The first weekend of the new year is typically full of ultras around the United States, from fatass-style races to the popular Across the Years multi-day races in Arizona, to ringing-in-the-new-year races. Not this year. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc, some New Year’s races went virtual while most were canceled. Only a handful happened with in-person racing, and two Massachusetts residents took part in one of them. That race – Arizona’s San Tan Scramble – is covered in the first roundup of 2021.

The 2020 ultrarunning season is quickly coming to a close, but some of the sport’s speediest 100-mile and 24-hour runners capitalized on one final chance to log major mileage on Dec. 12-13 at the 11th annual Desert Solstice track race in Arizona. Among them was Scott Traer of Woburn, Mass., and his sizzling performance earned him a roundup all to himself this week.

A light weekend of ultrarunning was on tap in the United States on the final weekend before Thanksgiving, with just a handful of ultras across the country. One race dwarfed them all as the nation’s oldest ultra,the JFK 50, played host to around 1,000 runners in Maryland, including several from New England. Meanwhile, a few others headed West to Utah for the Dead Horse Ultras in Utah. Both races are covered in this week’s roundup.

A light weekend of ultramarathon racing took place on Nov. 14-15, with just a handful of races involving runners from New England. Most who chose to race opted to combine their miles with beers at the inaugural 8 Hours at the Brewery, while another headed to Georgia for a 24-hour track race. Both events are covered in this week’s roundup.

With three weeks to go until Thanksgiving, only a handful of in-person ultras remained on the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 race calendar. A few of them involved New England residents last weekend, including one race that involved a post-race positive test for COVID-19. From New Hampshire to Alabama and Arizona, runners from the region secured hard-earned ultramarathon finishes, and we have them covered in this week’s roundup.