Race: TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra

Runner: Chris Manwaring
Race Date: 02/01/2025
Location: Hale Education Center, Westwood, MA
Result: 90 miles completed within the 30-hour race cutoff (95 miles ran total) placing 5th overall!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- The course: Three 5-mile loops, each with their own personality- red, white, and blue. The red loop was the most technical. The white loop covered the mountain bike trail section of the course, and had the steepest climbs. The blue loop was the flattest one with lots of time running right beside the water, which also meant it received the most wind.
- The food: So many great food options offered throughout the whole time, both hot and cold.
- Witnessing a proposal! Friends Patrick and Kim got engaged on the first loop, a year after they first met at this race in 2024!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I really enjoyed the views throughout the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra course! (Makes all the difference when you’re running it for 30 hours!) The red loop had a really nice high point that I reached at sunset, making for a special experience. I felt like I managed my layers well throughout the night, managing to stay warm but sweat minimally.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Definitely experiment and practice with a variety of layers in training! Go for runs with the intention of under-layering to see what it feels like to be cold, as well as intentionally over-layer to see what too warm feels like. This will help during the race when the temperatures drop so that you can identify when to start adding different layers to keep body temperature equilibrium. Also, it will help you better identify when you are too warm and sweaty out there, so that you can shed a layer when needed before soaking your clothes (and getting chilled).

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Something I learned from this race was the importance of consuming extra calories for body heat production. There were a couple times I came into the aid station feeling a little chillier than I should’ve, and what really helped me out was putting down an extra few hundred calories.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The warmth of the lodge is so tempting! It is really easy to lose time in there, especially since you see it every 5 miles. I made a mantra for myself “I can be warm when I’m done” which helped minimize my thaw time inside.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
It is a really great course for scenery, with each loop having their own highlights! The red loop has a great high point that is perfect for catching sunrise and/or sunset! The white loop takes on some of the mountain biking trails, and the blue loop had lots of lakeside beach running!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
It’s definitely New England trail running, and 100 miles of the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra course will net you over 12,000 feet of vert! An added challenge is the winter conditions, which can make the course turn into an ice rink, or a snow drift, or a mud pit… you get the idea.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The race directors were good with communication between pre-race emails and Facebook group posts. The course marking crew gave a few trail condition updates in the days and hours leading up the race which was super helpful!

Competition – Is there a strong field?
The field is decent in my opinion. Only 100 entrants are allowed to start the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra, and not everybody is there to go for a buckle which is okay! There were lots of folks having great times going for their own different distance and time goals. I believe only about 12 of us were still on the course come sunrise, so expect nighttime to get lonely!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Registration opens less than six months in advance, and with the limited field size, generally fills up within the first few days. The waitlist does move along though, so patience is key! Folks that are from out of town, there are hotels and lodging in the general area.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There is a single aid station inside the lodge accessible after each 5 mile loop. There were so so many food options, both hot and cold. My favorite hot options were the grilled pickle and cheese sandwiches, as well as the chocolate peanut butter stuffed waffles! My favorite cold options were the moon pies and PB&J sandwiches!
Weather and typical race conditions
Historically, the weather has been all over the place… the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra handbook says it best:
“Historically, February in Westwood has an average low of 20°F and high of 39°F, but this is New England and anything can happen so BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST! In 2023, it was about -20 degrees (about -30 degrees with the wind chill) at the start and 40 degrees by the end of the race. In 2022, Old Man Winter dropped 2 feet of snow on us race weekend. We postponed the race to the following weekend, and then experienced slush storms in the days leading up to the race (our poor course marking crew…), which then froze into an ice rink on race day. In 2019 and 2024, we had crisp winter weekends, with little to no snow on the ground. Anything can happen.”

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Traction needs to be prioritized! There are lots of different traction options out there, be sure to practice beforehand and bring extra pairs! I saw lots of broken/snapped/destroyed traction devices were out there. Also, bring as much warm clothing and layers as you can! The night is long and cold, and a variety of options are the key to success!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Only race volunteers are allowed inside the lodge, but there is field space right across the street for tents and such. There was a bonfire going all day Saturday until about 2 am Sunday morning, so either invite your really hardy friends or just ask them to volunteer instead! 🙂
How’s the Swag?
Swag was cool! Finishing a minimum of 30 miles earns you a finisher medal cookie, beanie, and sticker. As “Last Horse in the Barn” I also received a small yeti and the white loop’s “kiss me” rock.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 out of 5 stars!
For an unpredictable, wintry, icy, “choose your own adventure” ultra, this race nailed it! This event is quite a unique experience, and if it appeals to you as you read this, I highly recommend the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra! (Remember, you don’t have to go for the full 30 hours).
by Chris Manwaring
For more popular New England ultra trail races, check out “Riverlands 100 Mile Race Report – Bucky Love” and search for “Maine” under “Popular Post Tags” on our blog.