Tag Archives: Massachusetts

Features

McConaughy Aims for Ambitious Appalachian Trail Speed Record

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Editor’s Note: The interview with Joe McConaughy for this story took place July 14, a few days before he began his Appalachian Trail Fastest Known Time pursuit. As of today’s publication, Joe should be about halfway through his journey if all is going according to plan.

Whether on the trail or in everyday life, Joe McConaughy is a tough guy to track down. That has been particularly true this year. Whether it’s racing among national elites at West Coast ultramarathons, putting in long hours at a job he enjoys in sales for international travel/education company Education First, or spending quality time with his girlfriend Katie Kiracofe, most of McConaughy’s time has been spent on the go.

Knowing this, it was no surprise that it took a week to coordinate a time that would work to discuss the Boston resident’s grand summer adventure. This was the last – and only – time that would work. He’d spent a week in Canada with spotty cell service.

Today (July 14), he’s in Seattle, dropping off Katie at a Ragnar Relay event and visiting his family. Tomorrow he’ll hop a plane to Georgia. Shortly thereafter, he will disappear into the woods. Continue reading McConaughy Aims for Ambitious Appalachian Trail Speed Record →

BURCS

Davis, Defusco Lead MA Runners at Jug End Loop Ultra

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The second running of the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service’s Jug End Loop 6-Hour Ultra featured explosive turnout and impressive performances on Saturday, July 19, at Jug End State Reservation in Egremont, Mass.

Sixty-nine runners took part in this year’s event – more than double the 30 from 2016 – and 25 surpassed the marathon distance by anywhere from a few steps to many miles. Fourteen ran at least a 50K. The fastest performances were turned in by last year’s runner-up and a pair of Massachusetts residents. Continue reading Davis, Defusco Lead MA Runners at Jug End Loop Ultra →

BURCS

More Time, More Miles at BURCS Summer Fat Ass

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Demand for big mileage opportunities has grown in western Massachusetts in recent years, and the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) responded first with the expansion of its BURCS Badass Race Series to include additional events, and then this year with time extensions for the organization’s annual Summer Fat Ass Run.

The Summer Fat Ass was a six-hour event during its first two years, and last year both runners and organizers discussed the possibility of doubling – and maybe even quadrupling – the time limit so runners could try to achieve 50- and 100-mile goals. That conversation laid the foundation for the third annual Summer Fat Ass, which expanded into a two-day affair on July 8-9 at Notchview Reservation in Windsor, Mass. In addition to the standard six-hour event, runners could also choose to run for 12 hours or 24 hours. The result was that dozens of new faces turned out for the event, and many people set personal milestones, all of which pleased race director Benn Griffin. Continue reading More Time, More Miles at BURCS Summer Fat Ass →

Roundup

MassUltra Roundup: IAU 24-Hour World Championships

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Massachusetts was represented on the world stage at the International Association of Ultrarunners’ 24-Hour World Championships on July 1-2 in Belfast, Ireland.

Cambridge resident Jenny Hoffman was one of seven women who represented the United States at the World Championships as a member of the US National 24-Hour Running Team. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: IAU 24-Hour World Championships →

BURCS

Fresh Faces, Fast Times at Vegan Power 50K

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Course record-holders Jason Mintz of Syracuse, N.Y., and Laura Kline of New Paltz, N.Y., were absent from this year’s Vegan Power 50K with Mintz racing the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run and Kline serving as his pacer. Additionally, 2016 women’s champion Samantha LeBlanc of Woburn, Mass., took part in the relay portion of Vegan Power. That left the door open for new faces to contend for first-place finishes.

New champions emerged, and it was a tale of two races at the fourth annual Vegan Power 50K as the men’s field featured a runaway winner and the women’s field produced a close battle for the podium positions on Saturday, June 17, at Pittsfield State Forest in Pittsfield, Mass. Continue reading Fresh Faces, Fast Times at Vegan Power 50K →

Cape Cod

New Solo, Relay 50-Miler Coming to Cape Cod

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A new solo ultramarathon and team relay is coming to Massachusetts this fall. The Fall 50 will make its Bay State debut on Saturday, September 30, on Cape Cod.

Runners have the option of running 50 miles solo or forming teams of between two and five runners to cover the distance from Wellfleet to Barnstable. Continue reading New Solo, Relay 50-Miler Coming to Cape Cod →

TNFEC

New England Tough: Burly Course Tests Runners at TNFEC-MA

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PRINCETON, Mass. – It took a decade for The North Face Endurance Challenge to venture into New England. When it finally did, runners were treated to a whopper of a course as the region’s diverse and difficult terrain lived up to its reputation. Continue reading New England Tough: Burly Course Tests Runners at TNFEC-MA →

Northeast Race Management

Mullins Edges Loureiro in Inaugural Big Bear 50K

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When Northeast Race Management began planning its inaugural trail ultramarathon, race organizers sought to meet growing demand from runners who’ve taken part in its shorter distance offerings during the past five years.

What played out at the first-year event, the Big Bear 50K, on Sunday, May 21, in East Taunton, Mass., was more than just the endurance challenge that race organizers had hoped to provide. A highly competitive race unfolded on the trails of Massasoit State Park as a trio of runners battled for the win. Continue reading Mullins Edges Loureiro in Inaugural Big Bear 50K →