Farewell, Beast of Burden

The New York ultrarunning scene lost two of its bigger races this week when the Beast of Burden Ultramarathon race directors posted a statement announcing their winter and summer events would be discontinued for the foreseeable future. 

Hello Beast Runners, We are writing to inform you that, due to a variety of contributing reasons, we have made the...

Posted by The Beast of Burden 100 & 50 Miler Ultra Marathon on Sunday, March 28, 2021

Hello Beast Runners,

We are writing to inform you that, due to a variety of contributing reasons, we have made the difficult decision to put the Beast of Burden Race Series on permanent pause. With this decision, that means we are cancelling the 2021 Summer Beast of Burden Ultra Marathon, and will not be scheduling a race series in 2022, or the foreseeable future. For those that have registered for the 2021 Summer Beast of Burden Ultra Marathon, we will be sending out refunds for your race registration.

This is truly a bittersweet moment for us. As Race Directors for this series for the past decade, we have had the great pleasure of building on a great race series to bring it to where it is today; a unique event that seemed to have taken on that of both an endurance run, and a family reunion of our ever growing clan of runners and awesome volunteers. And this decision has made us realize that all of the runners we have hosted, finisher buckles and medals we have given out, as well as lasting friendships and grilled cheese sandwiches we have made along the way, that we are truly blessed to have been.

Thank you for your support of the Beast of Burden Race Series over the years. We wish you well every time you toe the line for a race, or step foot on the canal path for another run/reunion in the future.
Sincerely,

Bob and Ken
Co-Race Directors

The Winter Beast, held annually in January or February, and the Summer Beast, held every August, were both launched in 2010 as 100-mile races at a time when the northeast had very few hundreds to choose from. Both races followed the same course and format, and later added 50-mile and 25-mile options. The Winter Beast has been one of the few ultras in the region held between December and April. For a unique twist, the RDs awarded a special 200-mile Beast Series belt buckle to anyone who completed the winter and summer 100s in the same year. 

Although I've never run the Summer Beast, I had the opportunity to run the winter race three times—the 50-mile twice and the 100-mile once. Training for the race gave me an incentive to put in big mileage on roads, rail trails—and yes, sometimes treadmills!—all winter long, culminating with 200 cumulative miles on the race's 12.5-mile stretch of towpath. This process helped me get much more comfortable dealing with the cold—my original reason for signing up for my first Winter Beast 50. 

RDs Ken and Bob put on a fun, well organized event every year, and their race will always have a special place in my heart. Online chatter around the announcement shows that dozens of other runner feel the same. 

Here's one last thank you to Bob, Ken, and all their volunteer crews over the years. And let's hope the Beast of Burden will someday return to Lockport and the canal path!