supported race that serves as a qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Invitational.

Blais was one of 34 runners who took on the 80-mile distance, and just 22 of those runners ultimately finished. Blais, 46, placed 19th overall in 34:29. Adam Kerr, 36, of Mora, Minn., won in 22:15, followed by top female and overall runner-up Terry Dreves, 60, of Houghton, Mich., in 22:23. Just three runners finished in less than 24 hours.

Another 26 runners attempted the 160-mile distance, and just three finished. Jeff Leuwerke, 43, of Plymouth, Minn., won and was the lone male finisher in 53:58. Simone Valentin Austin, 48, of Naples, Fla., was second in 54:51, and 43-year-old Faye Norby of Plymouth, Minn., was third in 60:45.

Run Undead Ultra Trail Party

For the third straight year, ultrarunners rang in the new year at the Run Undead Ultra Trail Party in Pelham, Ala. The event began on Dec. 31, 2024, and concluded 36 hours later on Jan. 1, 2025. Runners used the time to log their last miles of one year and first of the next year while also earning ultramarathon finishes. All races took place on a flat, fast 5-mile loop through Oak Mountain State Park. Two New Englanders joined in on the fun.

Seng-Lai Tan knew exactly what he was getting himself into. The 53-year-old from Sudbury, Mass., has participated during all three years of the event. He completed 12 loops for a 100K finish two years ago, and then logged 20 loops for 100 miles last year. This time he was one of 17 runners who completed 10 loops for a 50-mile finish. Tan placed eighth in 15:10:20. Mike Taylor, 48, of Madisonville, Tenn., led all runners in 10:14:30, while 32-year-old Rachel Leach of San Diego, Calif., was the top female in 13:27:00.

Tan was joined at the race by fellow Massachusetts resident Heidi Mendoza. The 50-year-old from Watertown completed 12 loops and finished 100K in 28:40. She was one of 13 runners who finished that distance, led by 41-year-old Christopher Copley of Pensacola, Fla., in a men’s course-record 13:18:30. Emily Bullock, 43, of Mobile, Ala., topped the female field in 15:58:10 and placed third overall.

*Editor’s Note: Results are found on a variety of sites, including ultrasignup.com, UltraRunning Magazine, and official race websites. We do the best we can to find as many results as possible to report on and recognize the local ultrarunning community.