The Bighorn 100 starts June 19th. Am I recovered from Massannutten? Absolutely! I feel as though I didn’t even run in Virginia a week and a half ago……scary!
Why am I recovered already?…….because I’m a mutant? or is it the multiple scoops of Ultragen I consume after every run. I’ll call it the Ultragen. Not to mention I have a great coach…..myself! 
Last Friday I was summoned to fill in for Missy Berkel at the Pocatello 50 mile relay. I was called on my way up to Pocatello where my wife Cheryl was also participating in the 50 mile relay division. So I said why not?, What’s another 17 miler? I ran it with intentions of just having fun. It certainly was fun. Cruising along on prime Pocatello singletrack comfortably at 10.5 mph had me feeling pretty good. I won the first leg by 5 minutes. Recovered from Massannutten……I think so! Bighorn will be the real test…..then of course the beast of all beasts, The Hardrock 100 follows three weeks later!
Now it’s time to check out Hucknroll.com and Realcyclist.com. Backcountry has now added cycling to there already huge inventory, great discounts at random times and only top-flight gear for the real athlete……..that’s all of us!
The Speedgoat 50k has only 6 weeks to go till entries are closed, so time to suck it up and run/hike the toughest 50k on earth, covered by the greatest snow on earth. That’s right, it’s still buried up in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Perhaps I should start shoveling the course now to get it ready. We still need volunteers for the big dance, so if anyone out there is interested in watching some carnage, come help us out. It’s a great race to be a spectator!
I continue to review gear, not to mention others out there doing reviews for Backcountry.com, so check it out if you need anything, but only the good stuff, cuz’ they don’t sell junk.
May 16th the Massannutten 100 will start with one of the best fields to date. No, it’s not Western, but a better course and a fun ride nonetheless.
Watch for live updates here
The Men:
Speedgoat Karl 5-2. I have to put pressure on myself to perform well, I’m in great shape, know the course well and plan on ripping one off to make it ten years in a row with at least one 100 mile win. I’m slightly handicapped this year, but that won’t be revealed till I hit the start line. It has nothing to do with running without crew or those silly pacers! (no offense to pacers, just yacking). Bring it on "Stonewall"! I also have some incentive to bring home a case of 100 mile wins.
Todd Walker 4-1. Todd’s experience here will help alot when the course gets ugly in the later stages. This is a race where experience helps. Todd is no rookie.
Kieth Knipling 9-5. Kieth wasn’t far behind me at 50 miles a few years ago when I won just over 20 hours. He’s usually pretty fit this time of year. He’ll lead early if Mongold isn’t already ahead.
Bradley Mongold 5-1. He’s probably got the best 50k speed here, but he’s gonna have to save that 50k speed for the last 50k. If he does, he’ll be near the front. And he’s a bear hunter, so I’m told.
Glen Redpath 6-1. Off to a great start this year. This race will put the pressure on him to keep that good runnin’ going.
Joe Kulak 13-7. How could I forget Joe? He’s textbook and will be in it if he wants in.
Jeremy Ramsey 7-1. Jeremy has showed lots of promise in shorter distances, and should crack top 5 with a good,solid, smart effort.
Nick Pedatella 8-1. Nick won the antelope Island 50 mile in 6:43 ish, good for a kid, if he has a great day and can figure out how to run 100, he’ll surprise some folks, including me.
Adam Cassaday 9-1. He’s fast enough to be up front, he’s my sleeper to win it on a great day. He’s got experience around the Massannutten track, and speed to boot!
The women:
Amy Sproston 3-2. Amy won’t pay well, she’s easily the one to beat here, and it’s hers to lose. I’d still put my cash on her if I were a betting man and take the small profit
Kerry Owens 6-1. She’s won it before, so she knows what it feels like to run out front if Amy has issues.
At the Jemez 50 mile:
Look for Ryan Burch and Dakota Jones to duke it out up front. Kyle Skaggs’ record is going nowhere for a long time, we’ll see if hese two boys can go sub 9 hours, close to what Nate and I ran last year.
For the women: Darcy Africa is back on the scene, if she’s in decent shape, she’ll have that winning smile once again when she crosses the line.
La Sportiva athlete Jean Coulter has the best speed and could certainly give Darcy a run for it, these two could duke it out like the men.
That’s it for odds now, check out gear reviews at Backcountry.com , sign up for the Speedgoat 50k!. ……. start training to run uphill, at altitude, then have a few beers when you finish! Sounds like a fine day at the office to me!
Now go run!
