As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the United States, the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) has sought ways to challenge runners in a virtual format. The newest creation from Race Director Benn Griffin was the Circadian Challenge. Runners had the entire month of July to choose a 24-hour window during which to run a half-marathon between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., followed by another half-marathon during the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. timeframe. Runners earned half of their finisher medal for each half-marathon completed. Additionally, runners had the option of running for the entire 24-hour period to log as many miles as they wanted. Several runners took advantage of that option to log ultramarathon distances. Continue reading Results: BURCS Circadian Challenge
Tag Archives: ultrarunning
Results: Virtual BURCS Jug End Loop Ultra
The Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service’s (BURCS) Jug End Loop Ultra went virtual for 2020 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, but it maintained some of its traditional roots despite its socially-distanced format. Rather than having a race-day event, Race Director Benn Griffin required runners to complete their 6-hour, 27-mile or 4.2-mile races on the official race court at Jug End State Reservation in Egremont, Mass., but they had the entire month of July to do so and then submit their data to Griffin for inclusion in the final results. Continue reading Results: Virtual BURCS Jug End Loop Ultra
Results: Virtual Vegan Power 50K
The COVID-19 global pandemic forced the Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) to transition its popular Vegan Power 50K ultramarathon and 25K trail races to a virtual format in June 2020. Runners ran their respective distances at locations of their choosing and then submitted their data for inclusion in the final results. Continue reading Results: Virtual Vegan Power 50K
Pandemic Forces Cancellation of Stone Cat 50K
For 18 years, the Stone Cat Trail Races challenged runners with 50-mile and marathon distances. The race organizers from G.A.C. in Topsfield transitioned the event to a single-distance offering of a 50K in 2019, and that inaugural event featured impressive performances and competitive battles in both the women’s and men’s races, setting the stage for a highly anticipated second edition of the 50K in 2020.
That second edition will have to wait. Continue reading Pandemic Forces Cancellation of Stone Cat 50K
Running Below the Noise Ultras Canceled Due to COVID-19
The inaugural Running Below the Noise 12-Hour and 6-Hour Ultramarathons have been canceled as the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to spread throughout the United States. Continue reading Running Below the Noise Ultras Canceled Due to COVID-19
MassUltra Roundup: Forbidden Forest and Catocin 50K
New England has been nearly silent in terms of in-person ultramarathons since the COVID-19 pandemic forced races and economies to shut down in March. As cities, states and local economies have begun to reopen, so too have ultras. In New England, that included the Forbidden Forest 30-Hour Ultra on June 27-28 in Stratford, Conn., where 46 runners took part in the event on a loop course. Additionally, a few runners from the region journeyed a little further south to Maryland for the Catocin 50K, so we have that included, too, in this edition of the roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Forbidden Forest and Catocin 50K
July Trail-Running Film Festival to Feature Classic Films
The Trail-Running Film Festival’s summer-long virtual series is rolling into July with a lineup of classic trail films on tap for the next event. Continue reading July Trail-Running Film Festival to Feature Classic Films
MassUltra Roundup: Squaw Peak 50
The ultrarunning scene is reopening slowly and cautiously as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase its presence throughout the United States. Only a handful of in-person races have taken place in recent weeks, most of them in the West, with minimal representation from New England residents who would be required to travel cross-country. Two Massachusetts men made the journey and represented the region at the USATF Utah 50-Mile Trail Championships at the Squaw Peak 50 on June 13 in Utah, and we have them covered in this edition of the roundup. Continue reading MassUltra Roundup: Squaw Peak 50
From the Editor’s Desk: The Tools to Grow
A few weeks ago I woke up early and went for a short run around the neighborhood – 2.23 miles. The run was in honor of Ahmaud Arbery, on what would have been his 26th birthday had he not been chased down and killed by a white former police officer and his son on Feb. 23 for running while Black in a white Georgia neighborhood. Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk: The Tools to Grow
Massasoit 50K, Formerly Known as Big Bear, Set for October Return
When Northeast Race Management played host to its first 50K – then known as the Big Bear 50K – at DCR Massasoit State Park in East Taunton in 2017, a spirited race unfolded and ultimately went down to the wire with Cambridge resident Padraig Mullins holding off Andover’s Joe Loureiro by less than two minutes. Continue reading Massasoit 50K, Formerly Known as Big Bear, Set for October Return
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