A few new faces in New England made big splashes during their return trip to the West Coast last weekend as Boston resident Lance Doherty delivered a top-10 finish at the Marin Ultra Challenge 50K in California and Vincent Dimassa of New Haven, Conn., had a happy homecoming by winning the 50-miler. Those performances, plus the Trail Trashed Ultra in Nevada and the Everglades Ultras in Florida are featured in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Marin Ultra Challenge, Trail Trashed, and Everglades
All posts by Chris Wristen
New England’s Newest Ultra Set for April at Mt. Toby in Sunderland
The ultrarunning scene in Western Massachusetts is getting a new race in 2019.
The inaugural Mt. Toby Ultra is the newest addition to the growing ultramarathon racing schedule in the Bay State’s more mountainous half, and it’s the second Massachusetts ultra to be organized by Race Director Amy Rusiecki. Continue reading New England’s Newest Ultra Set for April at Mt. Toby in Sunderland
MassUltra Roundup: Caumsett, Naked Bavarian, and Way Too Cool
While the ultrarunning calendar was quiet last weekend in Massachusetts, runners didn’t have to travel too far beyond the Bay State’s borders to find some competition. Sheffield’s John Kemp and Cambridge’s Padraig Mullins went to neighboring New York to race the Caumsett 50K. Meanwhile, Norwell’s Jim Diggins made his third straight March trip to Pennsylvania for the Naked Bavarian 40-miler. Additionally, Trail Animals Running Club legend Bob Crowley played in the mud out west at the Way Too Cool 50K. All three races are featured in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Caumsett, Naked Bavarian, and Way Too Cool
MassUltra Roundup: Mt. Mitchell, Febapple, and Sycamore Canyon
For Nick Curelop, Feb. 23 marked yet another successful trip to North Carolina when the Housatonic resident raced the difficult Mt. Mitchell Challenge 40-miler. Meanwhile, Sudbury’s Dylan Ascolese and Lincoln’s Jacqueline Anton both made their ultramarathon debuts in impressive fashion with podium finishes, Ascolese at the Febapple Frozen Fifty in New Jersey and Anton at Sycamore Canyon in California. That trio of races and stout performances highlight this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Mt. Mitchell, Febapple, and Sycamore Canyon
MassUltra Roundup: Beast of Burden, Black Canyon, Jackpot, Mid-Maryland and Iron Horse
Winter has settled in on New England and the greater Northeast in recent weeks. That didn’t slow down Michael Condella as the Revere resident conquered the cold and turned in a runner-up finish at the Beast of Burden 100-miler in nearby New York. Other ultrarunners sought out the warmer climate of Florida, Nevada, and Arizona, led by Northampton’s Jake Dissinger who hammered a top-20 effort in a field of more than 600 runners at the Black Canyon 100K. Those performance provided some extra heat during the winter running season, and they highlight this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Beast of Burden, Black Canyon, Jackpot, Mid-Maryland and Iron Horse
Chance Meeting Sparks Friendship, 100-Mile Finishes for Burke, McElroy
WESTWOOD, Mass. — Brian Burke strode through the door of Powissett Lodge, checked in with the timekeepers, and was about to grab a snack when he spotted a familiar face: William McElroy Jr.
It was early Saturday evening, Feb. 2, and both Burke and McElroy had already run 50 miles apiece — most of them solo — during the past 11 hours at the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra at Hale Reservation. The trail was covered in ice and snow, and the temperature hadn’t reached 30 degrees all day. Those 50 miles had been grueling.
This chance meeting in the event’s aid station was a game-changer. It was also uniquely appropriate. Continue reading Chance Meeting Sparks Friendship, 100-Mile Finishes for Burke, McElroy
After Years of Intrigue, Hale Reservation Staff Embraces Its Inner Trail Animal
WESTWOOD, Mass. – Shannon Obey can’t help but chuckle as she reflects on the early days of Hale Reservation’s relationship with the Trail Animals Running Club.
The Trail Animals had played host to their inaugural TARC 100 in June 2013. That year’s race took place in Weston, and it has lovingly gone down in TARC history as “the Mud-Fest.” The course took runners through a floodplain, and true to the word, the course flooded. Those who finished endured four 25-mile loops of post-holing in the mud and tromping through knee-deep water in some places.
Worried they’d wear out their welcome in Weston, the Trail Animals went looking for a new home for the race. Continue reading After Years of Intrigue, Hale Reservation Staff Embraces Its Inner Trail Animal
Harper Victorious at Frozen Yeti with Help from Her Trail Animal Friends
WESTWOOD, Mass. – A smile glowed on Carolyn Harper’s face and she raised her hands in the air as she ran the final strides toward Powissett Lodge. Friends cheered for her as she rounded the corner of the building, strode up the stairs and stepped through the door to check in.
One hundred miles were done. But was she? Continue reading Harper Victorious at Frozen Yeti with Help from Her Trail Animal Friends
Runners Counter Ice, Cold with Spirit, Grit at Inaugural Frozen Yeti
Editor’s Note: This is the first of multiple follow-up stories from the TARCtic Frozen Yeti. Several additional stories are in the works and will be posted in the next few days.
WESTWOOD, Mass. – As registrations for the inaugural TARCtic Frozen Yeti began rolling in months ago and the ultramarathon sold out, entrants were cautioned that they should prepare for bitterly cold New England temperatures and snow. A mandatory gear list straight out of the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc was established.
To put it bluntly, runners knew what they were signing up for. Continue reading Runners Counter Ice, Cold with Spirit, Grit at Inaugural Frozen Yeti
MassUltra Roundup: Rocky Raccoon
Most New England ultrarunners who sought out a starting line last weekend headed to Westwood, Mass., for the inaugural TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra. Meanwhile, a handful headed to Texas to take on one of the sport’s classic 100-milers: the Rocky Raccoon 100 in Huntsville. Boston’s Kate Cook and Boylston’s Neil Feldman both earned finisher’s belt buckles for their efforts, and they get this week’s roundup all to themselves after what was an otherwise light weekend of out-of-state racing. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Rocky Raccoon
MassUltra 