From a UROC tune-up in Virginia, to The North Face Endurance Challenge in the nation’s capitol, to the Tillamook Burn in Oregon, Massachusetts ultrarunners took to the trails on both coasts on April 29-30. Additionally, we tracked down results from the Hyner 50K in Pennsylvania for this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Promise Land, TNFEC – DC, Tillamook Burn, and Hyner 50K
All posts by Chris Wristen
DRB Sticks to its Roots with Challenging Running, Close-Knit Camaraderie
MILTON, Mass. – Every April since 1897, runners from around the globe have flocked to Massachusetts to take part in the iconic Boston Marathon. Now one of the world’s largest marathons and among the most recognized events in all of sports, Boston has captured the imagination, hopes and dreams of runners for 121 years.
While Boston may be the big show (27,221 runners started this year’s race), there’s another race in town that’s iconic in its own right, albeit on a much smaller scale and on a course that’s far more difficult to follow. The Trail Animals Running Club’s “Don’t Run Boston” trail ultras are a New England ultrarunning cult classic. Continue reading DRB Sticks to its Roots with Challenging Running, Close-Knit Camaraderie
Results: “Don’t Run Boston” Ultras
The 21st edition of the Trail Animals Running Club’s “Don’t Run Boston” ultramarathons took place Saturday, April 15, at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Mass. Fifty-five runners took part between the 50K and 50-mile distances. The following are the final results. Continue reading Results: “Don’t Run Boston” Ultras
Uxbridge’s Goat Hill 50K Encourages Runners to Embrace Inner Mountain Goat
It’s called “The Goat” for a reason.
Runners at the durtyfeets Trail Run Series’ Goat Hill races take on an eight-mile loop that lulls runners in with some easy running through a field toward the start of the singletrack trail. For three quarters of a mile the running is relaxed and comes almost effortlessly.
“Then they turn left,” said race director Alex Rogozenski, “and they see ‘The Goat.’” Continue reading Uxbridge’s Goat Hill 50K Encourages Runners to Embrace Inner Mountain Goat
Despite Rain, Runners Shine at Spirited Spring Classic
WESTON, Mass. – It was close to 5 p.m. when Kevin Paige emerged from the woods and the finish line came into view. A look of relief and an exuberant grin spread across his face as he stretched his arms out wide with joy.
“You guys are still here!” proclaimed Paige, 47. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you guys are still here!”
Paige’s 50K race hadn’t gone quite as he’d hoped at the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC Spring Classic on Saturday, April 22. His legs gave him problems after two loops of the five-loop course. Determined to finish what he started, he gritted his way through the ultramarathon, battled the elements and the trail, and earned his finish. After more than eight hours on the trails, however, he spent the final miles worried that he’d return to the start/finish only to find everyone had left, and his bag – with the keys to his truck inside – would be gone.
The Trail Animals’ motto is “Leave No Animal Behind,” however, and this day was no different. Paige was greeted with applause and open arms, and his keys were right where he left them so he could make it home to Manchester, N.H., that evening.
From the first across the finish line to the back of the pack, runners didn’t allow a steady drizzle or temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s dampen their day or their spirits. Instead, around 350 runners took part in the Spring Classic, running in the 50K, marathon, half marathon or 10K, in what was one of the largest crowds ever for the seventh annual event. Continue reading Despite Rain, Runners Shine at Spirited Spring Classic
MassUltra Roundup: Double Top, J.W. Corbett, Grand Ridge, and Enchanted Forest
From a gritty 100-mile finish in Georgia for Mark Leuner, to a 50K victory for Shelley Cheung in Washington, to races in Florida and Connecticut, Massachusetts ultrarunners found finish lines across the country on April 22-23. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Double Top, J.W. Corbett, Grand Ridge, and Enchanted Forest
Photo Gallery: TARC Spring Classic
The Trail Animals Running Club’s seventh annual TARC Spring Classic took place Saturday, April 22, in Weston, Mass. The following is a small collection of photos from the race. Check out the MassUltra facebook page to view an extended photo gallery. Continue reading Photo Gallery: TARC Spring Classic
Results: Durtyfeets Goat Hill 50K
The Durtyfeets Trail Series played host to the second annual Goat Hill 50K on Sunday, April 23, in Uxbridge, Mass. The following are the final results. Continue reading Results: Durtyfeets Goat Hill 50K
Results: TARC Spring Classic 50K
The Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC Spring Classic took place on Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Weston, Mass. The following are the results of the 50K race. Continue reading Results: TARC Spring Classic 50K
MassUltra Roundup: Lumberjack 100, Lake Sonoma, Traprock, and Merced Canyon
From the West Coast to the East Coast, Massachusetts ultrarunners continue to pile up strong performances. That includes an overall first-place finish by Cambridge resident Jenny Hoffman at the Lumberjack 100-miler in Washington, a top-10 performance by Boston’s Joe McConaughy at the highly-competitive Lake Sonoma 50-miler in California, a top-10 finish by Boston’s Will Holets at the Merced Canyon 44K in California, and Brian Rusiecki secured his third straight victory with a win at the Traprock 50K in Connecticut.
These four big races are featured in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Lumberjack 100, Lake Sonoma, Traprock, and Merced Canyon
MassUltra 