Free to Run Trail Races - Pittsfield, MA
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Free to Run Trail Races - Pittsfield, MA
The Berkshire Ultra Running Community for Service (BURCS) presents the Free to Run Trail Races on September 12, 2026 at Pittsfield State Forest near 1041 Cascade St, Pittsfield, MA. The event supports Free to Run, Inc., an organization that enables women and girls to engage in outdoor activity in conflict-affected regions and to develop community leadership through sports, life skills, and outreach.
Distances offered include:
- 50K ultramarathon
- 25K
- 15K
- 5 mile
The course is a double-loop figure 8 combining for approximately 15.5 miles and 3000 feet of vertical gain. The "Big Loop" is about 10.5 miles and includes climbs to Pine Mountain, Tower Mountain, and Berry Hill, plus a section on the Taconic Crest Trail. The "Little Loop" is about 5.5 miles and begins with an ascent on the Lulu Brook trail followed by a fast, winding descent. The 50K covers both loops twice; the 25K covers each loop once; the 15K covers the Big Loop once; the 5 mile follows the Little Loop.
The course is described as hard, with long climbs and fast descents. There are three aid stations and runners are expected to carry water and calories. The 50K has a twelve hour finish cutoff and the final small loop must be started by the ten hour mark. Each finisher receives a finishers award. Registrations made before September 1 will receive a shirt; later registrations receive a shirt on a best efforts basis. A NOSHIRT code reduces the fee by twenty dollars. Multiple campsites with showers and bathrooms are available in Pittsfield State Forest and must be booked independently. Organizers reserve the right to convert the event to a virtual format if permits cannot be secured or if officials prohibit an in person event. Because profits are donated to charities, refunds and deferrals are not offered except for pregnancy deferrals; registrations may be treated as donations. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
