This coming Saturday, I’ll test myself at the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase in Park City, Utah. This race is a whopping 16 miles with about 4000′ of elevation gain on prime PC singletrack. I’ve run it before in a little over 2 hours. I don’t plan on racing real hard, just trying to put in a good 16 miler over the weekend.
Over the past 2 weeks, I’ve been running big miles with big vertical. For the locals here in SLC, that means running over the 11,326′ Pfieferhorn in Little Cottonwood Canyon and connecting Bells Canyon on the backside of Hogum Fork. I had a brief stop with 14 mountain goats on the ridge. Old Billie said he’s been watching me, and expects me to go for number 7 at the Wasatch 100 next month. We’ll see about that as the competition is pretty stiff with Mr. Western, ( Koerner ) Mr. HURT, ( Roes ) and Josh Brimhall from the sweltering land they call Vegas.
Over the weekend, along with the rave runs I’ve been doing, I went tubing on the Weber River. A day of relaxation floating down the river with a few beers, some cold water and only one capsizing of the tube!
Next week I plan on doing the Leadville odds if I can find the runners’ list. It’s been a tough search though, as it’s not listed on the website. If anyone out there has some inside info on getting the list, let me know so I can figure out who’s gonna run fast at the “Race across the sky“. Tony is the man to beat at the moment, but he’s the only guy I know that’ll challenge for the win. Tony should run away with it and possibly make a run at Matt Carpenters’ record!
Another cool race on tap for August 15th includes the El Vaquero Loco 25k and 50k in Star Valley, Wyoming. Ty Draney puts on a great show on some of the best singletrack in Idaho. The Teton races start a few weeks later, along with the Pikes Peak Marathon near the end of the month. Tune in to find results on these races and any other good ones I can find.
Off for a night run here in the Wasatch. A cold front is coming just in time to dump hail and lightning on us…….sounds like another fine day at the office!
Nice Map, everyone understand? Just follow the blue dots….they say!
Karl-
Good luck at your “short” race this weekend. THe leadville runners list is here: http://67.132.106.4/merchant.ihtml?id=1464&step=2
I am placing my $$ on Tony for the men and Jamie D for the girls.
J
Karl,
Two to watch for are Duncan Callahan and Timmy Parr. Callahan won last year and looks to be stronger this year, and it will be Parr’s first 100. If he can hang til the second crossing of Hope, he’s got a shot as he is probably the fastest of the bunch. I’ll look for Ryan Burch to do well also, he won the Silver Rush 50 up there last month. But I agree, it’s really hard to pick against Tony.
Hey Karl,
See ya down at Jupiter Peak on Saturday. I put my race effort in for the week, but I’ll be running up the mountain for fun.
Karl-
Thanks for the props. Race is coming together well. As you know the flowers in the high country are spectacular-and as much as the great state of Idaho would like to claim us-we’re in Wyoming. Wouldn’t want any runners to get THAT lost! Let me know if you and Cheryl will be in the neighborhood.
Tony will run away easily. Timmy could hang with Tony if it’s shorter, but being his first 100 he’s got a few things to learn first. I’d love to see him give Tony a run at it, but no way. Duncan gets to wear #1, but isn’t quite fast enough to hang in there for around the 16 hour mark, Ryan won’t put him in the position to go out too fast. He’s the one who might put in a later charge for second if he plays it smart. Just my two cents. I’m gonna look at the list, then we’ll see. THANKS JOY! for the list!
Ty, I’ll be in your neighborhood, but in the upper east side…..somewhere in the northern section of the Wind River Range….backpacking with the bears the 12th -16th.
Cool breeze man, have a great time.
Karl - no PPM for you?
I”m not going to Pikes Peak because I don’t feel like travelling. How’s that for an excuse. I am not sure if I would get in either, as I would have gone the special consideration route. I can get a good workout at Jupiter this weekend instead. After the Speedgoat 50k was over I finally have a little time to relax at home and just train for Wasatch. I have my hands very full for that one!
It was nice to meet you at the Steeplechase yesterday, Karl. Train hard for Wasatch and go get number 7.