October opened with four ultras in New England, as well as with runners from the region at nearly two-dozen ultras across the country taking on distances ranging from barely beyond a marathon to well beyond 200 miles. We have many of them covered in this edition of the roundup, but we lead off with a recap from a stunning battle at Bubba’s Backyard Ultra that required the weekend plus bonus time to determine a winner.

Bubba’s Backyard Ultra

When the eighth edition of Bubba’s Backyard Ultra began at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Center Conway, N.H., organizers and runners alike had no idea when it would end–but they knew it would take a while. Last year’s race saw Lukas Janulaitis set the course record of 185.5 miles in 2025, winning after 53 hours. Katie Melsky set the female course record that year, finishing third overall with 168 miles after 48 hours of racing.

Melsky was back for the 2026 edition as part of a field of 105 starters, some aiming for a few laps or ultramarathon mileage. Others aimed to run 100 miles or more. Some planned to be there for as long as it took.

One of those who planned to run for days was Corin Kawsnik. Though he was a first-time competitor at Bubba’s, the 29-year-old from Waterbury, Vt., was no stranger to big efforts. He’s a two-time winner and course record-holder at the Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100, and owns numerous fastest known times on tough trails throughout New England. Still, the backyard format was a new challenge for him.

Kwanik ultimately was ready for it, but so was Melsky. After her massive effort in 2025, the 28-year-old from North Conway, N.H., had her sights on winning the whole thing this year.

Unlike traditional backyard ultras that use a 4.17-mile course, Bubba’s uses a 3.5-mile loop course on forested singletrack, snowmobile trails and logging roads with around 250 feet of elevation gain per loop. The miles add up slower, but the terrain is challenging in places.

The field whittled gradually throughout the first half-day, and the drops accelerated in the hours that followed. Ultimately, 21 runners completed at least 29 hours and 101.5 miles. After hour 32, the field dropped to 13 competitors: 10 men and three women. A few hours passed before the next runners were done. Kevin Ellis, 42, of Richmond, N.H., and Dylan Schulte, 31, of Castleton, Vt., ended their efforts after 36 hours and 126 miles. An hour later, 37-year-old Michael Wilson of Newport, N.H., was done after 129.5 miles. Hour 38 was the final lap for three runners as 35-year-old Adam Ribeiro of Pepperell, Mass., 18-year-old Aaron Gott of Sharon, Mass., and 31-year-old Victoria Constantine of Waterbury, Vt., stopped after 133 miles. Two hours later, 28-year-old Seth Richardson of Wolfeboro, N.H., and 32-year-old Erica Notini of Hillsborough, N.H., were done after 40 hours and 140 miles. Notini was the female runner-up for the second year in a row, not quite matching her 150.5-mile effort from 2025.

That brought the field down to just five competitors: Kwasnik, Melsky, 42-year-old Ryan Hunter of North Conway, N.H., 42-year-old Michael Conley of Gorham, Maine, and 25-year-old Conor Brown of Manchester, N.H. Another full day passed before any of them stopped.

Two months removed from his course record-setting performance at the Jigger Johnson 100, Brown’s legs showed they had fully recovered for Bubba’s. This was his fourth crack at the event, and he finished third in the male field and fourth overall in 2025 with 150.5 miles. This time, he slipped to fifth overall and fourth in the male field, but he did so with a massive personal best for distance on the course. Brown stopped after 65 hours and 227.5 miles–42 miles beyond the previous course record. Seven hours later, Conley was done after 72 hours and 252 miles–66.5 miles more than the previous course record. Two hours later, Hunter stopped after 74 hours and 259 miles–73.5 miles better than the previous course record.

That left just Kwasnik–the last man standing–and Melsky–the last woman standing–to duel for the title of last person standing. It took seven more hours to determine who that would be. Both runners lined up for hours 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80. Both finished lap 80, a full 94.5 miles past the previous overall course record. Additionally, Melsky was 112 miles beyond her female course record from 2025.

Both stepped back to the starting line for hour 81 and entered the loop. Kwasnik eventually finished, but Melsky timed out. That left Kwasnik as the last runner standing with 81 hours and 283.5 miles officially on his legs. It took nearly 3 1/2 days of racing to settle this year’s event.

Survival of the F.I.T.test – 34-Hour Trail Ultra

Ross Minkov has had a busy summer and fall of running ultramarathons. In July, Minkov completed the Vermont 100. Six weeks later, he finished 100 miles again, this time in the 36-hour race at the Ocean State Ultra in Rhode Island. On Oct. 3-4, Minkov added another 100-mile finish to his resume–only he went farther–at the Survival of the F.I.T.test 34-Hour Trail Ultra in Cumberland, R.I. Twenty-eight runners took part in the event, which took place on a 5-mile loop course on a mix of smooth and technical trails at the Cumberland Monastery. The top two runners both achieved triple-digit mileage, and Minkov led the way with a 110-mile effort in 30:24:45. Jeff Mikesell was second overall with 100 miles in 32:34:17.

Minkov and Mikesell were joined on the male podium by Mark Conley who completed 70 miles in 19:05:43. Christopher Noe and Scott Simpson rounded out the top five with 62 miles apiece, in 19:05:43 and 19:10:25, respectively. Daniel Martel was sixth with 60 miles in 26:27:23.

Top female Isabella Piccirilli completed 60 miles in 26:27:25. She was joined on the podium by runner-up Kate Cook and Adrienne Okon who completed 31 miles apiece, finishing together in 6:06:58.

Forbidden Forest 30-Hour Ultra

David Stawski continued his dominance of the Forbidden Forest 30-Hour Ultra at the ninth edition of the event on Oct. 3-4 in Stratford, Conn. This year’s race used a modified course from prior years, turning to a 2.5-mile loop course on the trails of the Roosevelt Forest that made for easier math. The slight change didn’t slow Stawski down as the 45-year-old from Manchester, Conn., won for the fourth year in a row. His winning tally of 125 miles was the second-best in even history, trailing only his winning tally of 128.8 miles from 2024.

Of the 30 runners who took part, 26 surpassed the marathon distance and 16 ran 50 miles or more. Seven runners achieved the 100-mile milestone or more. Stawski won handily, but was joined in the “beyond 100” category by 37-year-old Scott Paxton of Stafford Springs, Conn., and 20-year-old Anthony Guinsato-Sanchez of New Milford, Conn., who completed 105 miles apiece. Additionally, 34-year-old Chris Young of North Grosvenordale, Conn.; 32-year-old Clayson Baadsgaard of Spanish Fork, Utah; 40-year-old Max Taylor of Amherst, Mass.; and 34-year-old Maxwell Santoro of New Haven, Conn., completed 100 miles apiece.

Top female Kim Luciano, 60, of Colebrook, Conn., won her race with 62.5 miles. She was followed by Rebecca Eleck-Bruce, 44, of Middlebury, Conn., with 52.5 miles, and 49-year-old Jamie Keane, 49, of Torrington, Conn., and 51-year-old Elise Vaughn, 51, of Wolcott, Conn., with 50 miles apiece.

Nipmuck Trail Marathon

The Nipmuck Trail Marathon is an ultra–but just barely with its 26.4-mile course measuring more than a marathon but less than a 50K. Still, the New England classic packs plenty of punch with rocks, roots, hills, mud, and more on the Nipmuck Trail. The 43rd edition of the event took place on Sunday, Oct. 4, in Ashford, Conn., and 62 runners finished the race.

Justin Kousky, 46, of Westport, Conn., led all runners in 3:29:57, earning his second victory on the course. He previously won the race in 2022. Kousky was followed by Stephen Krohley, 36, of Beacon Falls, Conn., and Lee Davis, 45, of Hamden, Conn., in 3:38:22 and 3:43:54, respectively. Justin Demurias, 40, of East Islip, NY., and Brian Rusiecki, 47, of South Deerfield, Mass., rounded out the top five in 3:49:24 and 3:52:24. Just behind Rusiecki was the final sub-4-hour finisher, 22-year-old Tobias Tello of Cheshire, Conn., in 3:53:01.

Julia Campbell, 30, of Somers, Conn., finished first in the female field in 4:33:28, followed by 35-year-old Melinda Lodge of Manchester, Conn., in 4:56:51. Catherine Walsh, 50, of Bethany, Conn., completed the podium in 5:06:50.

Buck 50

A pair of New Englanders placed on the podium at the fourth annual Buck 50 on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Kattskill Bay, N.Y. The 50K race took runners on trails along the shores of Lake George and the surrounding mountains, including trips to the top of four rugged peaks in the southern Adirondacks. Forty-three runners finished within 12 1/2 hours, including the fastest male and second-fastest female.

Connor Bost, 29, of Manchester, N.H., won the race outright and broke the male course record by five minutes, finishing in 6:30:39. Matthias Kirchner, 43, of Cohoes, N.Y., was second in 6:35:57.

In the female field, 34-year-old Annie Preston of Lewis, N.Y., won in 7:59:01 while placing ninth overall. She was followed by 29-year-old Caroline Egener of Dover, Mass., who was the runner-up in 8:38:02.

In addition to Bost and Egener, two more New Englanders were among the finishers. Ryan Kingsley, 31, of West Hartford, Conn., placed 14th overall in 8:23:05, and 46-year-old Trent Smith of Epsom, N.H., was 26th in 9:26:20.

Flutters and Foliage Endurance Race

New Englanders were among the top performers at the fourth annual Flutters and Foliage Endurance Race 6-hour on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Cohoes, N.Y. Runners had six hours to complete as many laps around the 2-mile loop course as they wanted. Nobody had a bigger day than 43-year-old Daniel Seigers of Oneonta, N.Y., who cranked out 24 laps and 48 miles, winning the race with a 12-mile cushion. Four runners tied for second with 18 laps and 36 miles, including 41-year-old Noah Berman of Chesterfield, Mass. Jonathan Davis, 38, of Glenville, N.Y.; Kyle Cherry, 28, of Manhasset, N.Y.; and 17-year-old Cole Miglucci of Watervliet, N.Y., also matched the mileage, while 43-year-old Andrew Sivers of Franklin, N.H., was sixth overall with 17 laps and 34 miles.

In the female field, 37-year-old Nina Bahar of Albany, N.Y., led the way with 34 miles, followed by 25-year-old Samantha Freeman of Syracuse, N.Y., with 16 laps and 32 miles. One loop behind, 50-year-old Daria Cunningham of Lunenburg, Mass., finished in a tie for third with 15 laps and 30 miles. Her distance was matched by 47-year-old Brie Ritchey of Queensbury, N.Y.

Twenty-seven runners took part in the race. An additional 14 runners took part in the event’s 3-hour race. Orrin Price, 22, of Northfield, Vt., led all runners in the 3-hour race with 22 miles.

Blues Cruise 50K

Andrew Crossley was the lone New England resident at the Blues Cruise 50K Trail Ultramarathon, but he’s a familiar face at the event. Crossley, 37, of Manchester, N.H., took part in the race for the fourth time on Sunday, Oct. 3, in Reading, Pa.

The 20th edition of the race once again took place on a single-loop course around Blue Marsh Lake, and it was a popular affair. Two hundred runners finished the race within the 9-hour time limit, led by 39-year-old Chris Lewars, 39, of Broomall, Pa., in 3:48:25. Top female Jacqueline Alnes, 34, of West Chester, Pa., placed fourth overall in 4:18:00. Crossley was among the finishers as he placed 39th overall in 5:50:14, marking a personal best on the course by two minutes.

The MAMMOTH 200

The second annual MAMMOTH 200 once again offered one of the toughest challenges in North American trail running on Oct. 2-6 in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and eight New Englanders conquered the course that took them on a 218-mile journey through the Eastern Sierras with more than 31,000 feet of climbing and two trips to the summit of 11,053-foot Mammoth Mountain.

Of the 214 runners who started the race, 162 ultimately finished within the 109-hour time limit. Gabe Joyes, 40, of Lander, Wyo., led all runners in 51:35:11. Female champion Mika Thewes, 35, of Arvada, Colo., was second overall in 54:03:46, and female runner-up Roxanne Vogel, 41, of Mammoth Lakes, was third overall in 58:04:23. Elliot Chisholm, 18, of Salem, N.H., was the top New Englander in the field. He finished seventh overall and fourth in the male field, narrowly missing the podium, in 62:34:57. Rob Rives, 37, of Duxbury, Vt., placed 29th overall in 76:22:10. A veteran of several 100-mile races, it was Rives’ first 200-mile finish. Nick Lee, 41, of Falmouth, Mass., finished 45th overall in 82:32:15. It was Lee’s first 200-mile race, and it came less than two months after he completed the rugged Jigger Johnson 100-miler in New Hampshire as a tune-up.

Additionally, the husband and wife duo of Guy Alderdice Jr., 52, and Krista Alderdice, 50, of West Windsor, Vt., ran and finished together in 92:25:36 in a tie for 78th place. Kimberly Lord, 46, and Ryan McKeever, 49, both of South Hero, Vt., also ran and finished together, with Lord placing 90th in 94:43:13 and McKeever following a second behind in 91st place in 94:43:14. Tari Tan, 39, of Watertown, Mass., finished 126th in 101:41:47. It was Tan’s first 200-mile attempt.

Angeles Crest 100

Two New Englanders added one of ultrarunning’s original 100-mile races to their resumes when they completed the Angeles Crest 100. The event has taken place almost every year since 1986, and the 36th edition was held Oct. 3-4 in Altadena, Calif., and it took runners on a hot and challenging journey through the San Gabriel Mountains. There were 109 finishers within 33 hours, including Eddy Healey and Amanda Paul. Healey, 37, of Greenwich, Conn., finished 16th overall in 25:00:43. Paul, 50, of Swanzey, N.H., finished 100th in 32:32:04.

Eduardo Morales, 31, of North Highlands, Calif., and Taelor Smith, 33, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., were the male and female champions in 20:12:08 and 22:56:58, respectively.

Cuyamaca 100K

Two New Englanders completed the 14th edition of the Cuyamaca 100K on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Julian, Calif. The race took place on a three-loop course on the trails of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Sean McKenzie, 33, of Newport, R.I., placed 19th overall in 12:49:58, and 35-year-old Nathan Anderson of Boston, Mass., finished 145th in 16:42:20. Patrick Rabuzzi, 34, of Oakland, Calif., led the pack of 194 finishers in 9:53:40. He was the lone sub-10-hour finisher. Top female Andrea Deutsche, 37, of Newcastle, Calif., finished fourth overall in 10:50:40.

Perpetua Coast 50K

Dylan Flewelling took a cross-country trip to earn an ultramarathon victory. The 23-year-old from Oakland, Maine, headed to the Pacific Northwest for the 12th edition of the Perpetua Coast 50K on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Yachats, Ore. Racing on the trails of the Perpetua National Scenic Area, Flewelling outpaced a field of 183 finishers and won in 3:50:04. Bayden Menton, 22, of Joseph, Ore., was second in 3:57:58. Flewelling clocked the second-fastest time in course history.

Andrew Zhang, 30, of Cambridge, Mass., finished 111th in 7:42:33. Additionally, 28-year-old Jerry Reyes-Riviera of East Hartford, Conn., placed 115th in 7:43:27, and 28-year-old Elyse Bergeron of East Hartford, Conn., finished 163rd in 8:43:56.

Hennepin 100

Jason Kaplan was among the fastest finishers at the 11th edition of the Hennepin 100 on Oct. 3-4 in Sterling, Ill. The race offered a flat, fast 104-mile point-to-point course on the Hennepin Canal State Trail, tempting runners to push the pace. There were 205 finishers within the 30-hour time limit, including 91 who finished in less than 24 hours. Just 19 runners finished in less than 20 hours, and Kaplan was one of them. The 44-year-old ultra veteran from Boston, Mass., placed 17th overall in 19:40:51. Griffin Phenegar, 29, of Madison, Wisc., led all runners in 14:58:15, while top female Alicia Hudelson, 42, of Missoula, Mont., placed sixth in 16:31:42.

Kaplan was one of two New Englanders who finished the race. Isaac Morales, 29, of Springfield, Mass., finished 140th in 27:57:38. It was Morales’s second ultra and first 100-miler.

In addition to the 100-miler, the event also offered 50-mile and 50K races on the same trail. No New Englanders were among the 108 finishers of the 50-mile race. Another 118 runners completed the 50K, including Mary Claire Worrell, 38, of Brunswick, Maine, who placed 27th overall and 10th in the female field in 5:59:24.

Arches Marathon 50K

Corey Butterworth narrowly missed a podium finish when he took on the 50K race at the Arches Marathon on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Moab, Utah. Butterworth, 37, of Campton, N.H., finished fourth in 5:30:32, less than eight minutes behind third-place Carter Gaffney, 49, of Austin, Texas, who was third in 5:22:59. Peter Samuelson, 37, of Norwood, Colo., earned the victory in 4:44:17, followed by 43-year-old Jon Dixon of Stephens City, Va., in 5:00:24. Molly Kovell, 33, of Arvada, Colo., led the female field and finished fifth overall in 5:41:51. Sixty-six runners finished the race within nine hours.

Saddles 100

Breyin Nichols earned his first 100-mile finish when he completed the Saddles 100. The fourth annual event took place Oct. 3-4 in Prescott, Ariz. Nichols, 29, of Lowell, Mass., placed 46th overall in 28:09:28. Michael Tomchaney, 36, of Phoenix, Ariz., led the field of 118 finishers in 16:41:43.

The event also offered a 50-mile race that had 108 finishers. Daniel Orr, 40, of Portland, Maine, placed ninth overall in 9:24:36. Kyle McClancy, 30, of East Hampton, N.Y., led all runners in 8:08:14.

*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.