Ben Kimball has been a recognizable presence on the New England road-, trail- and ultrarunning scene for more than a decade as a photographer, capturing memories for runners at events ranging from local 5Ks, cross country races and track meets, to the gnarly trails of the Seven Sisters Trail Race and legendary events like the Vermont 100.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of many races throughout New England, Kimball’s photography workload diminished. Rather than panic, he pivoted and dedicated his time to a project years in the making: he wrote his second trail-running guidebook, “Trail Running Eastern Massachusetts.”
Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mt. Toby Ultra 50K and 24K trail races returned for their second running on Saturday, April 9, in Sunderland, Mass.
The Needham Running Club made its first foray into playing host to an ultrarunning event in 2021 when it organized the Needham May Day Distance Classic, a 14-hour and 5-minute fun run on the trails of Cutler Park. The free, no-frills event was a success with 38 runners turning out to log mileage on the dry, sunny day.
Throughout his years of endurance adventures, Scot DeDeo has balanced his pursuits of speed and distance with a desire to make those miles benefit more than just himself.
Lance Doherty returned to the Umstead 100-miler for the second straight year, and for the second straight year the resident of Somerville, Mass., earned a spot on the podium in North Carolina. Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest, former Boston resident Joe McConaughy hammered a top-three finish at the Gorge Waterfalls 100K. Also in the West, Cambridge resident Richard Mountfield was victorious after 50 miles in Nevada. Those performances and more are included in this edition of the roundup.
WESTWOOD, Mass. – On paper, Robert Lynch’s decision to go back out for one more loop seemed like wishful thinking.
Lynch already had seven loops and 24.5 miles on his legs. His previous three trips through the 3.5-mile course had taken the 46-year-old from Sharon, Mass., 47, 48 and 54 minutes, respectively. If he wanted to complete one more and have it count, he had to do it in less than 46 minutes.
The center of New England ultrarunning during the March 25-27 weekend was Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass., where the Trail Animals Running Club welcomed runners back to the To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra following a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, but a handful of runners from the region headed elsewhere to explore new trails. Two of them delivered head-turning performances in Utah, with Newton’s Nick Poles placing second overall in his 100-mile debut at Antelope Island and Rhode Island’s Ben Quatromoni earning a podium spot in Moab. Those performances highlight this week’s roundup.
The Trail Animals Running Club welcomed runners back to Hale Reservation for the return of the To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra on Saturday, March 26, 2022, following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Runners were treated to near-perfect running conditions with mostly dry terrain, mostly sunny skies, and comfortable temperatures. The following are a sample of photos from the day taken by MassUltra editor Chris Wristen. To view a full photo gallery, visit the MassUltra Facebook page at this link.
The Trail Animals Running Club’s annual spring kickoff – the To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra and 5K – returned from a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. Runners were treated to near-perfect running conditions with a 42-degree start under partly cloudy skies, ultimately warming to 53 degrees and sunny by noon before some afternoon clouds rolled in and a breeze began to cool the course during the final hours as runners tackled their final trips around the 3.5-mile loop course.
Spring is beginning to make its presence felt in New England, but ultrarunners from the region ventured to the South and West in pursuit of warmer temperatures and fast running during the March 19-20 weekend. Several runners turned in strong ultra debut performances, including Harvard’s Nicholas Rindenello and Connecticut’s Eric Collins, while others like Carolyn Stocker returned to racing after some time away and quickly shook off the rust. From California and Idaho, to North Carolina and Florida, to Pennsylvania, there’s plenty to read in this edition of the roundup.
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