For the first four years of its decade-long existence, the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service’s largest event – the multi-day, multi-distance Notchview Ultra – was a low-key, no-frills fatass-style event. It began as a simple 6-hour event in 2015, but by 2017 had expanded to include 12- and 24-hour offerings. In 2019, it exploded into a three-day endurance festival under its current name.
Continue reading BURCS Return to Roots for Notchview InvitationalTag Archives: Massachusetts
Results: MetroWest Backyard Ultra
The Needham Running Club played host to the fourth annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra on Sept. 27-28 at the Needham Town Forest in Needham, Mass. Runners took on a 4.17-mile loop course that they had to complete within the hour or face elimination. A new lap began on the hour, every hour, until just one runner remained. For the first time in event history, runners reached and surpassed the 100-mile mark.
Continue reading Results: MetroWest Backyard UltraResults: Race for the Refuge
The inaugural Race for the Refuge 6-hour, 3-hour, 30K and 10K trail races took place at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, Sept. 28, in Sudbury, Mass. Runners took on a loop course consisting of doubletrack trails, gravel and a little bit of pavement.
Continue reading Results: Race for the RefugeResults: BURCS Notchview Invitational
The Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) played host to the inaugural Notchview Invitational on Sept. 27-28 at Notchview Reservation in Windsor, Mass. The invitation-only fatass-style event included BURCS members who completed at least five Notchview Ultras or volunteered at a variety of BURCS Race Series events. Runners chose from 24-hour, 50-mile and 50K options.
Continue reading Results: BURCS Notchview Invitational
Photos: MetroWest Backyard Ultra
The Needham Running Club played host to the fourth annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra on Sept. 27-28 at the Needham Town Forest in Needham, Mass. Runners took on a 4.17-mile loop course on the trails of the Town Forest and the Bay Colony Rail Trail until only one runner remained. The following are a small sample of photos taken by MassUltra Editor Chris Wristen. A full gallery can be viewed on the MassUltra Flickr page.
Continue reading Photos: MetroWest Backyard Ultra
Trail Animals Try to Outrun the Storm at TARC Fall Classic
From the moment the sun rose over Great Brook Farm State Park on Saturday, Sept. 6, runners at the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC Fall Classic knew a storm was coming. The race was on–against the clock, and to beat the rain. Those in the sub-ultra distances had no need to worry, but the early starters in the event’s ultramarathons spent the day with one eye on the trail and the other eye on the sky with Carlisle, Mass., and most of the region under a severe thunderstorm watch.
Continue reading Trail Animals Try to Outrun the Storm at TARC Fall ClassicResults: TARC Fall Classic
The Trail Animals Running Club (TARC) played host to the 13th edition of the TARC Fall Classic on Saturday, Aug. 6, in Carlisle, Mass. More than 500 runners gathered and took on a variety of distances, including 50-mile and 50K ultramarathons, as well as 20-mile, half marathon and 10K distances on the trails of Great Brook Farm State Park.
Continue reading Results: TARC Fall Classic
Kousky Crushes the Course, Breaks Own Record at Jug End
The last time Justin Kousky took on the Jug End loop was in 2023. He dazzled that day with a record-setting 43.8-mile performance, toppling a record that had stood since 2016. Two years later, Kousky returned to do more damage at the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service’s (BURCS) 10th annual Jug End Loop Ultra on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025 at Jug End Reservation in Egremont, Mass.
Continue reading Kousky Crushes the Course, Breaks Own Record at Jug EndResults: BURCS Jug End Loop Ultra
The Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) played host to the 10th annual Jug End Loop Ultra on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025 at Jug End Reservation in Egremont, Mass. Runners took on the traditional 4.2-mile loop course for 6 hours, using an abbreviated mini-loop for the final hour. A single-loop, 4.2-mile race also was offered.
Continue reading Results: BURCS Jug End Loop Ultra
Familiar Faces, First-Timers Shine at TARC Summer Classic
MEDFIELD, Mass. – Rather than the typical mid-summer sauna, the TARC Summer Classic welcomed runners with remarkably pleasant conditions for the 14th annual event on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Noon Hill Reservation in Medfield. That’s not to say it was easy by any means; runners still had to overcome an uncomfortable mix of mosquitoes and humidity, but temperatures that ranged from the upper 50s to low 80s made for a mostly delightful day in the woods.
Continue reading Familiar Faces, First-Timers Shine at TARC Summer Classic
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