When Rob Fiero and Jennifer LeBlanc teamed up a year ago to create the Flat Rock Trail Race, their goals were simple: provide an opportunity for runners to come together to pursue their goals on the trails, and to make a positive financial impact on the Humane Society of Greater Nashua. The inaugural event was a resounding success, with 66 runners taking part and $3,750 in proceeds raised for the Humane Society to put toward a new building.

Year two of the Flat Rock Trail Race went even bigger as Fiero, the race director, and LeBlanc, the Humane Society’s Director of Partnerships and Corporate Gifts, brought together 85 runners for the event’s 6-hour or 5-mile trail races and nearly doubled at the fundraising tally at second annual event on Saturday, June 13, at Flat Rock Hill and the Arched Bridge Conservation Area in Dunstable, Mass. According to Fiero, runners amassed more than $6,000 in proceeds for the Humane Society of Greater Nashua, a portion of which will go to the Dunstable Conservation Commission in support of its conservation efforts and trail maintenance.

The large fundraising haul was the ultimate highlight on a day where runners took on intense heat while putting up big miles on the 5-mile loop course. Runners were greeted with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s at the start. By the time the finish line closed, it was 87 degrees and sunny, though a light breeze and low humidity made the conditions a bit more manageable.

Nobody handled the heat better than Mikala Merzweiler. The 31-year-old from Acton, Maine, made her ultramarathon debut just five weeks earlier when she finished third in the 6-hour race at the White Lake Ultras in New Hampshire with a 34-mile effort. For ultra No. 2, Merzweiler stood alone at the top of the overall podium and set a female course record. She was the only runner to complete seven loops of the course within the time limit, setting a female course record with 35 miles and winning the race outright after closing out her final loop in 5:52:29. 

Merzweiler topped a field of 67 runners who completed mileage in the 6-hour race, including 15 who achieved ultramarathon mileage for finishing at least six laps and 30 miles.

Merzweiler completed her sixth lap nearly stride for stride with overall runner-up and top male Jason Kaplan, 44, of Boston, Mass. Merzweiler finished two seconds ahead of Kaplan, who completed his 30-mile effort and victory in the male field in 4:57:14, but Merzweiler headed back out for more miles. Shortly after Kaplan finished, male runner-up Peter Guza, 45, of North Andover, Mass., closed out his 30-mile day in 5:15:23, followed one second behind by female runner-up Amy Damon, 39, of Clinton, Mass. Female and male third-place finishers Mari Engelhardt, 46, of Marshfield, Mass., and David Catarius, 57, of Shrewsbury, Mass., followed minutes later in 5:17:25 and 5:19:09, respectively, to complete the female and male podiums. Other 30-mile finishers were Patricia Swierk, 31, of North Andover, Mass. (5:27:36); Mike Anderson, 39, of Oxford, Mass. (5:37:11); Julianna Coughlin, 33, of Falmouth, Mass. (5:37:58); Christian Truesdell, 45, of North Andover, Mass. (5:46:29); Matthew Broe, 40, of Nashua, N.H. (5:49:01); Stephanie Schultz, 39, of Watertown, Mass. (5:50:23); Ian McLachlan, 40, of Watertown, Mass. (5:50:48); Adam Hoffman, 56, of Natick, Mass. (5:57:26); and Sarah Cave, 52, of New Rochelle, N.Y. (5:58:54). Another 16 runners completed five loops and 25 miles.

An additional 18 runners took part in the event’s 5-mile race, and new male and female course records were set. Jacob Guerra, 31, of Dracut, Mass., led all runners in 46:11 and set a new male course record. Overall runner-up Katie Thompson, 33, of State College, Pa., won in 47:12 and broke the previous female record by nearly two minutes.