Hey fellow Animals, we are actively recruiting volunteers for our TARC Spring Thaw (3/18) in Andover and Spring Classic (4/28) in Weston, MA.  It’s a great way to get involved in the Club, support your fellow Critters and have some fun.  Volunteering is also a really rewarding away to give back and pay-it-forward.  Email Emily at for the Spring Thaw (3/18) and Bob at for the Spring Classic (4/28) if you can pitch in (emails below).  Roles include set up, trail marking, aid stations, traffic control, course monitoring, registration, scoring, cheerleading, clean up.

We have other TARC races at which you could volunteer.  The full list is found here .

We also provide hours towards ultra runs that have volunteer hour requirements (i.e. VT100, WSER, et al).

Questions?  Send us an email here.

Volunteer for Spring Classic with Bob: imbc@comcast.net

Volunteer for Spring Thaw with Emily: emily_trespas@yahoo.com

As we wind down 2011 we wanted to thank all of our fellow TARC members for joining the pack.  We are 500+ strong now – that’s up from 30 members just 18 months ago – and growing consistently each month.  Many of you decided to come out of your lairs, dens, holes, etc. and join us for one of our weekend training runs in the Middlesex Fells or Blue Hills Reservation.

We had the pleasure of launching the brand spanking new TARC Trail Series in 2011 and seeing so many new and familiar faces come out and give trail racing a try.  In fact, we sold out 90% of our events.

Beyond runners and spectators galore we had an increasing number of incredible volunteers who gave all of us their time and smiling faces to make our events possible.  THANK YOU so much all TARC volunteers – you set an example for us all to be proud of!

We hope as winter sets in, you’ll come out of breath some fresh air with us on one of our weekend runs, or make a resolution to run your first trail race or simply just get motivated to come out and hang with us for a while – even though we’re all Animals, we don’t bite!

Now onto 2012………

We’ve got the TARC Trail Series returning for its sophomore year and there are a few exciting changes we hope you will like.  We’ve added three new races to the Series: a new summertime 50 miler in the Middlesex Fells (replacing the Fells races of March and December), the only 100 miler in New Hampshire in October and a great hibernation busting run north of Boston in March.

So mark your running calendars now and plan on joining us for a bunch of great events planned especially with you in mind.  And as always, if you are feeling like you’d rather watch than run, then come out and volunteer at one of our events – it’s fun and will make you feel better about yourself – we guarantee!  And you can use your time to towards fulfilling any volunteer hours you need to log as part of another event you’ve entered (i.e. VT100, Western States, etc.)

Here is the entire lineup for 2012 TARC Trail Series:

3/18   NEW! TARC Spring Thaw 6 Hour – Harold R. Rafton Reservation , Andover, MA (Registration is now open here)

4/15 Don’t Run Boston and TARC 50 Miler – Blue Hills, Milton, MA (An email will be sent to all TARC members in January regarding registration)

4/28 TARC Spring Classic – Weston, MA (Registration opens 1/1 here )

5/12 Wapack and Back – Ashburnham, MA (Registration opens in Q112 here )

6/?  NEW! TARC Summertime Fells 50 miler – Middlesex Fells, Winchester, MA (More details to come but it will be a good one!)

8/4 TARC Summer Classic – Noon Hill Reservation, Medfield, MA (Registration opens 4/1 here )

10/13 TARC Fall Classic – Landlocked Forest, Lexington/Burlington, MA (Registration opens 6/1 here )

10/26-27 NEW! Ghost Train Rail Trail Ultra, Lake Potanipo, Milford, NH (Check it out here)

Happy Holidays from all of us in the TARC Pack to you and yours!

See you on the dirt…..soon to be snow and ice this winter at our weekly meet-up runs in the Blue Hills and Middlesex Fells (more on that here)!!

Congratulations to all the TARC members – too numerous to mention by name – who completed Western States 100, Umstead 100, Hardrock 100, Vermont 100, TRT 100, Death Races and a plethora of 50K and 50 milers over the past several months. We have had a tremendous showing of Animals at all trail runs and with fantastic finishes. And we have had more members giving trail running a try for the first time than ever before in 2011. The TARC Spring Classic, DRB 50K and 50 Miler, Wapack and Back and Fells Spring Trail Ultra all had record breaking participation rates. And the Trail Animal membership has swelled to over 500 critters in the pack!

But there is still much more coming your way this summer and fall……so read on and don’t miss out!

Standing Weekly Runs

Be sure to come out to one of our club’s standing weekly runs this summer and meet some of the other pack members. Go here: http://www.trailanimals.com/about/ to learn more.

Summer Classic 6 & 12 Hour Ultra – August 13^th – SOLD OUT ….but we need volunteers!

The next race in the TARC Trail Series, the inaugural TARC Summer Classic 12 and 6 Hour runs, is scheduled for Saturday August 13^th at 7 am in Medfield, MA, with parking at the Medfield Sportsman’s Club at 75 Noon Hill Road, a couple of hundred yards from the start at Holt Pond. This race is completely sold out. We would love to have a large herd of Animals come out and volunteer to ensure a successful first running! Volunteers will be needed to set up, man, and break down the aid station (there will only be one manned aid station), check in the runners at the start of the race, keep track of the loops the runners have completed, make sure the unmanned water drop stays supplied with water, clean up the course, etc. I will likely mark the course the prior evening, so will arrange volunteers for that separately. Given the length of the event, we would expect most volunteers would want to work only part of the race, which is certainly understandable. We are hoping to get at least 15 – 20 volunteers, some starting as early as 5:30 – 6:00 am and some staying until as late as 8:00 pm or so to clean up. If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know as soon as possible (indicating the hours you would be available) so that we can get a count and recruit volunteers from outside TARC if necessary. Please email Chris Haley at chrishaley100@hotmail.com if you can help the pack by volunteering.

TARC Fall Classic – October 8^th – Is Open For Registration

The TARC Fall Classic (10k, half, marathon and 50K options) is open for registration! You can go to: http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=14070 and register for now – the race is to be held on Saturday, October 8^th in Lexington/Burlington, MA. It is highly likely this race will sell out so we urge you to sign up now while spots are still available. A low-key, low-frills, high-fun, and high-camaraderie event. No swag, no awards, and no whinning! We will ask everyone to bring some food to share at the aid station and will supplement with a variety of GU products, and some other special treats. Race results will go to Ultrarunning Magazine, Ultrasignup and Realendurance.com. Ideal trail race for those new to trail running as well as veteran ultra runners, as many people are yet to discover the location and trails. Distances offered: 10K, half-marathon, marathon and 50K. There will be a single aid station at start/finish. A limited number of technical short-sleeve t-shirts will be available for sale at runner check-in on race day until we run out. Be sure to bring bottle to carry hydration. Course Description: A tour of Burlington, MA’s Landlocked Forest, a true oasis tucked between 128 and Rt. 3. The LLF features a great mix of single track, bike trails, and is all runable. There is an out-and-back section from the start/finish, which will be the Estabrook School in Lexington, MA, easily reached off of 128/I-95. The course is a 10K loop that is 100% trails, with a good mix of rolling terrain.

TARC Fells Winter Trail Ultra – December 3^rd – Is Open For Registration

As our beloved RD describes this special event: “A nightmarish course of rocks and roots with a bit of elevation thrown in. The race uses the Skyline Trail for a lovely 8 mile loop. There is a water drop at the half way point. This race starts at sunrise and ends at sundown. You have probably never run anything like it, unless you have. Please bring something delicious for the aid station. Oh, and it is in December in New England. It will be cold. You will probably not want to get out of bed to come to it, so only sign up if you really, really want to run. See you at the starting line!”

Go here now to sign up soon as there are only 35 spots available!: http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=14107

Thanks and happy trails!

Chris Haley, Josh Katzman, Bob Crowley, Steve Latour, Norm Sheppard

Lisa Simpson: “Look on the bright side, Dad. Did you know that the Chinese use the same word for ‘crisis’ as they do for ‘opportunity?’” 

Homer Simpson: “Yes. ‘Crisitunity!’”

As an RD there is a certain, unpleasant sensation that begins in the depths of your stomach as you see the first runner coming in, 15 minutes ahead of when you expect, in exactly the opposite direction from where he is supposed to be coming from.

As an RD there is a certain, much more unpleasant sensation that is created as you see the next two runners come in, 14 and a half minutes ahead of when you expect, in exactly the opposite direction from where they are supposed to be coming from.

As an RD, this is the moment you begin to think you may have a crisis on your hands.

The Trail Animals Running Club (TARC) Spring Classic came about as a way to attract neophyte trail runners and provide a new race for grizzled ultra vets in the Boston area.  With the date (April 23^rd), location (Jericho Woods – a remarkable patch of 500+ conserved acres in Weston, MA), and course (a 10K+ loop, featuring a mix of single and doubletrack, smooth running and some muddy swamps) set, all that was left was getting the runners to show up.  Being a first year event we hoped to attract around 100 runners by offering a variety of races (10K, half marathon, marathon, and 50K), with the shorter distances being a first for TARC.  By the time registration closed we had 229 runners, many out for their first taste of the trails.  

Despite the constant drizzle (which became a steady rain minutes after the start) the races began on time with a pep-talk by co-RD Bob Crowley, and a spirited howl, led by club mascot, Sasquatch.  With “real” digital race clocks running (a first for TARC), the racers ran to the woods, smiling as they were quickly soaked through and caked in mud.  The 10K (which started a few minutes ahead of the other races), was won on the mens’ side by long time TARCer and trail vet Garry Harrington (45:43), who at 51 proved he’s still got the wheels (must be his relatively new high-altitude home of Colorado Springs!).  The female 10K winner (and 2^nd OA), Callie Moriarty (46:59), at 19 and running her first trail race, proved the New England trail scene has an burgeoning star.

By the time the half marathon finished, everyone was thoroughly drenched (the volunteers, who included many students from Weston High School and a number of local ultra-runners and TARC members who will be competing in marquee races this summer, included).  This did not prevent Halifax, Nova Scotia resident Michael French (31), who was down for a long weekend, from celebrating his victory (1:32), followed less than a minute later by Ken Naide (39), a Boston-area runner.  The women’s race was won by Stacia Broderick (33) in 1:50:28.

In an impressive run, the marathon overall victory went to Charlotte Deleo (24), who was the only marathoner to come in sub-4 hours (3:50:52).  The men’s winner, Craig Simmons (34), crossed the line in 4:05:05).                             

The 50K became a battle of perseverence (68% finish rate), as runners were worn down by the mud, rain, and raw temperatures.  The women’s race was tight, with Larissa Abramiuk (42) and Serena Wilcox (32) pushing through the conditions to finish in 4:51:40 and 4:54:42.  The men’s race was won by Adam Wilcox (29), who ran consistently all day, to finish in 4:07:51.  In what was definitely a first for TARC, Daniel Corbera (28) became the first “chair” winner, electing (of his own volition) to carry a chair with him for his final of 5 loops – definitely a demonstration of Animal spirit (or insanity!). 

All’s well that ends well, but remember, we started with a near crisis – the first four runners all coming in completely off course.

After a quick discussion with the runners, we figured out what needed to be fixed – a turn off a 50 yard stretch of road (the only pavement on the course), easily accessible by car.  I drove out with some cones to make the turn more visible and right as I pulled up, had the opportunity to see Sam Jurek (who had helped plan the event and design the course) come blazing through his first loop, right at the “problem” turn.  He also told me folks were having trouble staying on course about half a mile earlier.  Full crisis mode was on. 

As I headed out onto the course, in this moment of near panic, I had the opportunity to witness the true beauty of a trail run.  At the far end of an open field, a continuous stream of runners were exiting the woods, crossing the open field, and reentering a singletrack path.   The scene was profound in its simplicity – close to two hundred people, journeying together through quiet fields and forests.  The rain and cold seemed to be bringing these people together.  As the elements quieted the forest, the runners found solidarity in their shared challenge (and sopping clothes).  The issue of runners getting off course was easily remedied and I continued to enjoy the scene until the last runner had gone through.  

With this scene unfurling I thought of the Simpsons episode quoted above.  Our “crisitunity” illustrated that on the trails, the most important thing is not the time on the clock (even if it is a fancy, “official” race clock), but the time you spend with other Trail Animals (even if that time is spent off the course!), the support you get from other runners and tireless (even when borderline hypothermic) volunteers, and from pushing yourself just a bit more than you thought you were comfortable with.

As Bob said, “There was so much happiness from the runners and volunteers that it really made it a “sunny day” for all in spite of Mother Nature’s best efforts to douse our spirits.”  We were cold and sopping wet, but got to experience everything we love about running the trails, and all it took was a couple of wrong turns and some mud!

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