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.

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 →

BARRE, Mass.  – The precise moment may have varied from runner to runner, but for all of them it came somewhere between Wachusett Mountain and Barre Falls Dam. That’s where – more than 40 miles into the inaugural Midstate Massive 100-mile ultramarathon – darkness began to fall and the runners became acutely aware of the magnitude of the challenge they’d taken on.

They’d already conquered the most technical terrain and biggest climbs that the course had to offer, but now they had to navigate the leaf-covered Midstate Trail through thick forest by the glow of headlamps and a full moon. Continue reading Massive Challenge: Midstate Trail Pushes Runners to the Limit at Inaugural Ultra →