WINCHESTER, Mass. – Two weeks before Thanksgiving, the Trail Animals Running Club kicked off the holiday season with the ninth running of the TARCkey Trot 6-Hour Ultra on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Wright-Locke Farm. Nobody savored the trail-running feast more than Donal Reynolds.

The TARCkey Trot used its traditional format in which runners had six hours to complete as many laps as they wanted on a 3.5-mile loop course through the trails of Whipple Hill, starting and finishing in the barn at historic Wright-Locke Farm. It was 30 degrees at the start, but steadily rose into the mid-40s under sunny skies, giving runners a pleasant, dry day. Reynolds capitalized on the conditions. The 48-year-old from Belmont, Mass., led the race nearly from start. He ran stride for stride with fellow Belmont resident Robbie Shade, 40, for the first lap before moving to the front and slowly pulling away. Lap after lap, Reynolds zipped through the course, up and down its punchy hills, hopping over rocks and roots, seemingly unfazed by the obstacles.

Of the 106 runners who took part in the event, nine surpassed the marathon distance by completing at least eight laps. Reynolds was the only runner to finish a ninth, earning the overall victory with 31.5 miles in 5:39:24. Runner-up Brandon Dorr-Swending, 29, of Lynn, Mass., was a steady climber, working his way up from fifth to second with a 28-mile performance in 5:24:46. Shade was third with 28 miles in 5:25:43. Additional 28-mile finishers were Chris Coughlin, 37, of Paxton, Mass. (5:26:58); Alexandre Misrahi, 23, of Cambridge, Mass. (5:30:45); Chris Loftus, 51, of Hudson, Mass. (5:31:41); Nicholas Capille, 29, of Pawtucket, R.I. (5:51:55); Joshua Grayum, 45, of Merrimack, N.H., (5:56:58); and James Mandart, 30, of Stoneham, Mass. (5:58:22). Capille was the top nonbinary finisher.

In the female field, Jessica Finocchiaro was the early leader, but the 30-year-old from Arlington, Mass., ended her day in the lead after 17.5 miles and in sixth place overall. Once she stopped, a wide-open race emerged and 46-year-old Anna Miller ultimately capitalized. Miller spent much of the day running with friends, and the resident of Lexington, Mass., eventually continued onward when others stopped. Ultimately, Miller was the lone female to complete seven laps and 24.5 miles in 5:43:23, placing first. Miller was joined on the podium by Lynnsey Martin, 27, of Cambridge, Mass., and Catherine Ricks, 45, of Brewster, Mass., who completed six laps and 21 miles apiece in 4:28:14 and 5:25:31, respectively. Shortly after Ricks finished, four more female runners raced back into the barn to conclude 21-mile outings. Leigh Mastin, 39, of Portland, Maine, did so in 5:36:30, followed less than a minute later by 49-year-old Chrissy Durden of Medford, Mass. (5:37:20). Next, 37-year-old Caitlin Saia of Franklin, Mass., finished in 5:43:49, followed closely by 44-year-old Cheryl Wong of Arlington, Mass., in 5:45:38.

Among the many highlights of the TARCkey Trot was the strong youth presence among the field. Five runners aged 13 or younger all logged at least two laps, and 10-year-old Thomas Hermance of Rockport, Mass., led the way with five laps and 17.5 miles. Additionally, 13-year-old Brennan Miller of Lexington, Mass., finished four laps and 14 miles; 11-year-old Sophie Houlahan and 5-year-old Augie Houlahan, both of Newburyport, Mass., finished three laps and 10.5 miles; and 9-year-old Lucy Houlahan of Newburyport, Mass., finished two laps and 7 miles.