Tag Archives: Massachusetts

Cape Cod

Runners Handle the Cold, Beat the Snow at Cape Cod Frozen Fat Ass

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All was quiet on Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, Mass., by the time the light snow began to fall on Saturday, Jan. 18. The scene had been far different just a few hours earlier. The beach was a hotbed of energy and activity on this frigid day as runners took part in the 14th annual Cape Cod Frozen Fat Ass 50K ultramarathon and 25K race on the sand. Continue reading Runners Handle the Cold, Beat the Snow at Cape Cod Frozen Fat Ass →

G.A.C.

Around 150 Runners Kick Off New Year at G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K

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Runners endured the full spectrum of weather conditions during the first 20 years of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K, from bone-chilling temperatures far below freezing, to blizzard conditions, to rain, ice, sun and unseasonably warm temperatures.

The 21st annual event took place Saturday, Jan. 4, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, Mass., and it featured a little bit of everything. Patches of snow and ice covered the 6.2-mile loop course, as did a fair amount of mud thanks to some thawing in the mid-40s temperatures and the rain that fell on and off during the race. The damp yet comfortable conditions were ideal for runners who sought several loops and didn’t mind having mud-coated calves and shoes. Continue reading Around 150 Runners Kick Off New Year at G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K →

BURCS

BURCS Series to Expand with Alford Springs 6-Hour Ultra

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For the past few years, the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) has kicked off its annual ultramarathon race series in mid-June. This year, the series will begin a few weeks sooner thanks to the introduction of a new race – the Alford Springs 6-Hour Ultra. Continue reading BURCS Series to Expand with Alford Springs 6-Hour Ultra →

Columns

From the Editor’s Desk: Cheers to the Givers

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Four-hundred laps around a track seems awful – at least to me. Running 402.3 laps sounds even worse.

That’s exactly what Joe McConaughy did on Saturday, Dec. 21, however. The 28-year-old Boston resident set out to complete 402.3 laps – 100 miles – on the Anderson High School track in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a fundraiser for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. His wife, Katie, was diagnosed with Crohn’s four years ago, so it’s something that has touched their family deeply.

Ultrarunning is a selfish endeavor in many ways. The countless hours and miles required just to prepare to run even longer distances mean that other people and activities are often put on hold. Joe’s track feat reminds us that our running can be done in service to others, too, and we can use ultrarunning as a vehicle for doing tremendous good. There is no cure for Crohn’s – at least not yet – but we’ll hopefully be a few steps closer to finding one thanks in part to the efforts of Joe and Katie. Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk: Cheers to the Givers →

TNFEC

North Face Cancels Endurance Challenge for 2020, Teases New Format

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For 13 years, The North Face Endurance Challenge was a staple of American trail- and ultrarunning – including the past three years in Massachusetts. The 2019 races were the last for the series, however. This morning, Friday, Dec. 20, The North Face announced the series is being canceled and hinted that a new format will follow. Continue reading North Face Cancels Endurance Challenge for 2020, Teases New Format →