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 →

The inaugural Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile trail ultramarathons took place Oct. 12-13, crossing the state of Massachusetts from north to south, beginning in New Hampshire and crossing into Rhode Island before finishing back in Massachusetts at Douglas State Forest. Continue reading Results: Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail →

The inaugural running of the Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail 100-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile ultramarathons took place Oct. 12-13, 2019, on the Midstate Trail crossing Massachusetts from north to south. The following are a sample of photos from the race. A full photo gallery can be found on the MassUltra Facebook page at this link. Continue reading Photos: Midstate Massive Ultra-Trail →

When the first wave of runners in the Midstate Massive Ultra Trail depart Windblown Cross Country Ski Area in New Hampshire and head for the Massachusetts border to begin their North-South crossing of the Bay State, it will represent more than just the start of the first point-to-point 100-mile ultramarathon across Massachusetts. The 100-mile/50-mile/30-mile event on Oct. 12-13 will mark the fulfillment of a dream five years in the making. Continue reading Midstate Massive Ultra Trail is a Race Five Years in the Making →