October started fast for New England ultrarunners. There were three events here in the region during the Oct. 3-5 weekend, but New Englanders also traveled to several other ultras throughout the country for some hard-earned finishes and strong results. Here in Part I of this week’s roundup we catch up on results from the West, including ultras in Colorado, Arizona, California, Idaho and Utah. We begin in Colorado, where Connecticut’s Chase Smith outdueled his younger brother for a victory and course record.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Above the Clouds, Saddles, Wild Wild West, Cuyamaca, Moscow Mountain Madness, and ArchesTag Archives: ultrarunning
Inaugural Race for the Refuge a Major Success for Highland City Striders
For years, the trails of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, Mass., have been a hidden gem for New England trail-runners. Miles of wide, rolling trails wind through the forested land, past a handful of eerie, abandoned military bunkers, surrounded by a variety of wildlife that call the refuge home. It’s scenic, serene, and soothing – and it’s Judy Proteau’s favorite place to run.
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100 Miles and Beyond: History Made at MetroWest Backyard Ultra
NEEDHAM, Mass. – The buzz around the Claxton Field Quarry was intense. Would this be the year someone – or even multiple people – achieved or surpassed the 100-mile mark at the MetroWest Backyard Ultra?
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BURCS Return to Roots for Notchview Invitational
For the first four years of its decade-long existence, the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service’s largest event – the multi-day, multi-distance Notchview Ultra – was a low-key, no-frills fatass-style event. It began as a simple 6-hour event in 2015, but by 2017 had expanded to include 12- and 24-hour offerings. In 2019, it exploded into a three-day endurance festival under its current name.
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Results: MetroWest Backyard Ultra
The Needham Running Club played host to the fourth annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra on Sept. 27-28 at the Needham Town Forest in Needham, Mass. Runners took on a 4.17-mile loop course that they had to complete within the hour or face elimination. A new lap began on the hour, every hour, until just one runner remained. For the first time in event history, runners reached and surpassed the 100-mile mark.
Continue reading Results: MetroWest Backyard UltraMassUltra Roundup: Vermont 50, Farm to Farm, Yeti 100, and Crested Butte
The ultrarunning scene was hopping in New England to close out September. A trio of events took place in Massachusetts – the MetroWest Backyard Ultra, and a pair of new events, the Race for the Refuge and the BURCS Notchview Invitational. We’ll have those covered in separate recaps, but there was plenty of additional action in the region, including the classic Vermont 50, and the Farm to Farm Ultra in Maine. We have both of those covered, as well as ultra results in Georgia and Colorado, in this week’s roundup.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Vermont 50, Farm to Farm, Yeti 100, and Crested ButteResults: Race for the Refuge
The inaugural Race for the Refuge 6-hour, 3-hour, 30K and 10K trail races took place at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, Sept. 28, in Sudbury, Mass. Runners took on a loop course consisting of doubletrack trails, gravel and a little bit of pavement.
Continue reading Results: Race for the RefugeResults: BURCS Notchview Invitational
The Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) played host to the inaugural Notchview Invitational on Sept. 27-28 at Notchview Reservation in Windsor, Mass. The invitation-only fatass-style event included BURCS members who completed at least five Notchview Ultras or volunteered at a variety of BURCS Race Series events. Runners chose from 24-hour, 50-mile and 50K options.
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Photos: MetroWest Backyard Ultra
The Needham Running Club played host to the fourth annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra on Sept. 27-28 at the Needham Town Forest in Needham, Mass. Runners took on a 4.17-mile loop course on the trails of the Town Forest and the Bay Colony Rail Trail until only one runner remained. The following are a small sample of photos taken by MassUltra Editor Chris Wristen. A full gallery can be viewed on the MassUltra Flickr page.
Continue reading Photos: MetroWest Backyard UltraMassUltra Roundup: Kilkenny Ridge, Wild Goose, and Georgia Jewel
In Part I of this week’s roundup, we caught up with New Englanders at five ultramarathons in the West. Here in Part II, we close out our coverage of the Sept. 19-21 weekend by returning to the East Coast, starting in New Hampshire where a number of New Englanders ventured to the White Mountains for a challenging day on the Kilkenny Ridge. Additionally, we catch up with results from the Wild Goose Trail Festival in New Jersey, and the Georgia Jewel.
Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Kilkenny Ridge, Wild Goose, and Georgia Jewel
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