The Trail Animals Running Club’s classic Wapack and Back trail ultramarathon was canceled today, runners learned in an email from the race directors, followed by a post on the club’s Facebook page. Continue reading Wapack and Back is Latest Race to be Canceled
From the Editor’s Desk: Telling Stories While Our Sport Presses Pause
Whether you first started reading the site this year or you’ve been following along from the beginning in early 2016, you likely came to MassUltra because you care about your local ultrarunning community. You’re here because you want to know the latest news, because you draw inspiration from the people around you, or because you simply want to feel a little more connected. It’s probably some combination of all of those reasons; in fact, all of them played a role in my decision to launch this site four-plus years ago, and they are why it continues today. Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk: Telling Stories While Our Sport Presses Pause
Ultra-Endurance Researchers Urge Halt to Events Through June 15
Just weeks before the 2020 ultrarunning slate in New England was set to kick into high gear, the sport — and most of everyday life — is grinding to a halt thanks to the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Schools have been shuttered for weeks or more, workers have been ordered to stay home and work remotely if possible, layoffs have begun in the service industry and others, and life as normal has ceased to be, well, normal. Continue reading Ultra-Endurance Researchers Urge Halt to Events Through June 15
TARC Spring Classic is Latest Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
Michael McDuffie and Annie Gagliardi, co-Race Directors for the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC Spring Classic, hoped their race on April 25 in Weston, Mass., would be able to avoid cancellation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they let runners know not to get their hopes up. Just days ago, McDuffie pegged the chances of the race taking place at “15.2 percent.”
On Wednesday evening, the percentage dropped to zero when McDuffie made the announcement that the race was canceled. Continue reading TARC Spring Classic is Latest Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
Cape Cod Trail Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
The Cape Cod Trail Race is the second Massachusetts ultramarathon to be canceled in response to the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Continue reading Cape Cod Trail Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
MassUltra Roundup: Bel Monte and Everglades
As COVID-19 increases its spread throughout the United States, the ultrarunning season is grinding to a halt. At least a dozen ultras in the US were canceled or postponed during the March 14-15 weekend. Only a handful of ultras took place in what might be the final week of racing for the foreseeable future. There weren’t many local results to report, but there were a handful of big performances turned in by Massachusetts residents during a mostly quiet race weekend. Amy and Brian Rusiecki led the way as the South Deerfield residents made one of their annual early-season trips to Virginia and brought home podium finishes at the Bel Monte 50-miler, Amy taking first in the women’s race and Brian second among the men. Additionally, Cambridge resident Simon Guerard secured a spot on the podium with a speedy performance at the Everglades Ultra in Florida. Both of those races are covered in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Bel Monte and Everglades
Massachusetts Ultrarunning Groups Adjust as COVID-19 Situation Evolves
Since its first documented cases in November 2019, the novel coronavirus — known as COVID-19 — has spread from China to the rest of the world. During that time, it has brought business, sporting events and many other aspects of everyday life to a halt.
New England has not been immune to the impacts of COVID-19, or its spread. Cases have been identified throughout the region, including 123 cases here in Massachusetts as of today, up from 15 on Thursday, most of them linked to a conference held by biotechnology company Biogen Inc. in downtown Boston. On Tuesday, March 10, Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts in response to COVID-19. A day later, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic, having infected more than 115,000 people worldwide, more than 4,200 of those cases resulting in death. Since then, both numbers have continued to swell. Continue reading Massachusetts Ultrarunning Groups Adjust as COVID-19 Situation Evolves
To Hale and Back Canceled in Precautionary Response to COVID-19
The Trail Animals Running Club’s To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra and 5K, scheduled for March 22 at Hale Reservation, has been canceled as a precautionary measure due to COVID-19. The decision was made following discussions with the Westwood Board of Health. Continue reading To Hale and Back Canceled in Precautionary Response to COVID-19
Trails in Motion Film Festival at Race-Mania Postponed Due to Coronavirus
The Race-Mania Summit and Expo announced on Thursday, March 12, that the Trails in Motion Film Festival at Race-Mania has been postponed in response to the coronavirus.
The Film Festival, which was to take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Boston University’s Fit Rec Center as a part of the broader Race-Mania event, will be rescheduled for a later date, organizers announced via Facebook. Continue reading Trails in Motion Film Festival at Race-Mania Postponed Due to Coronavirus
MassUltra Roundup: Mesquite Canyon and Way Too Cool
After a quick start to the 2020 ultramarathon slate in Massachusetts with two fatass-style races in January and the TARCtic Frozen Yeti at the beginning of February, a period of relative quiet has settled over the local ultra scene. That will change in a few weeks when the Trail Animals Running Club plays host to the To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra, followed by a jam-packed April lineup. In the meantime, several runners have spent March heading out-of-state to race. That was the case on Saturday, March 7, when Easthampton’s Ethan Abeles traveled to Arizona to race the Mesquite Canyon 50K. Additionally, Cambridge resident Kai Hoeffner and Milford’s Martha Stapels took part in the massive Way Too Cool 50K in California. Both races are included in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Mesquite Canyon and Way Too Cool
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