The 2017 ultrarunning season in Massachusetts opened under a winter storm alert on Saturday, Jan. 7, in Topsfield, Mass., as runners raced to complete 50 kilometers before a heavy dose of fluffy falling snow blanketed the area. Continue reading A Snowy Start to the 2017 Ultra Season at the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K
Tag Archives: ultrarunning
2017 TARC Trail Series Looks Familiar – Minus TARC 100
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
Luck, Longevity and Jeff List’s Love of the ‘Brutal Benchmark’ that is Hardrock
Jeff List didn’t spend Hardrock lottery day with his eyes glued to Twitter.
Instead, on Saturday, Dec. 3, while the social media feed informed the world exactly who among the nearly 2,000 entrants into the Hardrock 100 lottery had been selected for 145 spots at the starting line, List was doing what Hardrock veterans do best – running long miles on rugged trails. Continue reading Luck, Longevity and Jeff List’s Love of the ‘Brutal Benchmark’ that is Hardrock
From the Editor’s Desk: One Year in the Books
Not many people read the inaugural post on this website.
In fact, as I’m writing this column, a quick look into the site’s metadata tells me that the first article on the site – a story about the screening of “Run Free: The True Story of Caballo Blanco” that was published on Jan. 22 – has been viewed just five times. At least one of those viewings was done by me, and another by my girlfriend.
Suffice to say, the site has come a long way since then. Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk: One Year in the Books
MassUltra Roundup: Desert Solstice, Devil Dog and Ancient Oaks
This week’s roundup looks back at the speedy track performances of Greg Soutiea and Padraig Mullins at Desert Solstice, as well as the Devil Dog 100-miler and the invitation-only Ancient Oaks race in Florida. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Desert Solstice, Devil Dog and Ancient Oaks
Worth the Wait: McCarthy, Ringheiser to Represent Massachusetts at Western States
As the sun rose over Massachusetts on a blustery, 30-degree morning, Maddy McCarthy laced up her running shoes and headed out for a run. Meanwhile, Karen Ringheiser headed to the Middlesex Fells Reservation to lend support at the Fells Winter Ultra.
It was Saturday, Dec. 3; lottery day for Western States Endurance Run hopefuls. McCarthy and Ringheiser were among the 51 runners from Massachusetts and 4,248 applicants worldwide vying for 250 spots up for grabs in ultrarunning’s original 100-mile race.
Both McCarthy and Ringheiser knew the lottery day drill as well as anybody. For most, that drill involves starting the day feeling hopeful, eventually learning that their names weren’t drawn, and then beginning the search for a race to re-qualify for the following year’s lottery. Continue reading Worth the Wait: McCarthy, Ringheiser to Represent Massachusetts at Western States
MassUltra Roundup: Hellgate, Daytona, Austin Taylor and Rodeo Beach
Brian Rusiecki highlighted one of the final weekends of racing of the year with a dominant victory at the Hellgate 100K in Virginia. Massachusetts residents also took part in the 100-mile and 50-mile races at Daytona, as well as at 50Ks in Georgia and California.
Additionally, a few Massachusetts residents took part in the Desert Solstice 24-hour track event in Arizona. We will catch up on Desert Solstice in next week’s roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Hellgate, Daytona, Austin Taylor and Rodeo Beach
Tough Trails, Tougher Runners at the Fells Winter Ultra
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
MassUltra Roundup: Last Chance and TNFEC – California
The final in-state ultramarathon of 2016 took place Saturday with the TARC Fells Winter Ultra at the Middlesex Fells Reservation (an article about that event will be posted later this week), but a few Massachusetts runners took on out-of-state ultras last weekend, too. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Last Chance and TNFEC – California
Waiting for Western: A Spot in Western States Is No Guarantee for 51 Massachusetts Hopefuls
Maddy McCarthy made a quick stop at the Highway 49 aid station and then cruised down a long stretch of smooth, winding singletrack before dashing across historic No Hands Bridge.
The iconic Western States course was beneath her feet, and it felt perfect. This was what she’d dreamed of.
MassUltra 