The fourth running of the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC 100 took place Oct. 8-9 at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. The following are the results for the ultramarathon races. Continue reading TARC 100 Results
All posts by Chris Wristen
Live Coverage: TARC 100
WESTWOOD, Mass. – Good morning from Hale Reservation and the fourth – and for the time being, final – running of the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC 100. There is a chance of rain this evening and overnight, but as of this morning runners appear to be in store for ideal Massachusetts fall running conditions. It’s 45 degrees lake-side at the start/finish as the 100-miler prepares to get under way, and it is expected to rise into the upper 60s by mid-afternoon.
Stay tuned to this live blog for updates throughout the day – to be posted below – and also follow along on Twitter at MassUltra_MA and on the MassUltra facebook page where we will have additional photos (mostly on Facebook) and more rapid updates when possible (mostly on Twitter).
The 100-miler starts at 6 a.m.; the 100K at 10 a.m.; and the 50-miler at 2 p.m. The marathon begins at 6 a.m. Sunday.
It’s time to race! Continue reading Live Coverage: TARC 100
Trail Animals Aim to Give TARC 100 a Feel-Good Farewell
The TARC 100 has experienced plenty of evolution during its four years of existence, from venue changes, to season changes, to weather changes, to additional distances offered and number of participants involved.
Through it all, two things have remained constant: As Massachusetts’ only 100-mile race, that distance has been offered; and runners have been treated to a hearty dose of hospitality that the Trail Animals take pride in providing.
Both will be on full display again this weekend, Oct. 8-9, at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass., at the fourth and final TARC 100 before the event goes on indefinite hiatus. The 100-mile race begins at 6 a.m. Saturday, followed by the 100K at 10 a.m., 50-miler at 2 p.m., and the marathon at 6 a.m. Sunday. Continue reading Trail Animals Aim to Give TARC 100 a Feel-Good Farewell
For Jackson, Mogollon Monster a ‘Special Challenge’
Key words and phrases stuck in William Jackson’s mind as he read the description, so much so that he read and reread it for days on end.
Rugged.
Challenging.
Advanced degree endurance race.
Changing ecosystems.
Climbs and descents at 30-45% grades.
This is one of the most technical 100 milers in North America.
Yes, Jackson was intrigued by the Mogollon Monster 100. The 34-year-old resident of Salem, Mass., is no stranger to long-distance races – his 100-mile credits include Pine to Palm, Tahoe Rim Trail, the Bear, TARC and Ghost Train – but the description he kept reading sounded like a beast unlike anything he’d encountered before.
He’d found his next challenge. Continue reading For Jackson, Mogollon Monster a ‘Special Challenge’
MassUltra Roundup: Forgotten Forest, Hennepin Hundred, and TNFEC-Utah
Forgotten Forest Ultra
John Brown had one heck of a final tune-up for the Ghost Train 100-miler, which is less than three weeks away. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Forgotten Forest, Hennepin Hundred, and TNFEC-Utah
MassUltra Roundup: Mountain Lakes, The Bear, Around the World, Stagecoach, Bear Chase, and Not Yo Momma’s
Wetzel Finishes Sub-24 at Mountain Lakes 100
Fast times were aplenty at the third running of the Mountain Lakes 100, and Lori Wetzel was right in the middle of it. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Mountain Lakes, The Bear, Around the World, Stagecoach, Bear Chase, and Not Yo Momma’s
Massachusetts Residents Rusiecki, Princic Victorious in Vermont
From 2007-2013, Brian Rusiecki was a major presence at the Vermont 50 as he rattled off seven straight top-10 finishes in the 50-mile race including championships in 2009, 2010, and 2012. After a two-year absence, he returned to the race Sunday, Sept. 25, in Brownsville, Vt., and found himself back in familiar territory battling at the front of the pack. Continue reading Massachusetts Residents Rusiecki, Princic Victorious in Vermont
Teamwork, Resiliency Propel Team With A Vision Ultra Squad to Ragnar Finish Line
Excitement. Euphoria. Absolute exhaustion.
Emotions ran the gamut for the members of Team With A Vision and Team Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Saturday, Sept. 17, as they stood at the Ragnar Reach the Beach finish line at Hampton Beach, N.H.
“It was euphoria,” recalled Team With A Vision runner Brian Switzer. “I was just high on endorphins, lack of sleep and lack of food, and was so excited about being able to finish as a team.”
For the previous 30 hours the teams ran side-by-side, sharing every step and every moment together as they completed the 203-mile journey that began a day earlier at the Bretton Woods Ski Area.
Now, thanks to a collaboration between the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI), the CAA, and New Hampshire-based non-profit organization 2020 Vision Quest, the teams had made history. Continue reading Teamwork, Resiliency Propel Team With A Vision Ultra Squad to Ragnar Finish Line
Powerful Messages, Strong Performances Highlight the Free To Run Trail Races
A day of tough running on technical trails awaited runners as they gathered at the starting line Saturday morning, Sept. 17, at Pittsfield State Forest in Pittsfield, Mass., for the second annual Free to Run Trail Races.
The event, which was organized by the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS), included a 50-mile ultra, as well as a trail marathon and half marathon. Trail and ultrarunning opportunities are abundant throughout Massachusetts and greater New England, as many of the event’s participants know and appreciate. On this day, however, they were running to help provide similar opportunities for women and girls in other parts of the world where chances to run, hike, and explore the outdoors are limited or nonexistent. Continue reading Powerful Messages, Strong Performances Highlight the Free To Run Trail Races
MassUltra Roundup: Mogollon Monster, Run Rabbit Run, Barkley Fall Classic, Pisgah, Boulder Field, TNFEC, and Coastal
Massachusetts ultrarunners were all over the map last weekend, from the Southwest, to the Northeast, and America’s heartland. They even ran right here at home – although that will be covered in a separate article. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Mogollon Monster, Run Rabbit Run, Barkley Fall Classic, Pisgah, Boulder Field, TNFEC, and Coastal
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