WESTWOOD, Mass. – When the Trail Animals gathered at Hale Reservation in early February, it was an unforgettably frigid affair as a historic cold snap plunged temperatures well below zero for the TARCtic Frozen Yeti. Seven weeks later, the Trail Animals returned to Hale on Saturday, March 25, for the sixth running of the club’s To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra, and the runners encountered a completely different experience.
Continue reading Grip, Zhang, Taradash Have Big Days as TARC Returns to HaleTag Archives: Trail Animals
Photos: TARC To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra
The Trail Animals Running Club played host to the sixth running of the TARC To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra and “heavy” 5K on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. Runners took on a 3.5-mile loop course on mostly singletrack trails, and they were treated to some of the best weather conditions in the event’s history with dry trail conditions and temperatures in the mid-30s to low 40s with just a few sprinkles and some sleet near the end. This gallery includes a small sample of photos taken by MassUltra Editor Chris Wristen during the event. A full gallery of 83 photos can be viewed on the MassUltra Facebook page.
Continue reading Photos: TARC To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra
Results: TARC To Hale and Back
The sixth running of the Trail Animals Running Club’s To Hale and Back 6-Hour Ultra and “heavy” 5K took place on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. Runners raced on a 3.5-mile trail loop, either once for the “heavy” 5K or multiple times for the 6-hour event.
Continue reading Results: TARC To Hale and Back
Forged in Florida: Chance Meeting Sets Stage for Showdown at Frozen Yeti
WESTWOOD, Mass. – Gordon Collins knows the questions that are about to come his way. He hasn’t been prepped for the interview or told what he’ll be asked in advance. But come on, how could he not anticipate being asked about the most obvious detail about the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra?
Continue reading Forged in Florida: Chance Meeting Sets Stage for Showdown at Frozen Yeti
From Ice to Nice: Sub-Zero Temps Give Way to Warmth at Frozen Yeti
WESTWOOD, Mass. – Katya Divari’s eyes were locked on the narrow segment of singletrack trail. One last downhill, a final web of tangled tree roots and a quick uphill awaited her as she closed in on the finish line at Powissett Lodge. She made quick work of the descent, danced deftly through the roots and then paused before the final climb. The sun warmed the left side of her face as she spread her arms and looked up toward the blue sky above.
“Can you believe it?” Divari asked, a smile gracing her face. “So much better than yesterday.”
Continue reading From Ice to Nice: Sub-Zero Temps Give Way to Warmth at Frozen YetiResults: TARCtic Frozen Yeti
The Trail Animals Running Club played host to its fourth running of the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-Hour Ultra and 15-mile night trail race on Feb. 4-5 at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Mass. Runners in the ultra were treated to the coldest Frozen Yeti on record as a historic cold snap blasted the region, leading to a -9 degree Fahrenheit temperature at the start with -28 degree wind chill. Ultimately, 47 runners logged ultra mileage and another 44 completed the 15-miler.
Continue reading Results: TARCtic Frozen Yeti
From the Editor’s Desk: Celebrating the Silliness
For around 90 minutes, I perched halfway up the hill below Wright’s Tower and clicked away with my Nikon D90 camera as runners came toward me in both directions. Some danced down the hill, navigating its tangled web of tree roots while others dug deep and made the steep, rocky march upward.
Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk: Celebrating the Silliness
Dog Bite Doesn’t Derail Ribeiro’s Title Defense at Fells 40-Miler
STONEHAM, Mass. – A year ago, Adam Ribeiro fended off a fierce challenge during the final miles before winning the Trail Animals Running Club’s Fells Winter Ultra 40-mile race by less than two minutes.
Ribeiro returned to defend his title on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Though the 31-year-old from Marlborough, Mass., once again faced a staunch challenge throughout the day, his biggest threat came from a four-legged trail-user who nearly upended Ribeiro’s race during the late miles.
Continue reading Dog Bite Doesn’t Derail Ribeiro’s Title Defense at Fells 40-Miler
Farnsworth Strikes it Big Twice at Fells 40 with Victory, WSER Lottery Selection
STONEHAM, Mass. – A year ago, Sophia Farnsworth closed out her ultra season with a victory at the TARCkey Trot 6-Hour Ultra in mid-November. That set the tone for 2022 and what would be the biggest season of her life.
Farnsworth opened the year by taking on her first 100-miler – the grueling Hellbender 100 in North Carolina – and earned a top-10 finish. She followed that up in August with a top-five performance at the Twisted Branch 100K in New York. The Fells Winter Ultra marked the final race of her season on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Middlesex Fells Reservation and Farnsworth once again hoped to end with a win.
Continue reading Farnsworth Strikes it Big Twice at Fells 40 with Victory, WSER Lottery Selection
Richer, Wise Outrun the Rain to Win Fells Winter Ultra 32-Miler
STONEHAM, Mass. – In the days leading up to the Trail Animals Running Club’s Fells Winter Ultra, all eyes were on the forecast.
Continue reading Richer, Wise Outrun the Rain to Win Fells Winter Ultra 32-Miler
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