Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mt. Toby Ultra 50K and 24K trail races returned for their second running on Saturday, April 9, in Sunderland, Mass.
Continue reading Results: Mt. Toby Ultra 50K and 24K
The Lynn Woods: Finding my Tribe and Passion for Ultra Running
Armed with a brand new pair of trail shoes and a can of bug spray, I arrived for my first trail race in the Lynn Woods on a hot and humid Wednesday night in 2018.
I had never run trails before. But that night, I pretended I knew what I was doing as I charged up steep, rocky hills and over rolling single track sprinkled with pine needles. At the end of the race, along with the new friends I had made along the way, I crossed the finish line to cheers and flashing cameras.
That night would change the course of my running, and ultimately, my life. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had just begun chasing an ultramarathon dream.
Continue reading The Lynn Woods: Finding my Tribe and Passion for Ultra Running
Needham Running Club to Play Host to Backyard Ultra
The Needham Running Club made its first foray into playing host to an ultrarunning event in 2021 when it organized the Needham May Day Distance Classic, a 14-hour and 5-minute fun run on the trails of Cutler Park. The free, no-frills event was a success with 38 runners turning out to log mileage on the dry, sunny day.
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DeDeo’s ‘Run to Stop the Hate’ Shows Love, Raises Funds for BAGLY, World Central Kitchen
Throughout his years of endurance adventures, Scot DeDeo has balanced his pursuits of speed and distance with a desire to make those miles benefit more than just himself.
Continue reading DeDeo’s ‘Run to Stop the Hate’ Shows Love, Raises Funds for BAGLY, World Central KitchenMassUltra Roundup: Umstead, Gorge Waterfalls, Trail Trashed, and Naked Prussian
Lance Doherty returned to the Umstead 100-miler for the second straight year, and for the second straight year the resident of Somerville, Mass., earned a spot on the podium in North Carolina. Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest, former Boston resident Joe McConaughy hammered a top-three finish at the Gorge Waterfalls 100K. Also in the West, Cambridge resident Richard Mountfield was victorious after 50 miles in Nevada. Those performances and more are included in this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Umstead, Gorge Waterfalls, Trail Trashed, and Naked Prussian
After 2-Year Hiatus, Runners Savor Every Last Minute of To Hale and Back
WESTWOOD, Mass. – On paper, Robert Lynch’s decision to go back out for one more loop seemed like wishful thinking.
Lynch already had seven loops and 24.5 miles on his legs. His previous three trips through the 3.5-mile course had taken the 46-year-old from Sharon, Mass., 47, 48 and 54 minutes, respectively. If he wanted to complete one more and have it count, he had to do it in less than 46 minutes.
Continue reading After 2-Year Hiatus, Runners Savor Every Last Minute of To Hale and BackMassUltra Roundup: Antelope Island, Behind the Rocks, and Spring on the Trails
The center of New England ultrarunning during the March 25-27 weekend was Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass., where the Trail Animals Running Club welcomed runners back to the To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra following a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, but a handful of runners from the region headed elsewhere to explore new trails. Two of them delivered head-turning performances in Utah, with Newton’s Nick Poles placing second overall in his 100-mile debut at Antelope Island and Rhode Island’s Ben Quatromoni earning a podium spot in Moab. Those performances highlight this week’s roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Antelope Island, Behind the Rocks, and Spring on the Trails
Photos: TARC To Hale and Back
The Trail Animals Running Club welcomed runners back to Hale Reservation for the return of the To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra on Saturday, March 26, 2022, following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Runners were treated to near-perfect running conditions with mostly dry terrain, mostly sunny skies, and comfortable temperatures. The following are a sample of photos from the day taken by MassUltra editor Chris Wristen. To view a full photo gallery, visit the MassUltra Facebook page at this link.
Continue reading Photos: TARC To Hale and Back
Results: TARC To Hale and Back
The Trail Animals Running Club’s annual spring kickoff – the To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra and 5K – returned from a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. Runners were treated to near-perfect running conditions with a 42-degree start under partly cloudy skies, ultimately warming to 53 degrees and sunny by noon before some afternoon clouds rolled in and a breeze began to cool the course during the final hours as runners tackled their final trips around the 3.5-mile loop course.
Continue reading Results: TARC To Hale and BackMassUltra Roundup: Chuckanut, MST, Pulse, BS, and the Swamp
Spring is beginning to make its presence felt in New England, but ultrarunners from the region ventured to the South and West in pursuit of warmer temperatures and fast running during the March 19-20 weekend. Several runners turned in strong ultra debut performances, including Harvard’s Nicholas Rindenello and Connecticut’s Eric Collins, while others like Carolyn Stocker returned to racing after some time away and quickly shook off the rust. From California and Idaho, to North Carolina and Florida, to Pennsylvania, there’s plenty to read in this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Chuckanut, MST, Pulse, BS, and the Swamp
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