KarlMeltzer.com

I’m out for the weekend, headed to the moon to get on some dirt trails.  As the moon is only 4 hours drive, I thought it might be best to see what it feels like to get on some dirt….or slickrock. 

When I return I”ll do some odds for the Pemberton 50k, and the Moab “Red Hot” 50k.  Both races line up to be barn burners. 

Speedgoat 50k applications are available now, so sign it up and get ready for the steep climbs in July, if any Hardrockers want in, I might have a slight discount for the pain you’ll be recieving only one week after the toughest 100 on earth. 

Other cool races this year have been organized, the DRTE 100 in California.  This race has more vertical climb than the mighty Hardrock, but at sea level it has to be a bit easier….right? 

And the Pocatello 50 on May 23rd.  One unique point about this race is there are only a few aid stations, making us carry a few extra gels and be camels with our water.   There is also a high probability we’ll have a few glissading buttslides on race day.   There aren’t many races out there with a feature like this…….it comes highly recommended!

I’ll have more info on the DRTE 100 when the time comes, but it looks like it’s gonna be in October, prime time for one more big vertical 100 miler……perhaps it’ll have to be on my schedule to fill in October. 

Time to throw some Powerbar Gels in my pocket and hit the dirt……Ciao

Speedgoat 50k applications available here!

Check out the 50k race page first, to see what you are getting into!

HURT 100 coming this weekend!

Paul Hopwood is off to a rapid start running the first lap in 3:33, probably one of the fastest laps ever!  Barger is not far behind.  Roes is sitting perfectly about 15 minutes back.  I’ll give Paul another lap with the lead until Geoff picks him off.  Barger is tough too, but will fade on the 3rd lap…….we’ll see!

Gotta love the play by play…..Roes took the lead earlier than expected, he probably got bored.  Hopwood is running very well at this point and seems to have been startled by Geoff.  Geoff is gone as far as I’m concerned now.  Watch Goggins creep up on Barger and Hopwood. 

ROES KILLS IT AGAIN!!!!    20:28

Matt Estes’ record gets shaved another 15 minutes, now we’ll be talking about breaking 20 hours there.  Scares me to think what Geoff may run at Wasatch this year!  He certainly has proven in every race he’s run that he’s one of the best in sport right now!  Congrats Geoff! 

I’m sure Geoff will have a great write-up when he returns to the great white north, check that out in a few days at “Fumbling Towards Endurance” 

The real competitive race is Barger and Hopwood duking it on the last lap for 2nd, we’ll see who perseveres now that the course is ripped up and slicker than zips ass.   Both are on the edge of breaking 24 hours.

Once upon a time everyone thought 24 hours wasn’t breakable………Hah!

Click here for the link to the live updated HURT 100. 

Bummed I had to bail on this one, but hey, the economy is bad, right?

Here’s my picks:

Women:

Tune into the HURT 100 for live updates via the’re website on Saturday July 17-18.

Backcountry.com is having a huge sale on winter gear right now, check them out!  click the Goatman to find some killer deals on the pile of winter stock.

2008 TOTALS:

MILES:  4539.8

VERTICAL CLIMB:   961,550′

AVERAGE PER DAY:  12.437

AVERAGE PER WEEK:  87.303

MONTHLY AVERAGE:  378.3

RACES:

Moab 50k,   7th place 4:25

Coyote Two Moon 100,  1st place  19:24

Zion Crossing, West-East Entrance

52 Miles,  10 hours 5 min

Jemez 50 mile,  2nd place 8:48

Wahsatch Steeplechase 17 mile,  10th place  2:36

Appalachian Trail 2176 miles, 4th place  54 days, 21 hrs, 12min

Turkey Day 5k,  11th place, 18:19  (2nd master)

North Face 50,  20th place  8:25  (2nd master)

Speedgoat 50k Applications available here for the toughest 50k in the US.

I managed to squeak out one 100 mile win at the Coyote Two Moon 100 last March,  keeping my streak of consecutive years with at least one 100 mile win going at 6 years in a row, I narrowly missed a win in 2002 running 2nd at Wasatch.   My streak of winning at least two ultras in a calendar year ended this year at a solid 10 years.   We’ll see if I can start a new streak this year.

The Speedgoat 50K went off much smoother in it’s second year, the course is now set in stone and won’t have to be re-routed any more.  A big relief.  Nate McDowell holds the mens record , Anita Ortiz holds the womens fastest time.  It’s nice to know the records are not soft, only in it’s second year. It’ll be interesting to see what some of the younger fast boys can run here…if they dare show up.  Some day I even hope to run…for the masters record…of course.

Next year’s plans are much like an Ultrarunners standard race schedule.  I’m staying more on the local side.   One more run at the Way Too Cool 50k to see if I can still break 4 hours, I’d be happy with that. 

First, I’ll run in Moab, cuz’ the course is too perfect. 

The Massannutten 100 will be the focus race of the spring, I’m hoping to run well there and try and keep that 100 mile streak alive.

Hardrock one more time cuz’ that course is too perfect too.  I decided to bag Western and stick with what I like best…big, high altitude hills.  It’s simply more fun for me on that venue. 

I will then come back to my home turf and run Wasatch again, I’m looking forward to it already.  My wife Cheryl has her name in the hat, so I may run without a crew….one step tougher=better.

And a look at the new Bear 100 course, still the best kept secret of all. 

I’ll continue to do odds for the better races, and of course the ”Speedgoat of the Year” award will be decided……..somehow.  I’m working on it, but I’m a little behind……such is life. 

No more hibernation, it’s time to train for WTC.