Grindstone weekend is always a big weekend for New England ultrarunners, and this year was no different. Thirteen runners from New England spent Oct. 4-6 on the course in Swoope, Va., with six of them earning their first 100-mile finishes. Other 100-mile runners headed to Illinois for the Hennepin 100, while three Massachusetts residents went all the way to California to run the Cuyamaca 100K. Closer to home, a few runners took on the Blues Cruise 50K in Pennsylvania while several more took on a Last Person Standing race in New Hampshire. It all made for a jam-packed weekend of racing and we have it covered in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Grindstone, Cuyamaca, Bubba’s Backyard, Hennepin, and Blues Cruise
MassUltra Roundup: The Yeti, the Bear, Vermont 50, Beebe Farm, and Mt. Taylor
Sept. 26-28 was a jam-packed weekend for ultrarunners in New England between the TARC Fall Classic in Massachusetts, the Vermont 50 and the Beebe Farm 48 – also in Vermont. The latter two are included in this week’s roundup, along with 100-mile races in Virginia and Utah, and a 50K in New Mexico. This intro is short, but this week’s roundup is long. There’s plenty to read, starting with Boston resident Lance Doherty’s win at the Yeti 100. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: The Yeti, the Bear, Vermont 50, Beebe Farm, and Mt. Taylor
Runners Handle the Heat at Sun-Soaked Fall Classic
CARLISLE, Mass. — The fall feelings didn’t last long. Shortly after the headlamps were ditched and the sun rose over Great Brook Farm State Park on Saturday, Sept. 28, the ninth annual TARC Fall Classic turned into a toasty trail-running affair.
Gone were the 49-degree temperatures that chilled runners as they huddled at the starting line. In their place were sunny skies, lots of sweat and a 70-degree morning that evolved into an 80-degree afternoon. It made for challenging conditions on a day where many in attendance were likely eager to enjoy the cooler comfort that late September typically brings to New England. Several runners withdrew as the day progressed, but many persevered and some had breakthrough performances. The Fall Classic’s 10-mile loop course is designed to be fast with its good footing and rolling hills, and this year’s 50-mile and 50K ultramarathons didn’t disappoint. Continue reading Runners Handle the Heat at Sun-Soaked Fall Classic
Results: TARC Fall Classic
The ninth annual Trail Animals Running Club (TARC) Fall Classic 50-mile and 50K ultramarathons and half marathon and 10K trail races took place Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, Mass. Continue reading Results: TARC Fall Classic
Photos: TARC Fall Classic
The ninth annual Trail Animals Running Club (TARC) Fall Classic took place Saturday, Sept. 28, at Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, Mass. The following are a brief sample of the photos taken at the race. A full 133-picture photo gallery can be viewed on the MassUltra Facebook page here. Continue reading Photos: TARC Fall Classic
MassUltra Roundup: Forgotten Forest, Firebird, and Yukon’s Gold Rush
After a busy summer of racing, Sept. 21-22 was a relatively calm, quiet weekend for the New England ultrarunning community before the fall racing season ramps up beginning with the annual TARC Fall Classic. There were still a few races, however, including a new one on Cape Cod (see separate story on the Y-Not 50K) the always-popular Forgotten Forest 9-Hour Ultra in Connecticut and the new Firebird 50K in Maine that attracted runners from throughout the region. Both of those races, as well as the Yukon’s Gold Rush 50K in New Jersey are featured in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Forgotten Forest, Firebird, and Yukon’s Gold Rush
Mullins Victorious in Inaugural ‘Y-Not’ 50K on Cape Cod
What began a year ago with the goal of inspiring residents of the Cape Cod communities to get moving – be it for a marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K – is now challenging runners to move even farther. That’s because the second annual Cape Cod Moves “Y-Not” Trail Races on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Sandwich, Mass., also featured the event’s inaugural 50K ultramarathon. Continue reading Mullins Victorious in Inaugural ‘Y-Not’ 50K on Cape Cod
Third Annual Village Ultra is All About Giving
Since its founding in 2017, the Village Ultra has been all about giving. Specifically, it has been about giving support to charitable causes and giving runners the opportunity to pursue personal-best performances in a low-key environment.
True to form, the third annual 24-hour event accomplished both goals on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the New Salem Town Common in New Salem., Mass. Around two-dozen runners and walkers took part in the event and money was raised to support the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides low-cost or free legal services to immigrants and refugees. A final fundraising total isn’t yet available because some runners made pledges remotely, but co-race director Carla Halpern said she knew hundreds of dollars were raised for RAICES. Continue reading Third Annual Village Ultra is All About Giving
Results: Cape Cod Moves ‘Y-Not’ Trail Races
The second running of the Cape Cod ‘Y-Not’ Trail Races included the inaugural running of the event’s 50K race on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Sandwich, Mass. The race consisted of 10 laps around a 5K loop. In addition to the ultra, the event offered a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K for the second year in a row. Continue reading Results: Cape Cod Moves ‘Y-Not’ Trail Races
MassUltra Roundup: Kilkenny Ridge, Northeast Kingdom, Pisgah Mountain, and Macedonia 50K
The White Mountains’ Kilkenny Ridge packed a punch last weekend, but several New England residents were up to the challenge for 50 or 25 miles, and a few others ventured to neighboring Vermont for 24 hours on a 3.5-mile loop in the Northeast Kingdom. Additionally, Miller’s Falls’ Daniel Grip of Millers Falls ascended to the top of the podium with a hard-earned win at Pisgah Mountain in New Hampshire, and a handful of other New Englanders took on a 50K course for the first time at Macedonia in Connecticut. All four events are captured in Part II of this week’s roundup: the New England-specific edition. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Kilkenny Ridge, Northeast Kingdom, Pisgah Mountain, and Macedonia 50K
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