TARC

Back at Hale, Burke Enjoys Another Big Run

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Brian Burke has been To Hale and Back in 2019, and both times turned out pretty darn good.

It was just last month that Burke first went to Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass., where he received an intense introduction to the reservation’s rocky, rooty, winding trail system through the woods. The occasion was the TARCtic Frozen Yeti, a 30-hour ultramarathon that took place in 20-degree temperatures while the trails were coated in a thick layer of ice and a dusting of snow.

Burke spent more than 28 hours on the trails that weekend in early February on a course that consisted of three five-mile mini-loops labeled Red, White and Blue. He was one of three runners to finish with 100 miles; one runner went farther.

After seven weeks away, Burke went back to Hale Reservation on Saturday, March 23. This time his stay was shorter. Rather than a 30-hour race, he was there alongside 112 other runners for the Trail Animals Running Club’s fourth annual To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra. Continue reading Back at Hale, Burke Enjoys Another Big Run →

Roundup

MassUltra Roundup: Mt. Tammany, Get Lucky, Antelope Island, and Cape Fear

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A pair of Massachusetts ultrarunners – South Deerfield’s Brian Rusiecki and Boston’s Kevin Koncilja – kicked of their 2019 seasons with runner-up finishes last weekend, Rusiecki at the Mt. Tammany 10! in New Jersey and Koncilja at the Get Lucky 50/50 in Ohio. Meanwhile, Framingham’s Art Beauregard earned his first 100-mile finish at the Antelope Island Buffalo Run in Utah. Additionally, we tracked down a few local runners’ performances March 16 at the Badwater: Cape Fear Ultras in North Carolina. Those four races are featured in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Mt. Tammany, Get Lucky, Antelope Island, and Cape Fear →

TARC

Reflections on the Frozen Yeti: Low on Heat, High on Heart

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In the more than a month that has passed since the inaugural running of the TARCtic Frozen Yeti, the snow and ice on the trails has melted, disappeared, refallen and refrozen, and is in the process of melting once again.

Winter is beginning to release its grip on New England, so we’re taking one last look back at a first-year event that lived up to its name. Continue reading Reflections on the Frozen Yeti: Low on Heat, High on Heart →

Roundup

MassUltra Roundup: Marin Ultra Challenge, Trail Trashed, and Everglades

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A few new faces in New England made big splashes during their return trip to the West Coast last weekend as Boston resident Lance Doherty delivered a top-10 finish at the Marin Ultra Challenge 50K in California and Vincent Dimassa of New Haven, Conn., had a happy homecoming by winning the 50-miler. Those performances, plus the Trail Trashed Ultra in Nevada and the Everglades Ultras in Florida are featured in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Marin Ultra Challenge, Trail Trashed, and Everglades →

Mt. Toby

New England’s Newest Ultra Set for April at Mt. Toby in Sunderland

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The ultrarunning scene in Western Massachusetts is getting a new race in 2019.
The inaugural Mt. Toby Ultra is the newest addition to the growing ultramarathon racing schedule in the Bay State’s more mountainous half, and it’s the second Massachusetts ultra to be organized by Race Director Amy Rusiecki. Continue reading New England’s Newest Ultra Set for April at Mt. Toby in Sunderland →

Roundup

MassUltra Roundup: Caumsett, Naked Bavarian, and Way Too Cool

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While the ultrarunning calendar was quiet last weekend in Massachusetts, runners didn’t have to travel too far beyond the Bay State’s borders to find some competition. Sheffield’s John Kemp and Cambridge’s Padraig Mullins went to neighboring New York to race the Caumsett 50K. Meanwhile, Norwell’s Jim Diggins made his third straight March trip to Pennsylvania for the Naked Bavarian 40-miler. Additionally, Trail Animals Running Club legend Bob Crowley played in the mud out west at the Way Too Cool 50K. All three races are featured in this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Caumsett, Naked Bavarian, and Way Too Cool →

Roundup

MassUltra Roundup: Mt. Mitchell, Febapple, and Sycamore Canyon

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For Nick Curelop, Feb. 23 marked yet another successful trip to North Carolina when the Housatonic resident raced the difficult Mt. Mitchell Challenge 40-miler. Meanwhile, Sudbury’s Dylan Ascolese and Lincoln’s Jacqueline Anton both made their ultramarathon debuts in impressive fashion with podium finishes, Ascolese at the Febapple Frozen Fifty in New Jersey and Anton at Sycamore Canyon in California. That trio of races and stout performances highlight this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Mt. Mitchell, Febapple, and Sycamore Canyon →

Roundup

MassUltra Roundup: Beast of Burden, Black Canyon, Jackpot, Mid-Maryland and Iron Horse

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Winter has settled in on New England and the greater Northeast in recent weeks. That didn’t slow down Michael Condella as the Revere resident conquered the cold and turned in a runner-up finish at the Beast of Burden 100-miler in nearby New York. Other ultrarunners sought out the warmer climate of Florida, Nevada, and Arizona, led by Northampton’s Jake Dissinger who hammered a top-20 effort in a field of more than 600 runners at the Black Canyon 100K. Those performance provided some extra heat during the winter running season, and they highlight this week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Beast of Burden, Black Canyon, Jackpot, Mid-Maryland and Iron Horse →

TARC

Chance Meeting Sparks Friendship, 100-Mile Finishes for Burke, McElroy

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WESTWOOD, Mass. — Brian Burke strode through the door of Powissett Lodge, checked in with the timekeepers, and was about to grab a snack when he spotted a familiar face: William McElroy Jr.

It was early Saturday evening, Feb. 2, and both Burke and McElroy had already run 50 miles apiece — most of them solo — during the past 11 hours at the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra at Hale Reservation. The trail was covered in ice and snow, and the temperature hadn’t reached 30 degrees all day. Those 50 miles had been grueling.

This chance meeting in the event’s aid station was a game-changer. It was also uniquely appropriate. Continue reading Chance Meeting Sparks Friendship, 100-Mile Finishes for Burke, McElroy →

Going beyond the marathon in Massachusetts