Tag Archives: Trail Animals

TARC

2017 TARC Trail Series Looks Familiar – Minus TARC 100

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The 2017 edition of the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC Trail Series looks mighty similar to the 2016 offering, with one major exception.

Absent from the 2017 lineup is the TARC 100, which has been the most high-profile event of the Trail Series for the past four years. The decision to put the event on indefinite hiatus was announced in August. That said, there are still plenty of options for runners to choose from. The 2017 Trail Series will challenge new and longtime runners with 10 events – nine of them offering ultramarathon distances – so there’s plenty to look forward to, said Josh Katzman, a race director and longtime member of TARC’s leadership. Continue reading 2017 TARC Trail Series Looks Familiar – Minus TARC 100 →

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Tough Trails, Tougher Runners at the Fells Winter Ultra

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STONEHAM, Mass. – For those unfamiliar with the Middlesex Fells Reservation, the course description for the Trail Animals Running Club’s sixth annual Fells Winter Ultra might come across as a race director’s attempt to tease runners with a tantalizing portrayal of trail conditions that couldn’t possibly be as daunting as described.

“A nightmarish course of rocks and roots with a bit of elevation thrown in,” the description says of the eight-mile loop of the Skyline Trail, which 32-mile competitors circle four times and 40-mile competitors get to enjoy a fifth time.

Still, the Middlesex Fells resides just six miles north of downtown Boston and is surrounded by suburbs. How tough could the course really be?

Plenty tough, actually. Continue reading Tough Trails, Tougher Runners at the Fells Winter Ultra →

TARC

TARC Serves Up Pre-Thanksgiving Trail Feast at Inaugural TARCkey Trot

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WINCHESTER AND LEXINGTON, Mass. – The newest addition to the Trail Animals Running Club’s TARC Trail Series was, in a way, a feast before the feast.

The inaugural TARCkey Trot 6-Hour Ultra, which took place Saturday, Nov. 19, was scheduled to give runners an opportunity to feast on technical trails, burn some extra calories, and chew up some extra miles before chowing down on smorgasbords of food five days later on Thanksgiving. Continue reading TARC Serves Up Pre-Thanksgiving Trail Feast at Inaugural TARCkey Trot →

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Andover’s Swenson Delivers Record-Setting Performance at TARC 100

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WESTWOOD, Mass. – The first few miles didn’t go according to plan for Will Swenson at the TARC 100 on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Hale Reservation. As it turned out, that set the tone for a masterpiece of a performance as Swenson dominated the race in course-record time.

“My expectation of the race was that I was just going to see how it went and take what I could get,” he said. “If I found myself in position to be competitive then I certainly wanted to take that and see what I could do.” Continue reading Andover’s Swenson Delivers Record-Setting Performance at TARC 100 →

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Telus, Brinkert Notch 100K Course Records at TARC 100

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WESTWOOD, Mass. – When Marek Telus made his 50-mile debut in May at Pineland Farms in Maine, he went out too fast, hit the wall and bonked hard.

Telus finished that race – and posted a still speedy time of 7:47:38 – but he wasn’t satisfied. He tucked away the experience as a lesson learned, and he brought the knowledge gained with him to the starting line of his 100K debut at the TARC 100 on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Hale Reservation.

“I wanted to go out conservatively at first, just to make sure I’m not going to crash in the later miles. I didn’t want to do that again,” said Telus, 41, of Hopkinton, N.H. “If people were ahead of me, I didn’t worry about it much. I thought I’d just do my best, and it just happened to be my day today.”

Boy did it ever. Continue reading Telus, Brinkert Notch 100K Course Records at TARC 100 →

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Cutter Perseveres for TARC 50-Mile Victory

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WESTWOOD, Mass. – The 50-mile race at the TARC 100 presented runners with a unique challenge on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Hale Reservation.

By starting the race in the early afternoon, runners would have to cover most of the second 25-mile loop after dark.

Nine runners toed the starting line; four finished. Davis Cutter got it done first. Continue reading Cutter Perseveres for TARC 50-Mile Victory →

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Ahern, Hetherington Victorious at TARC Spring Classic 50K

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WESTON, Mass. – Uncertainty abounded during the early hours of the TARC Spring Classic.

Indecisive weather fluctuated Saturday morning between a light drizzle, cool and calm, and a steady rain before giving way to sunshine and heat. Meanwhile, the action on the course proved to be equally unpredictable when a race that seemingly was decided early took a dramatic turn with 10 kilometers to go. Continue reading Ahern, Hetherington Victorious at TARC Spring Classic 50K →