Next up is the North Face 50, after looking at the most recent entry list, these odds are gonna be good! Both the men’s and women’s race will be spectacular. Ain’t it true that money talks and bullshit walks? $10,000 to win, $4000 for second and $1000 for third sums up the reason top competition shows up for this one. I’ll post my odds on Friday.
And even though I can’t offer prize money….yet, the Speedgoat 50k applications will be available here only…online on December 1st. Put this brutal run on your July 18 “things to do list”.
At JFK:
It looks like the top runners are:
Mark Lundblad Paul Dewitt Matt Lavine Pete BreckinridgeLundblad wins it in 6:07! Connie Gardner runs relatively unchallenged in 7:15!
I posted the top 10 in the comments section. Nice run Ian!!
I can’t even look at the women as I don’t even recognize any except Bethany Patterson. Check this link for a good writeup of competition today:
I won’t be googling 1000 names, I have golf to play right now.
Any way you look at it, the race will be a steamer, and once that towpath gets it’s first steps, the fastest runner on the flats will likely prevail. We’ll see if Torrence wins the sprint points to the end of the AT at 15.5 miles!
In other news: We’ve been yacking about the “Speedgoat of the Year”. Instead of having a vote online, what’s better, a panel of 10 making the decision?, an online vote where the “refresh” key comes into play?
I say we select a panel of 10, but that’s my idea, most of us who comment on my site about it are certainly interested in making the right decision. Maybe we’ll do both and see how it turns out. Still a few more races to go. It’s not over yet.
For me, my schedule for next year is looking like a bunch of 5k’s early season, then I’ll take on a few 10k’s by April. I”ve decided to bag Western, as most already know….so I’ll go back to Silverton and have a relaxing two week camping vacation, then run through the San Juans for 101.7 miles of the best terrain on earth. Then back to my roots here in the Wasatch mountains. Keeping it simple in my old age. The AT will wait till 2010 if all goes well, I have some unfinished business there…to say the least.
The Speedgoat 50k applications will go online on December 1st, for those who want to commit to the pain of running goat trails around Snowbird Ski Resort.
And lastly….Just go run! Get off the computer!!
….or at least go shopping on the computer and get somethin’ good for Christmas: Backcountry.com
I think Connie Gardner will go for top spot for the ladies. She is not on the entry list, but she will be there from what I understand.
Throw Blake Benke in there for a possible win.
I would give Connie the nod for sure. Did she run Ultracentric? No Anne Lundblad? What would be cool, is seeing Susannah Beck here, she would thrive on this course. We’ll see what happens.
Connie didn’t do Ultracentric, as she had just gotten back from WC100k in Italy and because that race is kind of a fiasco from what I hear. It would be great to see Anne and Susannah go at it on that course.
maybe you should have a panel and an online vote and then average the two together for the final tally.
bummed to hear that you won’t be at HURT. if i get some beginners luck in the HR lottery i’ll be seeing you down in Silverton the first couple weeks of July… if not, it’ll be off to the track meet for me if i can qualify at AR or Miwok.
I like Geoff’s idea. A panel and an online vote. It’ll be interesting.
Too bad you’re bailing on the Big Dance. The Old Guys’ Race won’t be the same without you.
Of course, the young guys race will be as good as ever but they may just beat themselves up and save the sloppy seconds for us.
And, as a caution, I am throwing in to Hardrock knowing that it takes 3-4 years on the waiting list to get in, whoever you are! Now that I’m living at altitude (sort of) it may be time…
AJW
If you go with a panel and online then the panel should be blinded as to not offer influence.
AJW - As a caution to you: I had the same mentality approaching HR and got in the first year. Would love to see you there! Just as an FYI….
I can only imagine how many folks will apply for HR! I do like Geoff’s idea of the average, working off percentages. I’ll look into that. Good luck in the HR lottery! I’ll be pulling for you.
Mark Lundblad 39 M 1/165 SWANANOA NC 2 6:07:09 7:19
2 Oz Pearlman 26 M 1/62 NEW YORK NY 4 6:13:18 7:27
3 Teage O’Connor 25 M 2/62 BURLINGTON VT 73 6:14:58 7:29
4 Johan Oosthuizen 35 M 2/165 MIDDLEBURG MPU 9 6:17:31 7:32
5 Michael Arnstein 31 M 3/165 NEW YORK NY 80 6:24:36 7:40
6 Matthew Lavine 34 M 4/165 CRYSTAL LAKE IL 22 6:26:10 7:42
7 Blake Benke 32 M 5/165 NEW YORK NY 71 6:28:04 7:44
8 Ian Torrence 36 M 6/165 ASHLAND OR 1262 6:34:57 7:53
9 Pete Breckinridge 38 M 7/165 NORFOLK VA 1185 6:35:17 7:53
10 Andrew Mason 36 M 8/165 HAGERSTOWN MD 3 6:40:32 7:59
Karl-
Not sure if you saw this or not, 2000+ miles on the AT and no blisters.
http://drymaxsports.blogspot.com