The Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile race course is daunting during the best of conditions. It is front-loaded with climbing, the majority of it on rugged, technical singletrack trails where the footing is tricky and progress is often slow. The back half has several miles of road, so runners who’ve made it that far can try to pick up the pace, only to then be smacked with even more technical trails during the late miles in Douglas State Forest.
The event earned its reputation during mostly dry conditions through its first four years. The fifth edition of the race – which took place Oct. 7-8 – took course conditions to a diabolical new level as rain drenched the course, making rocks extra slippery and turning portions of the trail into rivers.
The fourth annual Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile ultramarathons took place Oct. 8-9, taking runners on a journey from New Ipswich, N.H., to Douglas, Mass., or shorter variations along the Midstate Trail that crossed Massachusetts from north to south.
The fourth annual Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile ultramarathons took place Oct. 8-9, 2022. Runners in the 100-miler started at the Windblown Cross Country Ski Area in New Ipswich, N.H., traveled across Massachusetts from north to south on the Midstate Trail, crossed into Connecticut and Rhode Island and then traveled to the finish line at Douglas State Forest in Douglas, Mass. The following are a select few photos from the race. A full photo gallery with 142 photos can be found on the MassUltra Facebook page at this link.
After months of preparation and anticipation, the third annual Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile ultramarathons are set to take place Oct. 9-10 and runners will once again attempt to traverse the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from north to south.
NEW IPSWICH, N.H. – Bob Keating crouched into a starting position as the final seconds counted down. Then, with the ring of the starting bell, the 73-year-old from Nashua, N.H., fired off the line with a strong knee-drive as though he were running a 100-meter dash.
But this was no sprint; far from it. This was the Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile race, and there was a long way to go. After a few steps, Keating paused, had a quick laugh, turned and waved to the other runners.
The second annual Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile trail ultramarathons took place Oct. 10-11, starting in New Ipswich, N.H., and finishing at Douglas State Forest on the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border.
The second annual Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail ultramarathons took place Oct. 10-11, traversing Massachusetts from north to south, starting at Windblown Cross Country Ski Area in New Ipswich, N.H., crossing Massachusetts into Connecticut and Rhode Island, and then back into Massachusetts to the finish line at Douglas State Forest.
In a bizarre year for ultrarunning where the COVID-19 pandemic has rocked the sport globally and led to the cancellation of 22 ultra events in Massachusetts alone, the Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail has beaten the odds and will play host to its second annual 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile trail races this weekend.
When it comes to ultramarathons, Jeff LeBlanc has typically been a behind-the-scenes guy. Sure, he has run his share of ultras – and he has run them quite well – but he also finds great enjoyment in supporting the efforts of others as they pursue their goals.
While you might find LeBlanc knocking out a 10-miler on a Sunday at the Middlesex Fells Reservation, you’re more likely to find the 33-year-old resident of Woburn, Mass., flipping quesadillas at an aid station, refilling water jugs and hydration packs, sweeping a course or offering witty comments and sharing helpful information on the Trail Animals Running Club’s Facebook page.Continue reading From Behind-the-Scenes Star to 100-Mile Finisher, LeBlanc Goes the Distance→
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