NEW GLOUCHESTER, MAINE - MAY 24  Four Trail Animals toed the line at the Pineland Farms 50 Miler on a beautiful sunny Memorial Day weekend.  Bruce Giguere (41) from

Tolland, CT took home the the fasted TARC time of the day at 8:39:41 finishing top 25 (22nd) overall and 10th in his age group.  TARC co-founder Chris  “C1″ Haley (53) of Medfield, MA posted a “getting ready for the Cascade Crest 100″ time of 8:45:33 finishing 33rd overall and 2nd in his age group.  Clinton Morse (47) of Tolland, CT crossed the line at 9:31:58 gaining 35th place and 5th in his age group.  And Paul Lahham (29) from Cambridge, MA came in right behind Clint at 9:34:08 in 36th place and 10th age group.  The combined TARC time was 35:49:10 which would have won third place for the team competition had there not been a registration glitch.  No matter, we know what the Animals are capable of!  Nice work gents!  Full results here

STAFFORD, CT - May 17, 2009  TARC member Clinton Morse defended his title at the

Soapstone Mountain Race 6K aka “The Sampler” this past Sunday.  Morse (47) covered the course in 25.21, exactly 1 minute ahead of Roger Durand.  Clint is also on the organizing committee of the race and runs for the Shenipsit Striders out of Connecticut.  But, despite his devotion and loyalty to his hometown running club, Morse decided to sport his fancy new Trail Animals tee and given the results, we’re hoping he has started a trend for our members who wear the pack’s logo in races!  Congratulations to Clint.  You can see more pictures and full race results by clicking here.

Shenipsit Striders

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April 19, 2009 MILTON, MA

Many thanks to our volunteers:  Don Allison, Bill Howard, and Dave James (and friend).   Here are the unofficial results.  Runners… please correct any misspellings or incorrect reporting of ties or times.  Also, please fill in or correct your states.

Congrats to Josh and Garry for breaking the course record.

Anyone who wishes to send along pictures or a runner report suitable for submission to Ultrarunning, please let do.

If you took GPS info, please send it along… I am compiling the data to find out the “average truth”.  Please let me know what model you are using and any settings that you think might affect the outcome.

Howie, RD

Click here to see pictures from Kevin Z

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13^th Annual Trail Animals Don’t Run Boston 50K

Sunday April 19, 2009 Mid 40’s to start. Dry, sunny, breezy. High was low 50’s.

5000+’ of climb Multiple loop trail course

UNOfficial Race Results

Times truncated to the minute

1. tie Gary Harrington, NH 5:16 *

1. tie Josh Katzman, ?? 5:16 *

3. tie Howie Breinan, CT 6:08

3. tie Chris Taft, MA 6:08

5. Steve Pero, NH 6:16

6. tie Steve Faluotico, ?? 6:40

6. tie Jeff List, MA 6:40

8. tie Bob Crowley, MA 6:44

8. tie Chris Haley, MA 6:44

8. tie Chris Shanley, MA 6:44

11. Paul Lanham, MA 6:57

12. Chris Martin, MA 6:57

13. Deb Pero, NH (F) 7:13

14. Bogie D, MA 7:13

15. Clint Morse, CT 7:37

16. Norm Sheppard, MA 8:48

17. tie Damon Lease, VT 8:48

17. tie Kevin Zelechoski, ?? 8:48

(24 starters)

*old course record: Steve Pero, 5:38, 2000

APRIL 4, 2009 Raleigh, NC

TARC member Dave James (31),Trumbull, CT took home the bacon at the Umstead 100 miler in a winning time of 15 hours, 5 minutes, 3 seconds.   Here is Dave’s first-hand report…………

Everyone that runs a 100 has a story to tell.  My story from Saturday would fall under the comedy theme, or a title to a country music song; “what was I thinking?” For your website’s news section this week I think should be informed that not only did the “Yankees come down to South to show off their Spring Training!” but Jill Perry, 38, from New York set an amazing course record of 16 hours and 2 minutes (I think? Blake) taking nearly 20 minutes off of the Course Record set last year by Jamie Donaldson!  I myself, born and raised in New York, held on for the win in 15 hours and 5 minutes also running in my first competitive 100 representing Virago’s GENr8, which I think is the 3rd fasted time in the history of this historic East Coast race!

I know you like to hear about the race and the competition and I am sure both you and Blake will get a bunch of “rookie” and “veteran” takes on the absolutely gorgeous spring day we were treated to Saturday in William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh North Carolina.  I thought you might like my take as I set a couple new PR’s Saturday in route to my wins.  Below is my version of race day.  Please edit this piece as you see fit but if possible please leave in the part about Vitargo’s GENr8 and the professionalism and down home feel of Blake’s race!

“Rookie Mistake!”  Apparently is what I was screaming at my self as I half heartedly and jokingly banged my water bottle against my bald head and strapped on my new Polar heart rate monitor.  No one at Umstead State Park, including myself, at Noon on Saturday April 4th though I would be able to hold off the likes of veteran Joe Kulak.  Listening to my body’s adrenaline a little too much instead of advice from friends I continued to “run how I felt.”  I felt great Saturday morning, I like to run out front and push the pace and hang on for as long as I can.  I did just that crushing through 50 miles in 6:16 before I took a second to check the clock.
I had pushed the pace and taken the lead but how was I to hold on for a 100 mile win over 4 time champion Serge Arbona?  How was I to know that Serge had stomach issues and would not contend?

While re hydrating with GENr8 and ready to drop out, with a 20 minute 50 mile PR under my belt, my hero took the form of a beautiful fit blonde in a running skirt who introduced herself as my pacer.  Having heard of hallucinations occurring in endurance events I decided to listen to her offer as she asked for my water bottles”.  She was not interested in my excuses as to why I had already worked hard that morning and why I wanted to quit.  Some lame excuses about the Final Four fell on deaf ears as Missy, an elite ultra marathoner and Olympic trials marathoner in her own right pushed me along.  When Missy said go I listened figuring it was just a really short time before I woke up from my dream.  Well instead of waking up from my dream Missy was able to help me find my motivation, keep me on a steady solid pace, and helped me regroup.  After 75 miles and a substantial lead and some GENr8 to refuel I started to feel better and Missy and I went out for just another 12.5 mile jog in under 2 hours!

With one loop to go Missy bid me farewell and Kean took over.
While an amazing runner and a friendly pacer in his own right, Kean was not as interesting to watch sprint ahead to the water stations to refuel my bottles :-)  Save a 30 second stop to put on a shirt, refuel with GENr8, and grab my headlamp before running to victory with Kean I had run over 40 miles straight without stopping!  I had gone from a relaxing 50 mile win with a nice PR day to one loop from absolute victory and legitimacy in the sport of ultra Marat honing by winning my first competitive 100 mile race!  Running those last loops was about survival and thanks as my faith in my higher power was expressed in vernacular that my mother will no doubt have to pray for my soul over.  I also realized that running a Hundred Mile Race is a lot like life!  Some of its magic, some of its tragic, as Jimmy Buffett sang in my head.  The magic for me at Umstead did not come as much from the victory as I had visualized going into the competition but so much more from the people.  From the runners, spectators, crews, friends, and volunteers I received nothing but love, support and uplifting.  I found out about myself Saturday amidst the beauty of the beautiful spring day, on a little 12 mile loop in a runner’s heaven that I was happy being with people again!  I do not need to literally “run” away anymore from life’s obstacles instead I can face my fears head on and work for my goals, dreams, and aspirations.

If anyone were to tell you that a 190 pound 6’1” guy was going to run a 15 hour 100 miler Saturday in Umstead Park I would have bet against them myself, but because a 100 miles is a group effort that was just the case!  A special thanks to all the other race volunteers, racers, and director Mr. Blake Norwood whom I am very great full to for granting me permission to race his event!  Please come join me March 27th 2010 as we go for a run in the park and try and set the course record at Umstead!

The 13th running of the Don’t Run Boston 50K will take place Sunday, April 19th at 8:00 am in the Blue Hills.

Click here to download a course map and written description.  You WILL need and want both as this is a true old school ultra - no trail markings, no course monitors, no prizes, no schwag, and modest aid - just a good ol’ romp in the woods.  It is also one of the most beautiful and toughest courses in New England.  But the gang that run DRB wouldn’t have it any other way - it’s a good time for all.  So if you would like to give it a shot (plan on it taking you 7-9 hours), send our RD, Howie an email at hbreinan@comcast.net letting him know you are coming.  If you’re not sure about running this year but are curious or want to help out, we’d welcome you volunteering to work an aid station - just let Howie know you can help.

TARC has an informal training run every Sunday (almost) at 7:00 am in the Blue Hills.  If you are a member you’ll get a weekly email from us a few days before telling you where to park and where and how long we’ll be running.  Usually we run as a group but if there are enough people with varying skills and/or desires, we break into two groups - long (3-4+ hours) and short (2-2+ hours).  The club has over 80 members and possesses a wide variety of interests and skills.  Some are ultra runners, looking to train for 50K and longer races.  Some are trail runners who like the shorter distances of the Grand Tree Series (5-15 miles).   Yet others are road runners giving trail running a try for cross training or because they are curious.  All shapes, skills, interests and size are welcome.  Men, women and sasquatch, waifs and clydesdales, neophytes and veterans. 

If you are interested in ultra running, a few members are in the midst of training for 100 mile events scheduled this summer and have begun running long every Sunday in the Blue Hills plus will be doing some road trips to Vermont in the later spring.

If you are a cross country trail runner we have many members who run the Grand Tree Series and find training in the Blue Hills ideal.

And if you are new to trail running and curious, TARC is a low key - high fun club so don’t be afraid to come out and find out what you’ve been missing.

That’s how we roll in our neck of the woods.

here for Blue Hill map   here for DRB50K map

Based upon this past weekend’s runs (3/8) in Blue Hills, we’re looking at a very promising Spring for trail running.  The trails on Sunday were in almost mint condition.  Traces of ice and snow, little mud, mostly clear, dry footing.  And this after a near-record season of snowfall and a good ice pack.  If tomorrow brings the warm up predicted for the rest of the week, this coming weekend (3/15) will be great.

We’ve begun to see new faces joining us every weekend as the weather turns for the good.  TARC membership is up to 85 strong, this starting from a dead start last October of three.  Clearly trail running has come into its own (and our search engine optimization actually works 

So we hope to see many of you out in the Blue Hills in the next fews weeks.  We run every Sunday at 7:00 AM - rain, snow or shine - and send an email out to all members a few days before detailing what we’ll be doing and where to park at Blue Hills.  Most of the runs cover parts of the DRB 50K and/or TARC 50 miler course.  So a great way to get out and enjoy the beautiful Blue Hills and learn the courses at the same time.

Go run in the dirt.

21 year old and neophyte ultra runner, Drew Crowley, debuted at his first-ever race on trails and first ultra this past Saturday at the Holiday Lake 50K++ in Appomattox, Virginia.  Based upon his results, it appears this Animal is a natural.

I traveled to ol’ Virginny last Friday to meet up with Drew and travel over to Appomattox to run the Holiday Lake 50K++ together.   David Horton, a legend in the ultrarunning community, was the race director and host.  He put on a first-class affair and his warmth and kindness was infectious.  Thanks to David for supplying Drew and I with warm and cozy sleeping bags.  We selected Cabin 12 on the YMCA campus and enjoyed a beautiful crisp and cool night all to ourselves - electing to sleep out in the cold verses in the heated confins of the bunk house.  Except for the howling dogs and a few late night Hokies (many of the Virginia Tech cross country team came to compete) we slept soundly.

This was to be Drew’s first ultra. In fact, it was only the second running race he’s ever attempted - the first being a 5 miler road race some five years ago.  Drew wants to pace me at Western so I agreed under the condition he demonstrate he could run a long distance on the hilly trails, at a good pace.  Boy did he deliver, but I must admit, as he pulled away from me at mile 3.5 and started to press the pace early in the day, the above lyrics immediately began playing in my head.  We had gone over the race plan on a number of training runs together and my sage advice was, “Start back in the pack, relax, take it slow and let others go out too fast - you’ll enjoy seeing them in your rear view mirror on the way home.”  He seemed to “get it” I thought to myself, but did his exuberance get the better of him and is he now going to pay for it towards the end of the run - experiencing the “joy of pain” every ultra runner contends with from time to time?  I’d have to wait and see how he was doing at the turn around (a 16.7 mile loop course - clockwise, then counterclockwise on loop two).

For myself, it was another opportunity to gain some valuable mileage and test my fitness a bit.  Overall, I felt satisfied with the result - a 5:10 (64th place out of 160 and 4th in age group) and adjusted for an actual 50K (the “++” in the race name is an extra 2.5 miles making it 33.5 miles vs. 31)  I ran a 4:47 50K which is the best time I’ve turned in since 1996.

But the bigger story of the day was Drew’s accomplishment.  It’s hard enough to finish an ultra.  But to finish the way he did and how he managed his race plan was remarkable.  He came in 35th place, a 4:52 time which corrected for a

true 50K was 4:30.  That’s an 8:42 pace - smokin’.   What is even more impressive is the way he managed his eating, drinking, aid stations and pacing.  He also helped a runner in need along the way and launched onto a couple of mates who he helped pace, then they returned the favor during the hard middle miles.  He even encountered a severe hamstring crap with less than 4 miles to go and had to figure out how to outsmart his body which was saying, “Quit you idiot!” and overcome the urge to pull up short of his goal.

Drew passed me just beyond the turnaround - about 2 minutes ahead, and he looked focused and in good shape.  He was clearly working hard.  He actually did negative split and gained another 16 minutes on me over the last 16.7 miles.

He really did heed my advise and ran a near perfect race.  His late mile cramps probably were caused by his electing to skip the last aid station and running out of water a bit early.  He also slowed down consuming Gu and never reached for the electrolyte tabs because he didn’t want to take the time to mess with his pack - he got a running rhythm going and can hardly blame him for not wanting to interrupt the flow..

I know Drew feels a tremendous amount of satisfaction in his achievement - well deserved.  I’m proud of his courage to take a risk, try something new and live life to its fullest - a true Trail Animal.

Kevin Sullivan skated away (literally) with the 11th annual G.A.C. FatAss 50K on January 10th. The conditions were glazed/ice covered snow, making for a crunchy romp through the Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, Mass. Nonetheless, Sullivan posted a highly respectable 4:03:30 given the trail conditions and very brisk temperatures to best second place finisher, Paul Young by 18:30 minutes. TARC member Bob “Diesel” Crowley finished 5th with a 5:08:00, not bad for an old Animal.

Sullivan had also posted an average of 1:20:00 per loop recently at the Fells Fall Classic during Thanksgiving weekend, the best of the day, though he completed only 3 loops.  So clearly he is tuning up nicely for his Western States 2009 attempt.

Kevin commented further on the two runs:
“Fells - hmmm, the run in the Fells was not easy.   That’s a loop where you really have to focus and pay attention not only because of the terrain but for fear of getting lost.  Those ups and downs hurt after a while.   That said, it is a pretty amazing place to run in the Fall and with a good hard core group of folks out there not for glory but to get ready for the holiday food fest!

Fat Ass - the GAC Fat Ass is a truly great tradition.  It is great that a lot of people come out for it  - no matter the weather -  and Roger and Roger make it an enjoyable event.  It’s almost like back to school after winter break - it’s about seeing friends again and having some fun.  In terms of the actual run/course, I run that loop throughout my training.  It is my home course and comfort zone  - and it has everything, ups and downs, flats, single track some pavement - the variety is nice.  I know it like the back of my hand. In fact, I have actually run it in the dark without a head lamp.  I’ve never run it in quite the conditions we had Saturday, but it was fun.  Ice, snow, glaze - I dreaded the horse field on each lap.   I used the Katoola Microspikes which were the bomb”, stated Sullivan.  “They grip like nothing else and you can barely feel them.   Fat Ass is so low key and fun, but I also felt good about my run for an early season long run.”

Kevin runs for the Inov-8 team.  He runs in the Roclite 320s.

Full race results here

TARC founder and trail animal extrodinaire won the Middlesex Fells fall classic 40 miler on November 29th in a time of 7:59:00.  He averaged 1:35:00 per 8 mile loop around the rugged Fells course.

This is a trail race for those that love the classic New England surface of rocks, roots and potholes disguised by leaf cover.  What we like to call a “technical” course.  The course is more for billy goats than humans, challenging the runners with constant climbs and descents up and over numerous granite topped hills.  Half-way through runners are rewarded with a panoramic view of the entire city of Boston, looking south, and the Middlesex Fells is a beautiful nature reserve.  The run doesn’t allow the competitor to get into any sort of rhythm as every uphill is quickly followed by a descent, followed by another series of ups and downs across very tricky footing.

So Chris “C1″ Haley is built for this type of course.  He eats up the ascents and deftly manages the downhills, pouncing from rock to rock with his feet barely touching the ground.  C1 is one of the best technical downhill runners I’ve ever seen.

He maintained a steady 11 minute mile pace across all five 8 mile loops - demonstrating he’s already in ultra shape as he prepares for the Cascade Crest 100 mile endurance run next fall.

Full race results here