Jason Kaplan is an ambitious runner, and Wally Watermelon is an ambitious … well … watermelon. Both had big goals for the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service’s (BURCS) Sweltering Summer 8-Hour Ultra on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Clapp Park in Pittsfield, and both delivered.

Wally, the BURCS’ watermelon mascot, has been a regular presence at BURCS events for the past five years. Race Director Benn Griffin challenges runners to carry Wally for a loop at the BURCS’ various time-based events, primarily the Notchview Ultra and Sweltering Summer, and Griffin makes an additional donation per lap with Wally to the respective event’s charity of choice. Proceeds from Sweltering Summer benefitted the AYJ Fund, a northern Berkshire County nonprofit organization that supports children battling cancer. Runners carried Wally for 45 laps and 15.97 miles at the 13th annual event, so Griffin made an additional $45 out of pocket contribution to the cause.

In total, between entry fees, additional donations, and the bucks earned from loops with Wally, this year’s Sweltering Summer raised $6,755 for AYJ Fund.

While Wally motivated some extra bucks to be raised, Kaplan had his own big goals in mind. The 41-year-old from Boston, Mass., has been one of the most prolific ultramarathon racers in New England during the past 2 1/2 years, finishing at least two-dozen ultras and earning multiple victories despite having minimal time to rest and recover before toeing the next starting line. Despite the relentless schedule, Kaplan has shown little sign of fatigue.

Among his early-season efforts, Kaplan finished second with 110 miles at the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra in February, third overall in the Trail Animals “Don’t Run Boston” 50-miler in April, and also secured a sub-24-hour finish at the Old Dominion 100 in June.

Kaplan has been a road warrior this year, making multiple trips to western Massachusetts to compete in BURCS races. In June, just two weeks after Old Dominion, Kaplan shook out his legs with a second-place finish at the BURCS’ Free to Run 15K at Pittsfield State Forest. Three weeks later, he took part in the 6-hour race at the Notchview Ultra and finished first with a course record-tying 38-mile performance. At Sweltering Summer, Kaplan was once again ready to throw down a big effort.

Kaplan was one of 81 runners who gathered alongside Wally to take on the .355-mile loop dirt and cinder track around Clapp Park. Griffin dialed up ideal conditions, starting with a pleasant morning in the upper 50s that gradually heated to the low 80s by early afternoon under sunny skies. Kaplan started fast, cranking through 44 laps and 15.62 miles in the first two hours while 19-year-old Nick Cruz of Milford, Del., followed one lap behind. Rob Toonkel, 50, of Enfield, Conn., and Eric Ciocca, 47, of Northampton, Mass., were also in the hunt with 41 laps apiece.

By the 4-hour mark, Kaplan had eclipsed the 50K mark with 90 laps and 31.95 miles. Ciocca surged into second place seven laps behind, while a hard-charging Will Norris, 27, of Lynn, Mass., moved into third with 80 laps, one ahead of Cruz. John Kemp was another steady climber; the 57-year-old from Sheffield, Mass., ran a few early loops carrying Wally, but then picked up the pace and rattled off 78 laps by the midpoint. Top female Aubryn Cruz, 27, of Milford, Del., hit 73 laps and 25.91 miles by the halfway point, four laps ahead of 72-year-old Kathleen Richards of Duxbury, Mass. 

The field continued to shuffle in the afternoon heat, but Kaplan never relinquished control of the race. He ultimately closed out the overall victory with 51.47 miles, followed by Norris with 49.34 miles. Aubryn Cruz continued to pick her way through the top male competitors and ultimately surged to third place overall with 46.5 miles. Kemp rounded out the male podium and placed fourth overall with 46.15 miles, followed by Ciocca with 45.08 miles.

Cruz was joined on the female podium by Julia Haddad and Jennifer Braun. Haddad, 23, of Somerville, Mass., completed 38.34 miles while Braun, 46, of Stone Ridge, N.Y., finished 36.56 miles. Mary Bernier, 48, of Hamden, Conn., and Stefanie Clark, 65, of Cummington, Mass., rounded out the top five with 35.5 miles apiece.

Thirty-seven runners eclipsed the 30-mile mark within the time limit.

Up Next in the BURCS Race Series: The BURCS Race Series continues with the 10th annual Jug End Loop Ultra 6-hour and 4.2-mile races on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at Jug End Reservation in Egremont, Mass. Proceeds from the event will benefit Louison House, a homeless shelter in North Adams, Mass., as well as the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.