Paul Hopwood led early with a 3:46 first lap and never looked back to dominate in 2008. Although the winning time was not close to any record, the course came close to the record, wth only 21 official 100 mile finishers. 50 runners chose to bailout with 100k under their belt. Paul’s time of 27:17 was enough to edge out Geoff Hanson’s 28:52. My favorite Hartell “survived” at his first attempt in the jungle. Gordon Lau was the strongest finisher with his last two laps run solidly.
Suzanna Bon dominated the women’s crown with a respectable 31:56 edging out the legend Monica Scholz! It’s all over now and the stellar Dinner awaits…Kalua Pig, Sushi, and an array of Hawaiian fare are on the menu. PJ and John are preparing the heckling session…wish I could be there! Until next year!
Speedgoat50k.com registration here!No mud, no jungle, bigger hills, bigger party! Do the math! -Speedgoat Karl
Yo Karl,
Well, it sure wasn’t like 05′ or 06′ out there! It was totally nuts. 1st two laps were muddy but not out of the ordinary. Then it started to rain like it only can in Hawaii. Literally, the trails were streams and the mud was as crazy as any I have ever run in. I was in 2nd all day and was only minutes behind Hopwood throughout the day but it just turned into survival out there. I had gone out seeing if I had it in me to run under 24 but the course just didn’t set up that way. I gave myself some time at 60 and even pushed on until 67 but it was just misery and the thought of being out there for another 10 or 11 hours in those conditions just didn’t sound like anything I wanted to do. 1st DNF in my 8 years of running but at least I got the 100K win out of it. I’d say my 17 hr/67 miles is the slowest winning time per/mile in the history of running! I give lots of props for those who stayed out there and endured… cause it wasn’t fun. Testament to that is to look at the splits of the leaders during the last two laps…. straight up brutal!
Big Aloha,
Rod Bien
Hello Rod, it does sound like it was ridiculously brutal. Both years I ran there I was fortunate to run in somewhat dry conditions….yah it was slippery for me, but no rivers and very runnable for Hawaii. Estes’ time was on the dryest year hands down. Not taking anything away from him, his performance was the best of the year if I were the only voter. I know the feeling of not wanting to be out there for another 10-12 hours, that was my feeling at Mt. Blanc, although for different reasons…it happens. Till the next race! Mahalo! Speedgoat Karl