When the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service brought to a close its Free to Run Trail Races in September, 2019, the BURCS leadership assumed they’d be unpacking the supplies again the following spring – as usual – for the new season of racing. Little did they know, the pop-up tents, trail markings, aid station tables and more would remain in storage until summer 2021.
Continue reading BURCS Reunite at Jug End for First In-Person Ultra Since 2019Tag Archives: COVID-19
After Cancellation in 2020, Stone Cat Registration to Open June 29
After 18 years as a 50-mile and marathon event, the Stone Cat organizers merged the two distances into one 50K race in 2019. The result was spirited competition in both the women’s and men’s fields where strong performances were plentiful and the outcome was in doubt until the final trip around the three-loop course. By the end of the day, the reinvented Stone Cat was an instant classic.
Continue reading After Cancellation in 2020, Stone Cat Registration to Open June 29
TARC to Resume In-Person Races
The Trail Animals are officially returning from hibernation.
Continue reading TARC to Resume In-Person RacesMassUltra Roundup: Manchester 2 Monadnock, Six Hours at the Reservoir, Cruel Jewel, Spring Fling, and Blood Root
Pandemic restrictions are dropping and ultramarathon races are steadily opening back up. Now, New England is starting to hit its stride. A trio of regional ultras took place during the May 15-16 weekend with Manchester 2 Monadnock in New Hampshire, Six Hours at the Reservoir in Connecticut, and the Peak Blood Root Ultra in Vermont. Additionally, we’ve tracked down last week’s results from the Spring Fling 6-Hour in Connecticut. While most ultrarunners in the region stayed close to home these past few weeks, a few also made the trip to Georgia for the Cruel Jewel 100, so we’ve got that included, too. There’s plenty to read in this week’s roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Manchester 2 Monadnock, Six Hours at the Reservoir, Cruel Jewel, Spring Fling, and Blood Root
May Day Distance Classic Brings Runners Together for Miles, Camaraderie at Cutler Park
NEEDHAM, Mass. — When Kiko Bracker and the Needham Running Club’s Bill Gallagher drew up plans for the Needham May Day Distance Classic, they thought around a dozen local runners would show up throughout the day to log some miles and enjoy camaraderie on the trail. As it turned out, the idea was far more popular than they anticipated.
Continue reading May Day Distance Classic Brings Runners Together for Miles, Camaraderie at Cutler Park
‘Don’t Run Boston’ 50K is TARC’s First In-Person Event Since Pandemic Began
MILTON, Mass. — Twenty-five years ago, Howie Breinan dug his heel into the dirt path near Houghton’s Pond and drew a starting line for the “Don’t Run Boston” 50K at the Blue Hills Reservation. It was the first official race sponsored by the young Trail Animals Running Club, and one of the earliest trail ultramarathons to exist in Massachusetts.
A quarter century after that inaugural event, Breinan once again drew a starting line with his heel on Sunday, April 18, and welcomed runners to the 25th edition of the classic event at the Blue Hills.
Continue reading ‘Don’t Run Boston’ 50K is TARC’s First In-Person Event Since Pandemic Began
Results: Trail Animals’ ‘Don’t Run Boston’ 50K and 50-Mile
The 25th edition of the Trail Animals Running Club’s “Don’t Run Boston” Ultras took place on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Mass. It was the first in-person TARC event since early February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the in-person running of DRB was canceled, but a virtual option was held in its place.
Continue reading Results: Trail Animals’ ‘Don’t Run Boston’ 50K and 50-MileMassUltra Roundup: Traprock, Enchanted Forest, Ledyard, Chopawasmic, and Whiskey Basin
The first in-person trail of the year in Massachusetts took place Sunday, April 18, with the return of the Trail Animals Running Club’s “Don’t Run Boston” 50K at the Blue Hills Reservation, but plenty of out-of-state racing also went down during the April 17-18 weekend. No place was more active for New England ultrarunners than Connecticut where a trio of events were held, including some record-setting performances at the Traprock 50K and the Enchanted Forest 6-Hour Ultra. As an in-state race, DRB will be featured in a separate story, but the Connecticut races lead off this week’s busy roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Traprock, Enchanted Forest, Ledyard, Chopawasmic, and Whiskey BasinMassUltra Roundup: Zion and the Rattler
The combination of spring weather and the continued successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccines made the April 10-11 weekend enticing for several New England ultrarunners to head West to race. Two headed to Colorado to race the Rattler 50K, but Utah’s Zion National Park was by far the most popular destination as 19 New Englanders tackled ultra distances from 50K to 100 miles on desert trails. Both events are featured in this week’s roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Zion and the RattlerMassUltra Roundup: Umstead, Naked Prussian/Bavarian, Behind the Rocks, Spring On the Trails, Prairie Spirit, and F.I.T. Challenge
After a relatively slow and quiet start to the 2021 racing season, the final weekend of March was sizzling with several races across the country and some big performances by runners from New England. Most notably, two Massachusetts men — Scott Traer and Lance Doherty — finished in the top three overall at the Umstead 100-miler in North Carolina while Crystal Ross also had a big day and came within 2 minutes of finishing on the women’s podium. In addition to six races from the last weekend of March, we’ve also highlighted the big day that some local runners had a week earlier at the F.I.T. Challenge 50K in Rhode Island. The COVID-19 vaccination rate is rising and so are the number of in-person ultras taking place, making this a jam-packed roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Umstead, Naked Prussian/Bavarian, Behind the Rocks, Spring On the Trails, Prairie Spirit, and F.I.T. Challenge