The G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K played a central role in Matt Veiga’s trail- and ultrarunning career. The event, hosted by Gil’s Athletic Club in Topsfield, introduced him to the sport in 2005 when he attended his first Fat Ass 50K. Veiga took part in the event at least 10 times, and like hundreds of runners in New England, always looked forward to the free fun run in early January that served as the unofficial kickoff to the new trail- and ultrarunning season.
When Veiga learned in November that the event would not return after a 25-year run, he wanted to do something about it.
After a 25-year run as the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K, Gil’s Athletic Club handed off the reins for the classic New England ultrarunning kickoff event to the Trail Animals Running Club. The first offering of the annual fun run under its new name of the TARC Yeti Trail Trot took place on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Hamilton, Mass. Around 150 runners showed up on a cold morning to run or walk between one and five loops of snowy and icy trails. Thirty-one runners completed five loops and earned ultramarathon finishes, while another 11 runners completed four loops and an extra out-and-back for a marathon finish.
After 25 years of kicking off the ultrarunning new year in New England, the Gil’s Athletic Club is hanging up its sneakers, so to speak. In a post to the club’s website, Race Director Roger Martell announced that the GAC Fat Ass 50K will not return in 2026.
While blizzard conditions and ice ravaged much of the United States spanning from Kansas to Washington, D.C., ultrarunners in New England only had to brace themselves for cold temperatures as they kicked off the 2025 ultrarunning season.
The 25th running of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K took place on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, Mass. The New England classic was organized by Gil’s Athletic Club and played host to around 200 runners. Runners took on a 10K loop course through the park as many times as they wanted, up to five loops for a 50K finish. Some completed four loops and an additional out-and-back for a marathon.
In what has been an annual tradition for years, the 2025 Massachusetts ultrarunning season will kick off with the the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K. Gil’s Athletic Club will play host to the event for the 25th time at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield.
TOPSFIELD, Mass. – In the days prior to the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K, concerns mounted about the possibility of a massive pileup of snow on the trails, in the parking lot, and on the roads leading to Bradley Palmer State Park.
The 24th running of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K took place on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, Mass. Around 250 runners took part in running between one and five loops of the 10K course. Thirty-five runners finished five loops for a 50K, and another 15 runners earned marathon finishes.
The 24th running of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K took place on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, Mass. Around 250 runners took part in running between one and five loops of the 10K course. The following are a sample of photos taken by MassUltra Editor Chris Wristen. Additional photos can be viewed on the MassUltra Facebook page.
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