The Mt.Masochist 50+ Miler ison November 1st and the field looks tight, we’ll see if I can pick’em after my long Hiatus (sp?).
1:26pm Saturday.
Eric Grossman continued his tear at wins taking the race in a smooth 7:08, comfortably ahead of Gary Robbins.
Justine Morrison had aneasy day for the ladies as at this point, she’s the only one done! Nice run Justine, you banked today! 8:27 took it.
Hit the link below to check the splits as the race is ongoing right now.
The mens race should be abattle! Zach Miller 3-1. Won it before and will more than likely return in good form, more course knowledge won’t hurt Sean Andrish 3-1. Another with the most local Knowledge and many fast Masochist times. He just has to have a good day and hang tough till the end. Eric Grossman 3-1. It sounds like Grossman is in, his fast Tussey (5:48ish), shows his speed is all there. Thanks Dave, Ill consider that confirmedEric is running. Leigh Schmitt 3-1. Probably more speed than the other two ahead of him, these three should have a battle out there, that’s why they’re all 3-1. Lon Freeman 3-1. If Lon is ready to go, he’ll just have to hang with the local knowledge specialists in front of him to have a chance. Jonathan Basham 4-1. The other mystery man, right behind the other 3, but could also break through and win it too. Todd Walker 6-1. Tough to put Todd 6th but he’s just a tiny bit slower than Leigh. A good day could also put him on top if it all clicks. Gary Robbins 8-1. I heard from Dom he’s fast, but lacks experience in my books. But as always we’ll call him the mystery man and throw some pressure on him! Kieth Knipling 8-1. Another good season, but lacks just a little speed to hang in front the whole way, a typical fast start will put him in it early. Ryne Melcher 11-1. I’m still waiting for him to bust one, he’s got it in him. Newcomers Alex Barth and Drew Ponder look for some experience from those guys in front of them. We’ll see if the raw speed can keep up. The ladies race is a little easier: Bethany Patterson 7-2 Another fast girl, and if she is on, she’ll be right there. She seems to have been a little inconsistent over the past few seasons. Justine Morrison 6-1. I think Bethany is still the fastest, I missed Justine. I think I am becoming blind in my old age. Ragan Petrie 10-1. Not sure on her form, but she’ll run 3rd.Go toMasochist 50mi. to watch the race live!
Let me know if I missed anyone, I am sure I must have. I’m still compiling results so we can get started with the Speedgoat of the Year nominations. So hang tough on that one! I’ve been running again too, so thatjust makes me tired, even a 6 miler at 10 minutes permile is tiring….what’s up with that? That long green tunnel is what’s up. And a much deserved belated CONGRATULATIONS to Scott Jurek for blowing the field away in Greece at the Spartathlon, I got wind of thatrecently. Scott won it for the 3rd time. He apparently ran his best time there on those nasty roads.Jurek always slipsin one of those grand performances, even though he wasn’t really challenged, it was greatto see him run a great race! World of Hurt 34 mile sprint at Bootleg Canyon, down in good ole Sin City. This race is Oct 25, that’s this weekend! Looks like Hal Koerner won in 4:29, and Jenn Shelton was uncontested cuz’ Suzannah wasn’t there. About 1/2 of the fast guys DNF’d, they probaby went the wrong way. Mens race: Hal Koerner 7-2. He’s been running well lately, as long as he’s recovered from the Firetrails 50, he’ll be the man to beat. Josh Brimhall 4-1. Home turf, and seconds off the record at last year’s race. No doubt he’ll be up near the front the whole day Scott Jurek 4-1. Same as Halomatic, if he’s recovered from Spartathlon, he’ll be flying. A tune-up for Ultracentric? Ian “torrid” Torrence 9-2. His home turf too, and will be in the peloton. He’s been gaining some steam since his move to Ashland, and that circle running every week hasn’t hurt. My favorite sleeper to win it too. And he’ll win the most cash with these odds! Justin Ricks 6-1. Fast Edwrites him in for the sleeper position! The Ladies: Suzannah Beck 2-1. She’ll be tough to beat, the only thing stopping her is the next girl on this list….she might freak Suzannah out. If it’s real technical it could work against her, but she should be somewhat rested. Jenn Shelton 3-1.Right on Suzannah’s heals, but she’s a mystery to me right now, this two women race will be as good as the men’s if she’s in good form, and has been running incircles with Ian. Check out Backcountry.com for great deals these days, Christmas is coming and Backcountry is blowing stuff out! Use coupon code 2JV-1-QJE3H for 15% off or go toBackcountry.com and check out other great deals even better than 15%!
Rumor has it that Eric Grossman may also be toeing the line at Masochist to try and grab a spot at WS ‘09. If he’s in, but him in the now overbooked 3-1 category…
On the ladies side, Amy Sproston is in Central America for a while… which will make placing difficult at best.
Gary Robbins at 4-1 in my books. BC Boy. Definitely shooting for top three and capable….
Grossman definately 3-1 with the others, we’ve added him. We’ll add Gary Robbins too.
Love the pressure! Thanks for the odds, can’t wait for this race!!
GR
Karl-
Can you put together some numbers for The World Of Hurt 34 miler in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 25th. It should be good. Thanks.
Karl-
Speaking of Scott Jurek, several people at the world champions this weekend said Scott was going for the 24-hour American record at the Ultra Centric in a few weeks.
Jamie
Good stuff. It’ll be interesting to see who goes hard after the WS spots.
And, on Jamie’s comment about Scott and the 24 hour record, if he wants it badly enough it’s in the bag. And, over time, he’ll likely get the 48 and 72 hour as well
I’ll have to disagree with you AJW, 162+ miles in 24 hours is not in the bag. Yes Scott is a perfect candidate for it, but he’ll have to repeat his performance (and maybe even better it) of Spartathlon, cuz’ spartathlon is like a road race too. I would love to see Scott smoke it, then smoke the cash when he wins it. Not sure if the Committee at ULtracentric pays their bills though….just kidding Robert T. just kidding! Hope Scott takes the 7,000 home and the extra 1000 for being a rookie.
World of Hurt, coming up
OK Karl, maybe “in the bag” is too strong. However, if Scott is in Spartathlon shape the record should go down. In that race he hit 100 miles in something like 13 hours. And, it’s hillier than the Ultracentric loop for sure.
My “sleeper” pick for WOH is Justin Ricks. Not a sleeper around these parts as far as 50K goes. Justin will be one of the top 3, along with Hall and Josh - sorry Ian but you just missed the cash-money. Hey Hall if Josh needs to pass, don’t box him out like last time.
FastED
Wish I was racing WOH this weekend but that Geoff Rhodes character must have actually spelled his name right cause it aint me.
A couple dark horse picks for the Mountain Masochist. Alex Barth- fast 50k guy from PA, not sure about 50 mile speed(12-1). Drew Ponder- young gun. Smoked the courses in Dave Hortons Ultra series this spring. Great raw 50k speed, this may be his first 50 miler though(8-1).
Me(Mike Bailey)-super slow 50k speed,even slower 50 mile speed. A true mystery man(odds 300-1)
Geoff, I thought that might be a long trip from AK! If you are up there. I’ve deleted you. NOt sure if I’ll be at HURT, still debating, still trying to get in my first 10 miler!
Mike, thanks for the darkhorse list!
i would bet that once your strength and fitness really starts to come back around it will do so pretty quickly… it’s just a question of when that actually happens. I hope it’ll be in time for you to run in Hawaii.
early this summer after I rode my bike for an average of about 16 hours a day for three weeks I was completely wasted. for almost a month after that i felt horrible every time i tried to run and then all of the sudden one day it just felt normal to run again and then a few weeks later i ran a 100 miler and felt great. of course this might not apply at all because what you’re trying to recover from was a hell of a lot longer and more strenuous… drink a couple more beers and take lots of naps and you’ll be fine.
Annette Bednosky is still nursing injuries and will be volunteering at the race instead - a true champion.
mike
http://www.atayne.com
The seedings just came out from Zealand, looks like you might have to add another 3-1 in there as Lon Freeman is now on the list as well! I don’t see Todd Walker or Leigh Schmitt’s names though, so guessing they won’t be there?
GR
Woohoo! I got odds! But seriously, you’re too kind. Unfortunately if I do any running on Saturday it will be on a treadmill in El Salvador. My only trail race for the next 5 months will be Fuego y Agua 100k in Nicaragua.
But I’m pulling for my Luther College teammate Zach to take the men’s. Go Blue! And Justine Morrison to take the women’s race.
don’t count out Adam Hill I’m puting my money on the wunderdog, we have to get this on the networks would make for great watching, come on Discovery channel…
More darkhorses out there, this could be the best 50 miler of the year in term of competition…hands down! I either missed Freeman or he got in late. Nice to see the potential podium runners slipping in the back door…if that’s the case.
There are 4 very well known threats for the MMTR this Saturday: Zach Miller, who won last year, Eric Grossman and Sean Andrish who have both won the MMTR before and Lon Freeman. These are 4 very fast runners. Zach, Eric, and Sean all ran the Tussey Mountain 50 miler very recently and may still feel the effects of that race. A local runner, Jeremy Ramsey, is ready to make a major breakthrough in this race. I think anyone of these 5 runners could win the race. The women’s winner should be Justine Morrison. Two local runners, Krista Meisch and Jenny Anderson could give Justine a run for her money. There are many other runners in the men’s field are very tough as well. This is the deepest field for men in years. There will be live updates on Eco-xsports.com
Paul,
You beat me to it. Was just going to mention Canadian Adam Hill also. He’s been running very well this year setting a course record at Haliburton 50miler in Sept and then a fast time for the win at Vulture Bait 50km a few week ago.
Needless to say, it’s stacked with old school fast guys and new school fast guys. It reminds me of White River in 2004 when we were running and hiking up the first hill in a peleton of about 20. Should be the same on the Masochist course! It’ll be exciting to watch, and Clark has it set up for live action.
Karl, you can’t have 5 runners at 3-1 odds. 3-1 is another way of saying 75%-25%. It’s not possible for 5 people to each have a 25% chance of winning. Your total % for the field is supposed to add up to 100. You’re a great runner, but a lousy bookie.
Rob, that’s hilarious, I almost fell out of my chair when I read that. I guess it’s my way of saying, “I don’t know who’s gonna win and it’ll be a 5 man race. Never was a bettin’ man.
Gary Robbins-wanted to push to 3-1 for him…but now we get to see it at Western. But 100 miles is not 50 x 2. now I just need to get my azzzz in shape.
I know I had Lady Luck on my side out there today. There was no way I could hang with Eric, Lon and Zach, but hell I’ll take it for my first 50 miler, Western here I come baby!!
To the track meet. Nice job gentlemen! Masochist is not easy track! 50X2 is not 100 miles, it’s more like 50 X 3!
Exactly!!! It is 50 x 3…or more. I am now remembering why I took 2008 off ;o)
But, Gary has that youth on his side and although he will face the usual 100 mile demons, I think he will surprise many many folks…
Looking forward to the odds on that one!
I think Miwok will be the real test to see where everyone is.
Karl,
Off the subject, but thank you for acknowledging Larry Emery and the others for a finish at the Speedgoat…Larry is as hard core as they come and deserves the recognition.
That course is really tough!!!
Dom,
I think you are right that for those people who choose to run Miwok it will be a good fitness test. However, many of the contenders likely will not run Miwok opting instead to spend the weekend in the canyons. Over the years success at Miwok has not necessarily translated to success at WS.
AJW