The Hardrock 100 starts Friday morning at 6am, CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT LIVE!
And the odds are in:
1. Scott Jaime 3-1. Scott is the man to beat as he’s ready and I’m a little tired. If he keeps it together, he’s got potential to run under 28 or even 27 if it all clicks! 2. Mark Hartell 7-2. My guess is he’ll run real smart and slip under 28 as well. He’s got it in him, he had a good chance at that time a few years back, but lost the edge with 15 to go. 3. Speedgoat Karl 4-1. I’m still a mystery, so I decided to keep the pressure off of me. I think I can run sub 26, but I don’t have Scott Jurek to chase, so it’ll likely be a slower start. 28 should be no problem if I don’t have real issues. 4. Jared Campbell 5-1. Another guy who has potential to run 27 hours, he’s my sleeper to win it. 5. Ryan Burch 11-5. Ryan is fast as demonstrated in Moab, but this is 100 in the San Juans, if he holds together, he’ll be there at the end with the leaders. Not as much experience at 100 as the others 6. Ricky Denesik 6-1. Another previous winner in the 30 hour range, but not enough to win this year. 7. Paul Sweeney 7-1. And another previous winner in the 30 hour range. If he keeps that smile on, look out! He’s always a strong finisher. 8. Sam Thompson 8-1. He flies under the radar a bit and will surprise some if he runs smart. He knows the routine. 9. Andy Jones-Wilkins 10-1. He should be tired from his good run at Western, and I assume he’ll finish strong. If it’s extra hot, I’m sure he’ll do better than 9th as he’s already “heat trained” from Western. 10. John DeWalt 72-1. He’s my favorite! He’ll pay big if he takes it! I can’t wait to see this guy come strolling around the corner at 530am Sunday morning!The ladies:
1. Betsy Kalmeyer 3-1. She’s the master of the course, and although Diana comes back as returning champ, I’m thinking Betsy has a little unfinished business. 2. Diana Finkel 4-1. Great run last year, and could notch her 2nd Hardrock win if she’s on her game. 3. Betsy Nye 5-1. She’ll run around 33 hours as always, she won’t blow up either, she’ll crack top 3 again. 4. Helen Cospolich 6-1. She knows Colorado well and does well at altitude, she’s my sleeper for the women. 5. Kim Holak 7-1. If she’s been in Silverton for 2 weeks, move her up a bit, but coming from a lower altitude won’t help. Although sometimes it’s better, kind of the way I’m doing it. We’ll see. She’s fast. 6. Diane Van Deren 10-1. She’s coming off of Bighorn, so she may be tired a bit, but still rock solid strong.Entries are closed for the Speedgoat 50k at Active.com, but you can still get in. Check the “Speedgoat 50k Page” for details. I will not accept anything after Monday evening July 13, so get on it now! It’s gonna be a doosy!
Check out my gear review page for the right shoe for the speedgoat 50k, amongst other things.
Keep in mind, I’ll be out of touch until I return from the Hardrock 100 on Monday for any comments.
Any odds on Ronda Sundermeier? She won the 2008 Grand Teton 100.
Watch out for Troy Howard. He’s been training like a madman this year. He’s got a resume of 2nd place two years in a row at AC, but I’d say he’s in much better shape this year, and he’s been there for a few weeks acclimating.
-J
I would put Helen C higher on the list. She has been running exceptionally well this year (1st at Collegiate Peaks, 1st at Spring Desert, 1st at Lake City, 1st at Dirty Thirty etc.) and living at altitude puts her at an advantage. Unless things fall apart she is the one to beat.
You bastidge Karl! You are sand baggin and you know it! You can’t win 2 100s and NOT give yourself the nod. You been talkin’ to Kulak? See you in a couple days.
I think the mystery men are Troy Howard and Jamil Coury. Both have posted some good results. Even though Jamil hasn’t run HR yet, he knows the course and you have to remember what his brother did last year.
I agree with Fast Ed. Jamil is ready for sure. He will be in top five as was his bro last year. Go AZ boys, do us proud. Andrew Heard should be up there as well.
Yah, I missed a few here! Ronda Sundermeier deserves some love here.
Troy Howard and Jamil Coury, both good runners, but I think sometimes Hardrock is a little different. The experienced do well here, far better than most first timers. We’ll see.
I’m not sandbagging Eddy, c’mon man! Pukin’ Joe, king of the sandbag?
All I can say is I feel pretty good now and know I’ll be in it to win for sure. Don’t go out too fast boys!
You are right too Jasper, Troy is the mystery man. The acclimatization will help if he did it right, which I would bet he did.
Call me the flatlander! Time to dance!
My money’s on Helen in the women’s race. Yeah, she’s had great race results this year (throw one or two course records in there) … but, more than that, she’s got that steely stare that says “I’m ready.” Plus, at LT100 last year, she learned how to win one of these things. Ill go all in and say she’ll take it.
Men’s race is more wide open than I’ve seen it in years. (and I agree with Fast Ed that there’s a little sandbagging going on!
Good luck, everybody.
I’m throwing the sandbag in the car, see ya’ll in Silverton.
But I’m not carrying the sandbag!
I can’t believe I read the word bastidge today, thanks Scott for making ME feel old.
Good luck Kahhll, you’ll have some fast guys to run with early but watch out for those tired legs come Handies, oh and all those out of control climbs after that, oh and after that.
hk
There is another runner in the mix if he can go from the waiting list to the starting line this weekend. I know he has hit the hills hard this spring and lives higher than me. I’m hoping the TN native gets a go at it. Have fun everyone. The San Juan fun run is waiting….
Mr. Koerner, if you had a choice next year would it be go for a 3-peat at Western States or run Hardrock?? My vote would be a 3 peat. Go Arizona Hardrockers! Kevin Higgins WMRC Phoenix
SADNBAGGERS THE WHOLE LOT OF YA!!! And a poor try at that. You’ll fast right now. I wanna see at least three of ya sprinting down that last hill, elbow to elbow, chest leaning out to hit the rock first… or you can hold hands. That would be sweet.
9 hours till postime!
If anyone is curious our group has some video of Karl and Scott running through Cunningham. wmrcphoenix.blogspot.com
Great race so far!!
Doing great at the half-way point and about a half hour in front; how does that feel. Good luck, I’m rooting for you!
Karl ahead of SJ’s 2007 times at Virginius… HAMMER TIME!!!
I think Karl is on track to throw down 63 gels …he is looking great!!
GEL Early and often GOAT !!
Karl: He’s an hour ahead of everyone at Putnam–gotta be lonely when you’re always an hour ahead of everyone else! They should give you your own time zone!
nice job karl. you should not be allowed to make odds on yourself.
Nice race! You’re effun awesome!
Congrats, Karl! Man, didn’t even give yourself top odds and smoke the field and your own best time by two hours. You seem to be in top form!
Three 100 mile wins so far. Smokin.
Nice job! Blazin!
Congrats Karl…
You are on a roll - thank goodness no moose on the trail this time.
CONGRATS!!! Running the 2nd fastest Hardrock time in history is kind of a BIG DEAL.
Awesome run Karl - You are definitely Da Man! Congratulations on your third big one already this year - what’s next???
Congrats Karl !! Look forward to ur race report and Gel count
Awesome Dude! seems like the AT has made you even stronger. Take down Tour du Mt Blanc now…
Karl, you are a rockstar. 24.38!
fast time man, you were on it all day. Congrats, hk
Nice work Karl. You and Hal are neck and neck for performance of the year so far in my book.
-Jasper
SWEET!
I don’t even know what to say. I never…ever thought the time would be so fast. The weather was perfect the whole time, that didn’t hurt. I knew constantly that Troy was running well behind me and my reports were always about 35 minutes ahead. At Hardrock a 35 minute lead is nothing, so the hammer was down once I reached Telluride……and luckily the hammer didn’t break.
Gel count: around 55, I think Roch Horton remains the gel king with 63, but hey…I’d rather eat less gels and be done earlier!
Congrats Karl for a superfast finish.
Watching you run this was very interesting. It was like you were born to run 100’s. It wasn’t the speed or the time; it was something else … looking comfortable, dialed, like 100 miles made sense, like you belonged there … I’ve never seen anyone else look like that.
Story with link to photo gallery at end: http://mountainrun.wordpress.com
Nice run! Crap you recover fast! Sooo close to sub 24.Fortunately you have a long break (for you)cuz Wasatch looks like it has the deepest field ever this year. Good luck.
And if I’m not mistaken on the You Tube vid of your finish, it looks like you sporting the hipster goatee? Your the first beatnik to win Hardrock!
Congrats Karl!!!
Talked to Scott Eppleman last night and we talked about the race…we both agree that your finish is a testament to the kind of athlete that you are….
dave
my man….freaked me out….sittin at the finish right after i finished and i ask somebody, “hey did karl win?” yea the say, “what was his time”, i say. the dude says 24:30, and i’m like, “no seriously, what did he run?” and then you walked up and told me you ran 24:whatever and after that we just drank beer and that’s perfect. congrats karl on a huge run. Best race ever.