Monthly Archive for April, 2009

The Miwok odds and the last 3 spots…for the big track meet at Squaw Valley.

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on April 27, 2009
in Race Updates and Speedgoat 50K
. 23 Comments

Dave Mackey’s record should remain a tall order, but the race to win will be tight as always.

Full Results here

The Men:

Scott Jurek  2-1.  Let’s put a little pressure on Scott and give him the nod.  He may not be racing this one to win, (maybe he is) He is sure to be in the mix as the race progresses.
Geoff Roes  5-2.  His performance at the North Face 50 in December on the same trails proves he can run up front.  He wasn’t 100% that day either, and he wants in at Western.
Eric Grossman  3-1.  He’s fast on hills and flats, so this course should suit him well, his long loping stride that I witnessed (for a few minutes) at Cool was a good indicator he’ll be in it running for the win.
Todd Braje  4-1.  His 5:30ish 50 mile was the fastest in recent history, not too long ago.  If he’s still got that energy, he may just run away with it from the start.
Phil Kochik  5-1.  He’s run here many times and always near the front.  He’s a little erratic though, so I see him either running 5th or winning the thing.
Other guys in the mix, but not out front:  Matt Lonergan, Erik Skaden, Scott Jaime, Graham Cooper, Brian Morrison, Mark Lantz, Mark Hartell, Jean Pommier……and maybe a few I missed as well.

 The Ladies:

Kami Semick  2-1.  Her performance on her home turf last year at the NF 50 was stellar and should be no different this week.  She knows it and owns it, and should win by a comfy margin.
Joelle Vaught  4-1.  She’s fast and just a little bit faster than Anita on smooth terrain, so she gets the nod for first loser…….in the women’s race.
Caitlin Smith  9-5.  Caitlin has proved to be super fast in shorter races, but this is a bit new for her.  I’ll call her the sleeper.  If she manages her run well, she’ll be in it to win it and surprise a few…..then she can take a crack at 100 miles.
Anita Ortiz  5-1.  Not enough leg speed to run to win, but hills are her friend and she’ll be no further back than third.
Prudence L’Heuruex.  7-1.  She’s a little erratic, but has it in her to crack the top 3, but needs a great day to beat the three in front of her.
Suzanna Bon  8-1.  I’m thinking this is not necessarily her type of course but she’s sneaky and may just squeeze out a third.
Rob Lang calls in Nicola Gildersleeve as a darkhorse from our neighbor to the north!  :-)

Needless to say the race will be fun to watch, and running at the front will be stressful for those trying to make the start line at Squaw.  Scott has no pressure on him, he’s in this for the fun of it.  Sometimes with no pressure we run better.  I am a classic example of that! 

For the right shoe, check out my user profile at Backcountry.com.  This course is smooth and hilly, so the lighter the better!

It freakin’ snowed big again at Alta, making the Speedgoat 50k course buried even deeper, but have faith, it’ll melt…….at least most of it.  Check back soon for good deals at Snowbird for the Speedgoat race.

I just ran the Bonneville Marathon, a muddy, singletrack marathon here in SLC.  I went to break my previous CR and came up 6 minutes tall, breaking it by almost 6 minutes.  The 6500′ of climb was no match for goat legs.  I am finally feeling like I am back in solid form for my assault on 7, 100s this summer.  3:47.52 was the time, that one should hold for a while! 

Now go run! 

Now…….the season can begin!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on April 18, 2009
in Race Updates, Snow Reports and Speedgoat 50K
. 18 Comments

Stay tuned for Monday’s post:  The Miwok odds are coming, and this year’s race is a barn burner for the last 3, Western States Track Meet qualifiers!

Watch the Boston Marathon LIVE right now!  (it’s 8:32 MST)  at this website:

http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?CLIP_ID=110201&_MODE_=EVENT&db_oem_id=23000

Ryan Hall is pushing the pace, the 10k split was 29:30.  I can run 5 miles at that pace….maybe!

After shoveling almost 700″ of the “greatest snow on earth”, my tenure at Sugarplum condos and townhouses ended yesterday, (these condos are sweet and would be a great deal if you have a group running the Speedgoat 50k!).  Now I can start preparing for 7 100 mile mountain races.  It all starts with Massannutten on May 16th.  First I’ll hammer out the Bonneville Shoreline Marathon as a tune-up on April 25th.  While 165″ of snow sits on the ground at Snowbird and Alta, I’ll have to run at a lower elevation, but the hills are steep, and just as relentless as the higher stuff. 

I really think the Appalachian Trail helped me put down a huge base for this year.  Although I have run far less mileage as last year at this time, I have been running faster over my standard “bread and butter” routes.  Doing it with ease.  Two good races behind me.  My “Way Too Cool” finish didn’t look that impressive, but only because my right calf siezed at 23 miles and I had to slow down to make sure injury stayed out of the picture.  It did, and all is well.  

What’s the goal this year?  Only to win one 100 miler.  It would give me 10 years in a row with at least one 100 mile win.  I believe only Ann Trason can say that.  Unless Mr. Jurek can too.  I’m not sure about Scott, but it is certainly a possibility with his stellar 7 win streak at Western. 

Alot of cool races are starting now, and I’ll start doing some odds again, as I now have more time to spend in front of the screen, I’ve been a slacker again lately, but only because of the 230″ of dumpage we’ve recieved since March 22.  It was simply out of control shoveling almost 20″ daily….but again, it’s over now, so no excuses!

Western States is getting even more interesting as a few more super fast guys have qualified for the 2009 Auburn Track Meet.  Max King is certainly the leader with speed as his stellar performance at the Pear Blossom 10 mile CR was only a week after his win at the American River 50.  But Western is 100 miles, hopefully he’ll toe the start line and step into a different realm.   Miwok is the last qualifier, and a few others are trying to get in to WS.   Geoff Roes is hoping to qualify as well, he certainly has it in him to make it happen.  Scotty J would be a stellar addition,  (although, he should not have to qualify), He is Mr. Western!  I guess time will tell.  Miwok will likely be my next attempt at doing the odds. 

The Speedgoat 50k entrants list is creeping upwards, check it out.  Sign up if you want a real 50k challenge.  No PR’s at this race, only satisfaction of getting it done! 

Big hugs and kisses to La Sportiva and Backcountry.com for supporting me and the Speedgoat race this year!  Our prize list includes killer stuff from La Sportiva, Nathan Packs, Drymax socks, First Endurance,  and Ryders Eyewear  along with a few goat legs for the fastest Billies and Nannies.   Not to mention a few other prizes we’ll muster up.  Along with this year’s prize list comes 100 bucks for the winners and 100 bucks to break a record.  Yah, it’s not much, but I’m poor and it’s coming from this kid’s pocket.  A C-note never hurts!

14 for 14

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on April 6, 2009
in Snow Reports and Speedgoat 50K
. 10 Comments

OK, so I have been pretty much of a slacker in terms of posting info about anything……..why?

In simple terms:  Alta, Utah has recieved a whopping 170″ of snow since March 22…..are you kidding you say?  No, not kidding, check out Alta.com and click on snow reports to see actual daily snowfall.  Needless to say, I’ve been shoveling, burrowing and digging snow tunnels for the past two weeks.  The base at Alta today was 171″ on the ground…..that’s deep enough to safely say the Speedgoat 50k will have some snow on the course.   Perhaps a few glissading sections to make it easier!

Sunday, Cheryl and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary with a huge dose of 30″ of fresh Pow!  Not a bad way to spend an anniversary.  Tomorrow, I’ll go golfing…….only in Utah.

While I’ve been away from the screen, I’ve managed to run about 50 miles a week in the slop, slush, and driving snow.  It’s only gonna make me tougher when the sun finally shows it’s happy side.   The Massannutten 100 is next on my “race” list.  But before that I’ll run the local Bonneville Marathon here in Salt Lake.  A simple little marathon with only 6400′ of climb.  It’ll be my last long run before Nutten’ on May 16th.

It’s freakin’ deep, this year’s total so far: 615″ of the greatest snow on earth, eat you’re heart out Colorado!

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