The Trail Animals Running Club (TARC) played host to the 12th edition of the TARC Winter Classic on Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham, Mass. The event took on a bit of a new look this year as it varied from its traditional Fells Winter Ultra lineup. Gone was the five-loop 40-mile ultra, but the four-loop 32-mile ultra remained and a new one-loop 8-mile race was added to the lineup.
Continue reading Results: TARC Winter ClassicTag Archives: trailrunning
10 New England Residents Selected in 2024 WSER Lottery, 3 More on Waitlist
It didn’t take long for the first New England resident to be selected for the 2024 Western States Endurance Run. The wait lasted just one pick.
Continue reading 10 New England Residents Selected in 2024 WSER Lottery, 3 More on Waitlist181 New Englanders Await WSER Lottery
Hopes may be high, but the odds will once again be stacked against entrants in the Western States Endurance Run’s lottery on Saturday, Dec. 2, as 9,389 runners from around the world vie for 250 of the race’s 369 spots. The remaining positions in the 2024 race field will go to those who placed in the top 10 in 2023, earned a Golden Ticket, or secured a spot in the field provided by a sponsor.
Continue reading 181 New Englanders Await WSER LotteryMassUltra Roundup: Fountain City 5
Thanksgiving weekend was primarily reserved for turkey trots and limited ultramarathon racing, but one New England resident found his way to the start of an ultra. Michael Pereiro of Shelton, Conn., took on the Fountain City 5 50K in Georgia for the second straight year and had another speedy performance. He gets this edition of the roundup all to himself.
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The Tireless Mr. Ridley: TARCkey Trot Victory is Latest Highlight of Racing Streak
WINCHESTER, Mass. – It’s not unusual to see Mat Ridley ripping through the woods on singletrack trails, dodging rocks and dancing through roots while making it seem easy as the miles pile up. Ridley has been one of the fastest ultra-trail runners in the area for the past two years with multiple victories and several podium finishes to his credit.
Continue reading The Tireless Mr. Ridley: TARCkey Trot Victory is Latest Highlight of Racing Streak
G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K to Return for 24th Year
The 2024 New England ultrarunning season will open in traditional fashion with the return of the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K. Gil’s Athletic Club will play host to the event for the 24th time on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield.
Continue reading G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K to Return for 24th YearMassUltra Roundup: Fall Fling, Dead Horse, Fire Fest, Swamp Fox, and JFK 50
Ultrarunners from New England feasted on trails one final time before Thanksgiving during the Nov. 17-18 weekend with runners taking on ultra events from Connecticut to Nevada and points in between. Some gathered in Southington, Conn., for the seventh annual CT Trailmixers Fall Fling 400, while many more headed south to Maryland for the latest edition of the JFK 50. Other ultras where New Englanders toed the starting line included the Swamp Fox Ultra in South Carolina, Dead Horse in Utah, and Fire Fest in Nevada. We have it all covered in this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Fall Fling, Dead Horse, Fire Fest, Swamp Fox, and JFK 50
No Finishers as Tidd Brothers Opt for Tie at Race for DFL
WINCHENDON, Mass. – It’s not often that brothers Bill Tidd and John Tidd get to share a trail on race day.
Continue reading No Finishers as Tidd Brothers Opt for Tie at Race for DFLMassUltra Roundup: Tunnel Hill, Roxbury, and Cantuckee Y’all
The final multi-ultra week of the year in Massachusetts was on tap during the Nov. 10-12 weekend as runners tackled the 6-hour timed TARCkey Trot at Wright-Locke Farm and Whipple Hill in Winchester and an undetermined time-length event at the Race for DFL last person standing ultra in Winchendon. Those races will have their own separate recap writeups. Beyond those local ultras, a few other runners conquered courses in the lead-up to the Thanksgiving holiday. A Few tackled the inaugural 50K ultra as part of the Roxbury Marathon in Connecticut. Others traveled to Illinois and turned in fast performances while witnessing even faster ones – including a world record – at Tunnel Hill. Another Massachusetts man made a strong ultra debut at a first-year ultra in Kentucky. We have them all covered in this edition of the roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Tunnel Hill, Roxbury, and Cantuckee Y’all
Fueled by Community, Crosby Smashes Bay Circuit Trail FKT
NEWBURY, Mass. – Cole Crosby squinted as he looked out across the Atlantic Ocean, the glittery reflection of the sun off the water stinging his tired eyes on this nearly cloud-free day. His nostrils burned as he breathed in the cold ocean air, and his legs shivered in the 44-degree temperature and 15-mile-per-hour wind. The tastes of champagne and Modelo Especial were still fresh on his tongue, crisp celebratory palate cleansers after multiple days on the run.
It’s fair to say Crosby was on the verge of sensory overload as he stood on the edge of Newbury Beach just after noon on Saturday, Nov. 11, a few minutes removed from completing his fastest known time (FKT) effort on the approximately 230-mile long Bay Circuit Trail (BCT). Still, of all the feelings and emotions coursing through his weary body in that moment, one stood out from the rest.
“Fulfilled,” Crosby said matter-of-factly. “That’s the one word.”
It would make sense if Crosby’s fulfillment stemmed from his performance: his time of 2 days, 5 hours, 51 minutes and 14 seconds smashed the supported FKT by more than 38 hours, but that wasn’t really it. Sure, Crosby was proud of his record-setting time, but his fulfillment was rooted in the fact that a much more deeply personal hope came to fruition during the course of his adventure.
Continue reading Fueled by Community, Crosby Smashes Bay Circuit Trail FKT
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