When Jeff Uzzel ran the inaugural Tails & Trails State Forest Run 50K in 2025, he dominated from the start and won by more than an hour. The defending champion returned for the second annual event on Saturday, May 16, in Pittsfield, Mass., and found himself under pressure throughout before finishing in a familiar position.

Uzzel, 40, of Easthampton, Mass., was one of 15 runners who gathered at the starting line and prepared to take on six loops on rolling singletrack trails with occasional rocks and roots sprinkled in to keep things interesting. The event kicked off the racing season for the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service, and Race Directors Jay Durand and Alex Bancroft dialed up a gorgeous day for running. Though it was sunny and humid at the start, with temperatures in the low 50s, the humidity would plummet and the temperature would climb into the 70s on a warm, breezy, dry day.

When Durand sent runners on their way, Uzzel soon moved to a familiar place in front, but 43-year-old Paul Kendall of Ballston Lake, N.Y., lingered close behind. Ten miles in, Uzzel’s lead on Kendall was less than two minutes. By the 20-mile mark, Kendall trailed by less than five minutes and was still in the hunt. Ultimately, Uzzel won in 4:37:07 and lowered his course record by 10 minutes. Kendall faded late and finished second in 4:52:41. Close behind Kendall, top female Miranda Gajda followed throughout the day and finished third overall in 4:59:40. Gajda, 32, of East Chatham, N.Y., broke the female course record by more than two hours with a strong performance that is part of her build-up to her 100-mile debut at the BURCS’ Notchview Ultra in July.

Joe Spinazola, 32, of East Chatham, N.Y., was fourth overall in 5:08:37, followed by Dan Cohen, 47, of Williamstown, Mass., who rounded out the overall top five in 5:55:23. Gajda was joined on the female podium by Casey Mendrala, 37, of Springfield, Mass. (7:11:49) and Caitlin Saia, 37, of Franklin, Mass. (8:29:54).

Stephen Victorious in Second Try, Grout Sets Male CR

A year ago, Laura Stephen delivered a strong effort in the 25K race but wasn’t quite able to catch Ellen Jopling. Jopling won the race in 2:44:25, while Stephen followed seven minutes back as the runner-up. Stephen returned to this year’s race for another crack at the top spot, and this time she was victorious. Stephen, 62, of Great Barrington, Mass., was in a close race with KT Huskins for the first of three loops through the course, but Stephen built a larger gap during the second loop and never looked back, going on to win in 2:54:57. Huskins, 40, of Barnstable, Mass., followed in 3:06:12, and MK Stopa, 36, of Pittsfield, Mass., completed the female podium in 3:45:38.

Meanwhile, 53-year-old Derek Grout of Valatie, N.Y., also enjoyed a strong day of racing and topped the field of 15 finishers in 2:14:24. Grout set a new male course record by three minutes. Mark Burr, 32, of Hull, Mass. (2:32:52) and John Ratzan, 51, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (2:35:52) joined him on the podium. Ratzan also finished third in 2025, but he was nine minutes faster this year. Josh Carnes, 43, of Vernon, Vt., was a close fourth in 2:46:44.

Kaplan Adds Tails & Trails 5-Mile Victory to Growing BURCS Resume

Jason Kaplan is a relentless racer. The 44-year-old Boston resident has toed a starting line seemingly every week or two for the past few years, and always finds himself near the front of the field. Kaplan became a familiar face at BURCS races in 2025 when he finished four races, winning the Notchview Ultra 6-Hour (38 miles), the Sweltering Summer 8-Hour (51.47 miles) and the Jug End 4.2-miler (32:50), and placing second at the Free to Run 15K (1:25:23), but he missed the inaugural Tails & Trails State Forest Run. Kaplan made sure to include it on his calendar for 2026, and he completed the 5-mile race in a familiar spot at the top of the podium.

Kaplan led the field of 17 finishers in 41:34, setting a new course record for his effort. Johnny Bontemps, 42, of Becket, Mass., was the runner-up in 42:43. Bontemps opted for the 5-miler this year after finishing second in the 50K in 2025. Michael Stringer, 25, of Old Saybrook, Conn., completed the male podium in 47:18.

Kaplan wasn’t the only runner to set a course record in the 5-miler. Karen Walton clipped six minutes off of the female record as the 33-year-old from Great Barrington, Mass., won in 50:42. She was joined on the podium by Joann Lynch, 60, of Pittsfield, Mass. (58:59), and Amy Loprete, 33, of New Baltimore, N.Y. (1:03:02).