Home
_________________________________________________
🏃♀️ Ultra Race Results 🏃♂️🏃♀️
Results can be found HERE
MassUltra article and pictures on Facebook found HERE
Other pictures of the Ultra can be found here (some of these pics are a little dark but we wanted to include all of them because you may be in one of them and some look pretty cool)
#MetroWestBackyardUltra #RunTheLoop #EnduranceChallenge #RunningCommunity #NeedhamRunningClub
The 3rd Metrowest Backyard Ultra is a wrap!
Thank you everyone who came and made the day both memorable and enjoyable.
On race day we welcomed 134 total starters – more than three times more runners than last year’s race thanks to a broader advertising campaign and the developing popularity of this race format. Our race this year was challenged by a mandatory course and home base change just a month before race day. The previous start around the soccer field and our home base quarry were behind a chain link fence due to a poorly timed waste remediation project by the Town, so we scrambled to accommodate. The new course was a bit rockier and narrower in some places, but maybe also a bit prettier. Although parking was a challenge due to the new location, everyone made it to the starting line on time to start when the hands of the official Hello Kitty clock hit 8:00:00am.
The weather turned out to be nearly perfect. It was never hot, and the sun mostly shined. When 3pm rolled around we felt the first cool breeze of the coming evening. The recent 6 weeks of drought though convinced many of the trees to give up for the fall, so we had more leaves covering the trail than was expected for this time of the year. A few surprise visitors were seen in the woods by some including BigFoot, a banana-man, and a sword carrying warrior. By 2pm ½ the original 134 runners had called it a day, and at 8pm only 10 runners remained. After 17 laps, three of the five remaining runners (Frank Gafford, Kit Pang, and Dan McCabe) decided that they had run far enough, leaving only last year’s winner – Jason Kaplan, and Cory Grant to hammer it out into the wee hours of Sunday morning. Jason would finish each lap like clockwork just as the call of ‘Three minute warning!’ rang out. By contrast, Cory had usually around 10 minutes to rest after each lap in the comfort of his supportive family in the back of the parking lot. At 4am, Jason and Cory both stepped to the line to start the 21st lap, but Jason remained standing and clapped for his challenger as Cory ran into the darkness alone to finish his final and winning lap – completing a total of 87.5 miles for the day. It was an amazing end to an amazing day. Congratulations to Cory, and thank you to Jason, and to all the runners who participated in the 3rd Metrowest Backyard Ultra.
When I broke down the course later on Sunday, I met several local walkers who were eager for updates of how the race had turned out. They were amazed by what had gone on the day before, with not a shred of trash left behind and only a path of flattened leaves and some footprints to show where our course had been.
Even though our race is only 2 days past as I write this, it is hard to not think about next year. If you have the time, please send us an email so we can learn from this years’ experience. We would love to hear 1) What you loved about the race, 2) What you hope will change in 2025, and 3) What was the most memorable moment for you. These 3 bits of feedback will help us to make a better race for you in coming years.
Thank you again to everyone who ran or volunteered to make this race a success. We also want to THANK all our great volunteers and our title sponsor Public Lands store in Framingham.
Take care,
Kiko and Bill
Please reach out to Bill Gallagher if you have suggestions for next year and what was your memorable moment from this amazing Ultra. Bill.Gall3@Gmail.com
2023 Mass Ultra article - great article
2022 Mass Ultra article - cool article
_______________
Race bib pickup on day of race (well before 8am) or
at The Public Lands store in Framingham
from 6-8pm on Friday, September 27
1 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701 or
Off Shoppers World Drive; near Best Buy, Michael's and Marshalls
We will be located in the Community Room
__________________________________
Past winner of the 2nd Annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra
Past Backyard Ultra race information.
Second Annual 2023 MetroWest Backyard Ultra information:
Another great run was had by all 30 runners on Saturday, September 16, 2023
Race Results: We had one winner and everyone else was a DNF. The winner was Jason Kaplan, bib number 12.
Race Photos:
Can be found here. A lot of wonderful shots (73) of everyone. These photos were provided by Adam Hoffman.
Race Boards are below.
Great Race review article from Mass Ultra.
Thank you all for coming to the 2nd running of the MetroWest Backyard Ultra on Saturday, Sept 16 in the Town Forest of Needham, MA. We had a total of 30 starters – but just one finisher! Never has the ‘DNF’ result carried so much importance and pride, though. Bill Gallagher and I had a great time getting to know many of you, and watching you struggle through the hours and miles of this race. It always proves to be quite a remarkable day of both physical and mental challenges, but mostly it is fun. Had you not come to run, this last Saturday would have disappeared into your vague memory of other unremarkable Saturdays spent drinking beer, blowing hours on TicTok, and chasing the neighbor dogs off your lawn. But chances are you will remember this Saturday for years to come, and have some good stories to tell! I know Bill and I will.
Our ultimate winner and sole finisher was Jason Kaplan of Newton MA. On most laps he ran the down hills and briskly walked much of the rest of the course. Usually but reliably finishing each lap with only a few minutes to spare before the next lap. He remained bright and seemingly comfortable right until the end. He was pushed late into the night by our assist (the final DNF) – Mike Martineau, from Sanbornton, NH. The assist is arguably the most important runner of any Backyard Ultra, since they push the ultimate winner beyond where they would have otherwise chosen to run. Kudos also to Daniel Leonard – the 2nd to last DNF and last year’s finisher, who ran with Jason and Mike for the last several laps before finally saying ‘uncle’ himself.
Below is a picture of the Lap Boards where you can see your result. Each lap was 4.17 miles, or so. Red means ‘unofficial lap’ since it probably was completed, but not within the required one hour time limit. You will also see a link to some great pictures taken by Adam Hoffman, and a picture of Jason Kaplan.
We are already making loose plans for the next edition of this race in 2024. It will likely again be in September. We do really value the 1-5 lap runners who are just looking to try out this format who may sign-up the night before on a whim. So we will make all attempts to keep the race comfortable for those runners as well as those who are setting up tents and bringing nutrition for 24 hours of running. Hopefully we will see many of you again next year.
___________________________________
2023 Mass Ultra article - great article
2022 Mass Ultra article - cool article
_____________________________________________
First Annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra information (May 7, 2022):
The First Annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra was a huge success. This ultra took place on May 7th, 2022. We had 26 runners who showed up at 8 am. Many new faces and a few old faces, meaning that we have seen them before at other races we have put on or were members of the Needham Running Club
We had a couple of people from out of state. Many people did 3 loops, four completed 9 loops of the 4.17 miles in each loop. And two people did 11 loops, Molly Karp and Daniel Leonard. It was an exciting 12th loop as Molly approached the start line in her green sleeping bag and Daniel was ready to go. As the start gun went off Molly announced that she will not be taking the 12th loop. Daniel started, looked back, and asked if she was running this loop and she said no. He then walked back, shook her hand, and said thank you very much for running and then continue on his 12th and final loop. He mentioned that he was ready to run until the next morning. Daniel (bib 156) was the winner and everyone else was DNF.
The weather was perfect for running; overcast, no rain, dry trails, and a perfect 54 degrees.
It seems like everyone had a nice time and talked about their previous and future races.
Every runner had a story and an impressive background. Here were a couple of the many stories:
Jessica Pope ran her first marathon 2 weeks ago and then ran 40 miles of the Needham Backyard Ultra
Mei Li and 6 of her running friends had a great time at their first Ultra.
Mike Bates races and crews in a lot of Ultras and had a fun time.
Ilya Bass enjoyed the flowers along the route and brought some home.
There were two husband and wife teams who supported each other during the many loops.
Bruce Lueng completed 9 loops and said he would love to do more Ultras. He also participated in our May Day 2021 Needham Ultra.
We heard feedback that this was a great introduction to the Backyard Ultra format and seeing that it was casual and also free it gave many runners a feel for the race.
The Race Directors, Bill Gallagher and Kiko Bracker, chalked up the day as a complete success and are looking forward to next year’s race.
Please check out the pictures from the day from the First Annual Needham Backyard Ultra.
2023 Pictures
_________________________________________
2022 Pictures
______________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Scholarship Winners
The annual NRC Scholarship was awarded to:
The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to any Needham High School senior* whose essay was selected by the NRC scholarship committee. Applicants were asked to write an essay about why they run.
Natalie Lubie - 2023
Kyler McNatt - 2022
Michelle Mittaz - 2021
Lauren Konieczynski - 2020
Abby Healy - 2019
Alison Partridge. - 2018
* students included any NHS student (whether they live in Needham or not) and any Needham resident who is a high school senior.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Couch to 5K Program
We have an online Couch to 5K Program which you can use to jump start yourself, your company, school, friends or relatives in running a 5K road race. Anyone can use this free program and follow the suggested training plan. If you have any questions, please me Bill Gallagher (bill.gall3@gmail.com).
Needham also has a great adult ultimate frisbee summer league. More information click here.
Pictures:
John Terry and Russ Tedrake at 2014 Halloween 5K. John was second overall.
Rich, Rick, Kelley and Tamara who all finished the Lake Placid Ironman Race.
First Ironman for all except Rich, which was his second.
Some of the 21 Club members who completed the 2012 BAA Half.
Some of our club members at the BAA 5K in April, 2014.
Mr. Kogo, who was the second place winner (2:10:27) at the Boston Marathon 2013 and the children of a NRC member- Vid Desibhatla.
Resources:
Running Routes around Needham:
Our Wellesley College Route http://www.logyourrun.com/index.php?option=com_routes&task=loadroute&Itemid=46&code=EBobl5cIFcT2ba
This is our regular 4 mile loop around Needham. 3.90 miles. www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=429396
This is the famous Strawberry Hill route 8.24 miles. www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=429399
This is around Needham with some good hill work. 9.16 miles http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=343010
The Needham Ramble, flat loop 8.76 miles, main roads so the snow will be off. http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=88295
Wellesley College/Grove St route. http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=451942
Johnnie Kelley Statue run 5.23 from start to statue. www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=482996
This is the route to the Brookline Route 9 reservoir http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=68512
If you want info on the Needham Kids Track Club - click here
Find us on Facebook: Facebook
Discount code for RunningWarehouse.com is NEEDHAMD
