The Trail Animals Running Club played host to the second annual TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra and 15-mile trail races on Feb. 1-2 at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. Continue reading Results: TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra →

WESTWOOD, Mass. – Shannon Obey can’t help but chuckle as she reflects on the early days of Hale Reservation’s relationship with the Trail Animals Running Club.

The Trail Animals had played host to their inaugural TARC 100 in June 2013. That year’s race took place in Weston, and it has lovingly gone down in TARC history as “the Mud-Fest.” The course took runners through a floodplain, and true to the word, the course flooded. Those who finished endured four 25-mile loops of post-holing in the mud and tromping through knee-deep water in some places.

Worried they’d wear out their welcome in Weston, the Trail Animals went looking for a new home for the race. Continue reading After Years of Intrigue, Hale Reservation Staff Embraces Its Inner Trail Animal →

WESTWOOD, Mass. – A smile glowed on Carolyn Harper’s face and she raised her hands in the air as she ran the final strides toward Powissett Lodge. Friends cheered for her as she rounded the corner of the building, strode up the stairs and stepped through the door to check in.

One hundred miles were done. But was she? Continue reading Harper Victorious at Frozen Yeti with Help from Her Trail Animal Friends →

Editor’s Note: This is the first of multiple follow-up stories from the TARCtic Frozen Yeti. Several additional stories are in the works and will be posted in the next few days.

WESTWOOD, Mass. – As registrations for the inaugural TARCtic Frozen Yeti began rolling in months ago and the ultramarathon sold out, entrants were cautioned that they should prepare for bitterly cold New England temperatures and snow. A mandatory gear list straight out of the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc was established.

To put it bluntly, runners knew what they were signing up for. Continue reading Runners Counter Ice, Cold with Spirit, Grit at Inaugural Frozen Yeti →

The inaugural TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour ultra took place Feb. 2-3 at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. MassUltra was on-site to provide coverage of the event, including photography. The following photos are just a few of the 147 pictures that can be viewed in the full gallery here. Continue reading Photos: TARCtic Frozen Yeti →

The inaugural TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra and 15-mile races took place Feb. 2-3 at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. In the 30-hour race, 108 runners completed at least 30 miles. Another 55 finished the 15-mile race.

RESULTS
30-Hour Results
Place; Name, Age; City, State; Miles – Time
1 Carolyn Harper, 27; Somerville, MA; 105 – 28:55:48
2 Josh Katzman, 39; Arlington, MA; 100 – 24:57:23
T3 William McElroy Jr., 42; Malden, MA; 100 – 28:48:19
T3 Brian Burke, 37; Somerville, MA; 100 – 28:48:19
5 Jean Labedan, 47; LaSalle, QC; 90 – 28:18:08
6 Sylvain Gelinas, 46; Sherbrooke, QC; 75 – 17:44:00
7 Sylvain Rousseau, 51; Sherbrooke, QC; 75 – 20:20:31
8 Fernando Salcido, 46; Somerville, MA; 75 – 22:52:27
9 Will Holets, 30; Boston, MA; 75 – 24:26:23
10 Ron Woolley, 48; Cohasset, MA; 75 – 24:30:13
11 Patrick Hayes, 35; Newton, MA; 75 – 26:05:40
60-mile finishers
12 Joshua Grzegorzewski, 43; Malden, MA; 60 – 13:36:34
13 Justin Kousky, 38; Westport, CT; 60 -13:51:45
14 Jacob Varekamp, 44; Norwell, MA; 60 – 14:09:45
15 Jason Gray, 39; Northbridge, MA; 60 -15:07:47
16 Brian Roccapriore, 40; Clinton, CT; 60 – 17:36:14
17 Benjamin Manning, 27; Sturbridge, MA; 60 – 17:56:15
18 Akira Yatsuhashi, 48; Oneonta, NY; 60 – 18:00:41
19 Prem Linskey, 29; Huntington, VT; 60 – 18:23:13
20 Tess Harvey, 29; Brighton, MA; 60 – 18:38:39
21 John Sherback, 39; North Easton, MA; 60 – 18:55:43
22 Adam Kempner, 46; North Easton, MA; 60 – 18:55:48
23 Shane McNally, 39; Everett, MA; 60 -19:04:51
24 John Brindamour, 38; Narragansett, RI; 60 -25:33:15
25 Richard Langevin, 61; Biddeford, ME; 60 – 27:34:02
26 Colleen, Smith, 35; Nashua, NH; 60 – 28:32:35
27 Thor Stone, 34; White Plains, NY; 60 – 28:40:37
28 Brandon Sweet, 30; Foxboro, MA; 60 – 28:56:18
45-mile finishers
29 Johan Keller, 34; Malden, MA; 45 – 8:17:46
30 Art Beauregard, 40; Framingham, MA; 45 – 11:15:52
31 Ian McLachlan, 32; Brookline, MA; 45 – 11:32:22
32 Matthew Burrell, 33; South Windsor, CT; 45 – 12:50:39
33 Taylor Scull, 37; Bedford, NH; 45 – 13:31:15
34 Joshua Milich, 28; Somerset, MA; 45 – 13:55:56
35 Brian Tjersland, 51; Dartmouth, MA; 45 – 13:55:58
36 Justin Chauvin, 26; Sturbridge, MA; 45 – 14:14:55
37 Jodi Badershall, 41; Freeman Township, ME; 45 – 14:19:12
38 Jonathan Barboza, 39; Dartmouth, MA; 45 – 14:22:50
39 Kiel Ormerod, 33; Medford, MA; 45 – 14:43:21
40 Andrew Beckman, 47; Framingham, MA; 45 – 15:49:11
41 Peter Guza, 38; North Andover, MA; 45 – 16:16:00
42 Elizabeth Gillis, 30; Lowell, MA; 45 – 17:07:26
43 Marie Gryszowka, 34; Spencer, MA; 45 – 18:22:50
44 Theresa Berna, 49; Lyndeborough, NH; 45 – 18:22:53
45 Shannon Plesh, 33; Lincoln, RI; 45 – 23:20:01
46 David Drebsky, 38; Plainview, NY; 45 – 23:20:08
47 Douglas Hall, 41; Belmont, MA; 45 – 25:44:53
30-mile finishers
48 Brendon Campbell, 34; Medford, MA; 30 – 6:02:21
49 Kara Olivito, 36; Medford, MA; 30 – 6:11:27
50 Carsten Braun, 50; Greenfield, MA; 30 – 6:12:54
51 Ryan Triffitt, 43; Topsham, ME; 30 – 6:14:05
52 Tracy Schultz, 36; Waltham, MA; 30 – 6:16:19
53 Steve Fleck, 35; Mendon, MA; 30 – 6:20:43
54 Matthew Henschel, 40; Jamaica Plain, MA; 30 – 6:22:28
55 Matthew Smith, 30; Cambridge, MA; 30 – 6:27:25
56 Ross Anderson, 39; Franklin, MA; 30 – 6:37:21
57 Dima Feinhaus, 55; Waban, MA; 30 – 6:43:25
58 Danielle Triffitt, 43; Topsham, ME; 30 – 6:45:42
59 Serena Wilcox, 39; Richmond, VT; 30 – 7:01:35
60 Jessica Goldman, 46; Dover, NH; 30 – 7:02:54
61 Jason Downer, 44; Rochester, NH; 30 – 7:02:58
62 Chris Risko, 50; Falmouth, MA; 30 – 7:15:15
63 Nicole Hazlett, 39; New Gloucester, ME; 30 – 7:37:13
64 Ryan Powers, 38; Fairhaven, MA; 30 – 7:44:55
65 Frank Hacket, 37; Medway, MA; 30 – 7:47:48
66 Gerald Audet, 33; Douglas, MA; 30 – 7:48:32
67 Sasha Oliveria, 32; Worcester, MA; 30 – 7:48:58
68 Todd Chiaramida, 42; Sharon, MA; 30 – 7:54:41
69 Brice Norton Hennelly, 39; Watertown, MA; 30 – 8:04:41
70 Neil Lacey, 64; Ayer, MA; 30 – 8:11:50
71 Meredith Pinault, 41; Belmont, MA; 30 – 8:23:43
72 Lynn Poyant, 55; New Bedford, MA; 30 – 8:24:06
73 Michael Fernandes, 38; Middleboro, MA; 30 – 8:26:17
74 Rebecca Ferrante, 44; Lynnfield, MA; 30 – 8:34:25
75 Bob Warren, 58; Attleboro, MA; 30 – 8:34:45
76 Pete Despres, 53; Fairhaven, MA; 30 – 8:35:23
77 Joel Reed, 30; Groton, MA; 30 – 8:42:16
78 Mirela Postelnicu, 43; Middletown, CT; 30 – 8:43:46
79 Michael Crutchley, 48; North Stonington, CT; 30 – 8:56:40
80 Claire Robinson-White, 39; Richmond, VT; 30 – 9:05:15
81 Christopher Agbay, 41; Jefferson, MA; 30 – 9:11:25
82 Michael Bates, 53; Acushnet, MA; 30 – 9:11:28
83 Kevin Mullen, 61; Fairhaven, MA; 30 – 9:11:31
84 Nate Combs, 58; Andover, MA; 30 – 9:18:48
85 Dani Rai, 36; Dorchester, MA; 30 – 9:20:37
86 Jason Bromberg, 37; Danvers, MA; 30 – 9:30:54
87 Michelle Swanson, 55; Malden, MA; 30 – 9:36:02
88 Tracy Vanisky, 43; Wilmington, MA; 30 – 9:37:16
89 Bill Howard, 70; Winchester, MA; 30 – 9:37:36
90 Alison Lackey, 37; Woburn, MA; 30 – 9:40:19
91 Leslie Allen, 36; North Andover, MA; 30 – 9:40:44
92 Dietmar Bago, 50; Andover, MA; 30 – 9:43:55
93 Bryan Twomey, 36; Norwich, CT; 30 – 10:47:45
94 Jonathan Parker, 34; Winchester, MA; 30 – 10:51:42
95 Dana Mawn, 48; North Andover, MA; 30 – 11:07:19
96 Dylan Leonard, 20; Chelmsford, MA; 30 – 11:09:31
97 Kevin Paige, 49; Manchester, NH; 30 – 11:28:52
98 Nicola Riello, 38; Lanesborough, MA; 30 – 11:54:53
99 Mike Caristi, 50; Mont Vernon, NH; 30 – 11:57:11
100 Caitlin Rossi, 35; Torrington, CT; 30 – 11:57:16
101 Laurie Brown, 51; Hollis, NH: 30 – 11:58:00
102 Julie O’Mara, 47; Westminster, MA; 30 – 11:58:57
103 Pranee Terry, 42; Salem Township, ME; 30 – 12:00:38
104 Stephanie LeBlanc, 49; Madison, ME; 30 – 12:05:07
105 Emily Fox, 23; Vestal, NY; 30 – 12:34:38
106 Craig Fox, 28; Malden, MA; 30 – 12:34:39
107 Kerry Cudmore, 54; Westport, MA; 30 – 12:53:39
108 Torben Arend, 48; Westwood, MA; 30 – 24:33:24

15-Mile Results
Place; Name, Age; City, State; Time
1 Patrick Caron, 21; Needham, MA; 1:53:50
2 Evren Gunduz, 36; Cambridge, MA; 2:04:16
3 Christopher Knighton, 30; Allston, MA; 2:06:45
4 Scot DeDeo, 38; Belmont, MA; 2:11:54
5 Marc Almanzan, 36; Jamaica Plain, MA; 2:14:33
6 Frederic Bouvet, 34; Arlington, MA; 2:19:01
7 Kevan Hauver, 44; Coventry, RI; 2:29:44
8 Sean Haggerty, 49; Wellesley, MA; 2:31:33
9 Jeremy Shaw, 33; Watertown, MA; 2:33:00
10 Adam Gallagher, 35; Cranston, RI; 2:38:29
11 Sarah Smith-Tripp, 22; Wellesley, MA; 2:43:40
12 Matt Dibb, 38; Hull, MA; 2:46:36
13 Ann Welch, 38; Medford, MA; 2:56:28
14 Olivier Negre, 44; Cambridge, MA; 2:58:11
15 Kenneth Thoman, 38; Rowley, MA; 3:03:51
16 Joseph Drebaum, 37; Medford, MA; 3:04:10
17 Fabien Llambi, 40; Cambridge, MA; 3:13:44
18 Todd Sankey, 56; Mansfield, MA; 3:17:31
19 Shannon Austin, 50; Morrisville, VT; 3:19:01
20 Adam Hogue, 30; Cranston, RI; 3:23:02
21 Jeremy Bombard, 44; Framingham, MA; 3:23:06
22 Dean Clark, 52; Weymouth, MA; 3:25:53
23 Jackie St. Louis, 31; Somerville, MA; 3:26:51
24 Michelle Shaw, 40; Wellesley, MA; 3:30:10
25 Jamie Berger-Brinker, 41; Cranston, RI; 3:41:03
26 Devon samson, 42; Arlington, MA; 3:44:40
27 Sara Pearson, 34; West Warwick, RI; 3:45:34
28 Deb Anderson, 44; Wilbraham, MA; 3:46:53
29 Michelle Costa, 42; Fall River, MA; 3:50:09
30 Diane Souza, 53; Fall River, MA; 3:50:15
31 Tracy Long, 46; Dennis Port, MA; 3:53:26
32 Heidi Monroe, 48; Bristol, RI; 3:56:14
33 Samantha Woodworth, 25; Worcester, MA; 3:57:01
34 Stephen Galloway, 55; Framingham, MA; 3:58:13
35 Don Keren, 63; Melrose, MA; 3:59:44
36 Katya Divari, 57; Ashland, MA; 3:59:48
37 Mies Bastille, 33; Worcester, MA; 4:01:52
38 Alexandria Mauck, 57; Westport Point, MA; 4:04:04
39 Matthew McCarthy, 22; Stoneham, MA; 4:05:32
40 Bart McCarthy, 46; Beverly, MA; 4:05:37
41 Ben Ibey, 43; North Hampton, NH; 4:05:45
42 Nichole Ogilvie, 33; Raynham, MA; 4:05:54
43 Vincent Savino, 54; New Bedford, MA; 4:06:50
44 Jennifer Graves, 48; Worcester, MA; 4:08:36
45 Matthew Edwards, 50; Lincoln, RI; 4:10:57
46 Sean Walker, 43; Ashburnham, MA; 4:14:12
47 Aura Alves-Mauricio, 46; Westport, MA; 4:15:26
48 Amy Faraone, 45; Attleboro, MA; 4:18:16
49 Christine Eisenhower, 33; Providence, RI; 4:18:19
50 Jeff Hattem, 67; Natick, MA; 4:29:46
51 Umesh Phirke, 42; Newton, MA; 4:43:22
52 Meredith Nash, 45; West Hartford, CT; 4:47:53
53 Greg Nash, 59; West Hartford, CT; 4:47:58
54 Alex Kates, 51; Marlborough, MA; 4:51:52
55 Vikas Issar, 44; Westborough, MA; 5:00:33

It was with heavy hearts that the Trail Animals Running Club announced in August 2016 that it would be discontinuing the organization’s namesake event, the TARC 100, following a four-year run.

The event underwent a variety of changes, including venue relocation and a move from June to October, but it struggled to gain traction at a time where runners were presented with new 100-mile races all over the country – in particular during the race-heavy summer and fall months. On top of that, the Trail Animals had taken over the Ghost Train Trail Races – an annual 30-hour event in October – meaning the club had to organize major volunteer efforts just a few weeks apart. It was a daunting task, and after four years of hard work, creative problem-solving, and occasional frustration, the club decided to take a step back. The TARC 100 was mothballed after the 2016 race with organizers noting that “we realized that having two 100 milers for the club is too much right now.”

The term “mothballed” was carefully chosen because it indicated that the race wasn’t necessarily gone for good, rather it was being set aside for a time. Josh Katzman, one of the TARC 100 organizers, noted at the time that the race might return in a different form in the future. He was hopeful that it would, but he made no promises.

It turned out Katzman wasn’t the only hopeful person. Longtime TARC volunteers and runners Surjeet Paintal and Carolyn Shreck were hopeful, too, and it was their hope and optimism that ultimately led to the race being reincarnated for 2019 in the form of the TARCtic Frozen Yeti Trail Races. The event will use a 30-hour timed format and take place starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. Continue reading Frozen Yeti to Bring TARC 100 Out of Hibernation as 30-Hour Ultra →