The 2024 ultrarunning season officially opened on Saturday, Jan. 6, in traditional fashion with the 24th edition of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K in Topsfield, Mass. Around 250 runners took part in that classic event, and it will be featured in a separate recap. Still, a handful of New Englanders ventured outside the region to take on ultras during the Jan. 5-7 weekend, with some heading to nearby New York for the Frozen Flamingo 50K and Recover From the Holidays 50K, and others heading southwest to Arizona to race the San Tan Scramble 50K. We have them covered in this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: San Tan Scramble, Frozen Flamingo, and Recover From the Holidays
Results: 2024 G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K
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.
Continue reading Results: 2024 G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K
Photos: 2024 G.A.G. Fat Ass 50K
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.
Continue reading Photos: 2024 G.A.G. Fat Ass 50KMassUltra Roundup: Across the Years
The final miles of 2023 and first miles of 2024 were turned in by hundreds of runners on a 1.05-mile loop in Arizona at the 39th annual Across the Years endurance festival. A handful of New England residents were among those who logged last-minute ultras in 2023 or secured some of the first ultra finishes in the country of the new year. We have them covered in this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Across the Years
MassUltra Roundup: Run Undead
The 2023 ultrarunning season came to a close in the final days, hours and minutes of the year. A handful of New England residents seized that opportunity to squeeze in one last ultra of the year. A few traveled to Arizona for Across the Years, which began on Dec. 28 and concludes today. One runner – Seng-Lai Tan – traveled to Alabama and began his final ultra in 2023 and wrapped it up during the early hours of 2024. His successful effort kicks off our 2024 coverage in this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Run Undead
From the Editor’s Desk: As Corporatization Creeps In, Runners Responsible for Maintaining Sport’s Culture
If you’ve been following the news in our sport during the past few months, you might feel inclined to believe that trail- and ultrarunning as we know it is under attack; that the foundation of our sport and its culture are crumbling beneath our feet.
Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk: As Corporatization Creeps In, Runners Responsible for Maintaining Sport’s CultureFamiliar Faces Abound, But First-Timer Pacheco Leads All at Seth’s Fat Ass 50K
Matt Pacheco is still a relatively new face on the New England ultrarunning scene, having made his debut in 2022. Still, he made a quick impact, winning the 50K race at the Chesterfield Gorge Ultra that year. Pacheco has been even stronger in 2023 as he has gained more experience and confidence.
Continue reading Familiar Faces Abound, But First-Timer Pacheco Leads All at Seth’s Fat Ass 50K
MassUltra Roundup: Desert Solstice, Naked Nick, Paramount Ranch, and Frosty Looper
The holiday season is upon us, winter is closing in and the 2023 ultrarunning season is quickly nearing its conclusion. Only a handful of events remain, but a few New England residents made their way to starting lines during the Dec. 16-17 weekend. Beyond Seth’s Fat Ass 50K in Springfield, Mass. (separate recap), runners from the region tackled events in Arizona, Pennsylvania, California and New Jersey. Among that group, none had a bigger weekend than Woburn native Scott Traer whose “Run Fastah” mission was on full display as he scorched the track at Desert Solstice in Arizona. His big victory leads off this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Desert Solstice, Naked Nick, Paramount Ranch, and Frosty LooperResults: Seth’s Fat Ass 50K
The 13th edition of Seth’s Fat Ass 50K took place on Saturday, Dec. 16, at Forest Park in Springfield, Mass. Runners had to complete 10 laps of a 5K loop course.
Continue reading Results: Seth’s Fat Ass 50KRevamped Winter Classic Closes Out TARC Season
The Trail Animals Running Club’s 2023 TARC Trail Series came to a close as it always does with runners tackling loops at the Middlesex Fells on Saturday, Dec. 2, in Stoneham, Mass., but this year’s event featured a few tweaks to the traditional format.
Continue reading Revamped Winter Classic Closes Out TARC Season
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