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!
Glad to see you’re ready to go, Karl!
Best of luck with all your planned races.
230″ IS serious dumpage. With your burly arms you’ll be easy to spot amidst the skinny ultra tykes!
On the other side of the hills, Boulder is getting the same treatment right now - been raining steadily for 48 hours - another 2d colder and we’d have 40″ of new on the ground just like they do in the hills above town.
No worries. Green is nicer than brown.
Welcome back, I wouldn’t blog either with snow like that!
Jurek is in for Western, was added to the list about a month ago maybe? I heard through the grapevine that he’s doing a lot of ’secret training’ down in Cali…or I’m just starting rumors…actually it was Hart that started that one…not exactly a legit source for info:)
GR
Thanks for the info Gary, the race just got that much more interesting. It’s nice to see Scott got in without any deals…..like he should. Put this on record now. “If Scott wins Western, no matter what the time is, he’ll win runner of the year because of his defense of his title. Even if he does nothing else”
Save that quote from me! I could win every 100 I run (7 of them) (I won’t….no way!) and still not win that vote if Scott wins Western. :-).
The odds will be interesting to say the least!
Hart is a yacker! you hear that Matt!
Scott has been off-piste lately in the ultra world, but is a smart man going in defense of his dominance at Western……kinda like Lance eh? Now Scott should run Pikes Peak for the hell of it!
I’ve got 10 years as well my man, brought in a little equity with 5 straight bear wins.
You’re got your work cut out for you, but damn it 7 just may be your lucky number.
You better get up here to Ashland sometime soon…….
hk
Ahhh, correction I missed a year in there. Damn it! Go for it Karl……..
I get a little over zealous in the morning
hk
Which year did you miss Hal? I only have 9, so the pressure is on. I’ll get to Ashland!, don’t you worry. It’s on the “to do” list. You just go kill it at Western again!
Jurek does have 10 years streak - started in 1999 with WS, 7 of those till 2005), then Badwater in 2006, Spartathlon in 2007 and 2008. I hope those races count:) Go, Karl!
Hey Olga, I better get on it! Badwater and Spartathlon certainly count, they’re freakin’ longer than 100!
Hopefully Scott will make it 11 at Western, this is gonna be a tough one though……we’ll see.
Ty, BOSHO is a go, email me though for more info.
This was a comment posted by Craig on “14 for 14″.
Looks like they’ve added “Scott J” to the entrant list at Western. I don’t see Max King unless they haven’t updated the website since he won AR50. You are right! This is going to be a serious track meet with Jurek, Wardian, Krupicka, King, Mackey, Grossman, Jones-Wilkins, Godale, Brimhall, Koerner, Zach Miller, Morrison, Pacheco, Mike Wolfe, Lon Freeman, Skaden. Man, did I forget anyone?
Scary thing is Craig, you are probably missing a few others as well. But this is a good start!
Throw in Graham Cooper, Jon Olsen and some names of friends from overseas who I’ve heard mentioned; Laval Benoit, Jez Bragg and Marco Olmo.
Nice Bill, we’ll add them to the odds list!
How about Kaburagi from Japan?
He ran UTMB 4th and North Face 50miler 3rd last year.
Yes Tetsuro! We will add him to the list. He’s certainly right in there as a top contender. He was awesome at the North Face 50…now we’ll see what he can do at 100 miles on US soil!
Here is what I came up with contenders for top 10 in each M and F groups. By any means, knock yourself out trying to predict:) I am sure I am missing a few myself.
Jurek, Wardian, Krupicka, King, Mackey, Grossman, Jones-Wilkins, Godale, Brimhall, Koerner, Zach Miller, Morrison, Pacheco, Mike Wolfe, Lon Freeman, Skaden, Todd Braje, Graham Cooper, Jasper Halekas, David James, Hiroki Ishikawa, Tsuyoshi Kaburagi, Phill Kiddoo, Mark Lantz, Sean Meissner, Jeff Riley, Lewis Taylor, Craig Thornley, Geoff Roes (?contingency on Miwok), Brian Morrison, Daniel Olmstead, Chikara Omine, Gary Robbins, Kevin Sullivan
Beverley Anderson-Abbs, Meghan Arbogast, Michelle Barton, Susan Brozik, Stacey Bunton, Jenny Capel, Francesca Conte, Connie Gardner, Nikki Kimball, Prudence L’Heureux, Kristin Moehl, Karalee Morris, Carol O’Hear, Linda Samet, Jenn Shelton, Caren Spore, Elizabeth Vitalis, Justine Morrison
Olga, your list looks just about right. 34 guys with a chance for top-10 and probably 10 guys with a chance to win (more if it’s hot like 2006) Should be fun. I’m heading to Auburn tomorrow.
ah shit.. getting called out as a gossip on the interweb. damn. in my defense it was angle who told me it was “secret training”. i thought it sounded intriguing so i went with it.
i’m going to do everything i can to get down there to watch western states. if i can run i’ll pace garry robbins and take loads of video of the drama.
karl you got 10 years with a 100 mile win in the bag. go hammer massanutten my friend.