Monthly Archive for September, 2009

Time for another adventure!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on September 20, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 2 Comments

Something different sits on the horizon for a few lucky souls interested in a quick get-a-way to Disneyland!  No, not the Disneyland our kids love, the Disneyland for Ultrarunners.  A quick 5 day excursion to southern Utah to play in the sand and go on the most epic of runs, all with the luxury of having a guide…….who knows all the great routes.  Here’s the details:

Special Moab Running trip October 8-13, 2009
Now that I have completed my 100th Ultra, I am ready to share!  Come join us for a magical week of running in one of my favorite locations, Moab, Utah! We will have a great time running, playing and experiencing the beauty of Moab and the surrounding area.  Each day we will run a new and incredible trail and then enjoy the sites and fun around Red Rock country.  Come see why Moab is one of my most cherished running areas on Planet Earth. If you need a last minute excursion, make your plans today to join us on my personal favorite trails that will simply blow your mind!  Guaranteed to exhaust and exhilarate you in every way.
The trip is all inclusive:  You get to Salt Lake City International airport on the 8th and we cover the rest for you.
We pick you up at the airport and provide you with;  Transportation, Lodging, Food, entertainment and excellent Coaching!  Just bring your running gear and you will be ready to rock and roll!  Belly laughs included at no extra charge.
We are offering a special deal for our first trip.  Tell us what you want and we’ll create an adventure!
Are you ready to create amazing stories to share with your family, friends and co-workers?  
Please contact me, or my partner Larry O’Neil for more details:  Larryoneil@gmail.com or 801-597-7555
Check out www.sherpafit.com for more events and options to get you strong and fit!
All trips are pending upon approval from any authority we need permits from. :-)
What’s next for me?  I’m on my recovery train after chasing Geoff Roes around the Wasatch mountains last week.  Geoff and I both are feeling pretty good, all things considered.  We’ll play a round of golf today then go off to another 100 mile race.  Geoff will head to the Bear 100.  I’ll be off to the Grindstone 100 in Virginia.  We’ll see how these all pan out.  In reality, Geoff will try and be the 4th person in history to win at least 3 100s in a calendar year.  I’ll be looking for my 4th 100 mile win this calendar year, making it the fifth time I’ve won 4 times at 100 miles in the 12 month stretch.  But it ain’t over till it’s over.  We’ll see! 
Stay tuned for what’s coming up for me next year, all the wheels are turning, where they stop, I don’t know yet.  Either way, it’ll be an interesting year next season once the deal gets finalized.
Don’t forget to click the goatman in ther upper right corner for deals at Backcountry.com 

Records get ruined at the Wasatch 100!!!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on September 13, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 15 Comments

All predictions aside, I think I nailed this one!

Geoff Roes and Betsy Nye both came out victorious in the end.  I wasn’t kidding when I said it was gonna be a burner!

While hanging out last weekend with Hal and Geoff talking about this year’s race, the three of us knew it would probably take a record to win it.  We also knew it would probably be one of the three of us.  Well, we were right.  Two of us went under the old “fast” record of Kyle Skaggs (19:35).  Geoff took it to another level breaking the record by only 65 minutes!, leaving the front of the field early at “Charlie’s Corner” at about mile 20.  It was the last I saw of Geoff all day.   Hal did not have his best day but still managed to squeak out 6th place.  I managed to be the “chaser” all day coming in strong at 19:12.  19:12 isn’t so fast compared to 18:30!  The closest I came to Geoff was in the heat at Lambs Canyon (mile 53) only 9 minutes back.  I was encouraged, but Geoff soon recovered from a brief episode of a bad stomach and regained his 15 minute lead he held back at Big Mountain Pass (mile 39). Although I felt I was moving slow, I still stayed within reach at Brighton 21 minutes behind.  Geoff left a comment at Brighton (mile 73.5) with my crew, Catherine Mataisz…”tell Karl I’m just warming up”.  I laughed, but at the same time I was thinking the same thing.  The race starts at Brighton…so here we go!   

Geoff’s lead was still 21 minutes at the Ant Knolls aid station, (mile 78).  I was holding my own to this point.  I started to feel even better running into Pole line (81). I gained only 2 minutes, but still was actually gaining ground slowly.  I didn’t expect to catch Geoff, but wanted to keep the throttle down and give it all I had.  I felt great and really wanted to rally.

Soon after Pole Line a knife was inserted into my right ankle joint, from a previous rolling of that very ankle at about mile 10.  I wasn’t catching Geoff no matter what, cuz’ he was on fire, but I think I could even have been under 19 hours as well without this little blade twisting around in my foot……..I dealt with it and still ran in slowly in 19:12.

The real race for the win was in the women’s field.  Although I can’t say I was in the middle of it and have a close account of how it went down, but we got words at the finish that the two leading ladies (Betsy Nye and Mandy Hosford) were duking it out for the win at mile 81.  Betsy was only planning on breaking 24 hours.  At least that was her plan, and she was sticking to it according to her pacer Roch Horton.  Mandy pulled ahead briefly after Pole LIne, only to realize it was time for her belly to go a little sour.  Betsy decided to put the hammer down and ran away slowly to win by only 10 minutes at the end….sick race! 

The synopsis:

Geoff Roes now has the “Performance of the Year” hands down.  18:30 on this course is sickly fast and one for the archives.  I was psyched to stay close and push Geoff to run this kind of time.  It helped me go 23 minutes under the previous record as well…..I guess we nailed it sitting at the BBQ saying it was gonna take a record to win it……but only one guy gets the “Golden Skull”.

Betsy Nye notched her 6th or 7th win at Wasatch.   It’s so many I’m not even sure if that’s right.  It seems when we run our own race, good things happen.   Let’s not take anything away from Mandy Hosford either, she put a great fight and she, as well, went a few minutes below the old record of 23:29.28.

4 RECORDS, TWO WINNERS, SICKLY FAST ON A HOT DAY! 

Check full results for the Wasatch 100 here

The most competitive Wasatch 100 ever!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on September 6, 2009
in Race Updates
. 23 Comments

This year’s Wasatch 100 is lined up to be a burner.  Not only will it be warm, ( at this point ) but the heat, dust, and dry overgrown conditions should make it an interesting race to watch, and more interesting to run up front.  It’s a tough one to pick. The way I look at it there are 5 guys who could run away.  More than likely it’ll be one of the 5 guys on the top of the odds list.  It’s fair to say it may take a record to win this year.  Kyle Skaggs is hanging on to the record at 19:35 and change.   This could be the race that decides the “Speedgoat of the Year”. 

The Men:

Geoff Roes  7-2.  Returning champion with a 20:01 to his credit on his first run here.  He’s focused, he’s been sleeping high in Colorado for two weeks, and is now sleeping high here.  He looks fit and ready to run sub 20….at least!  
Speedgoat Karl  4-1.  This is my chance to shine right?  Well it won’t be easy.  I’ve been a little erratic in training because of a foot issue, but it’s gone now and if I can take my normal attitude…”100 miles isn’t really that far” all the way to the finish, I see a sub 20 in me easily.  But I’m gonna have to nail it and run hard, cuz’ looking over my shoulder I may just see that light coming at me.   This is my 100th ultra and shooting for the 50th ultra win of my career.  Needless to say, I have some incentive.   Any way you look at it, I’m in it to win it!
Hal Koerner  9-5.  Mr. Western schooled everyone at the Squaw Track Meet.  This race is a little hillier and far more technical.  If Hal runs smart and efficient, he may run away, but Geoff and Karl will be right on his tail.  He likes to start fast, so watch for that.  Geoff and I will probably be chasers from Francis Sheds.
Josh Brimhall  5-1.   Josh has what it takes to run 20 hours, he just has to tell himself that.  He might beat us all at 50k, but this is 100.  He’s run one great 100 at San Diego a few years back.  He’s also got the heat issue down as he’s from the Vegas area and trains daily with 100 degree temps. 
Allen Bellshaw  6-1.  Allen has run here a few times but hasn’t really nailed it yet.  If he does, he’ll slip into the top 3, but this year that’ll have to be sub 21.  From the Steamboat area, he’s been sleeping at altitude as well and should be ready to compete for the win, or at least a podium spot….if there was a podium.
John Anderson  6-1.  Another guy who can certainly run hard.  He missed out on Bighorn and is probably hungry to run a good race.  Another acclimatized guy too, so look out as he’s the sleeper to win it if we all crack ahead of him.
Erik Storheim  7-1.  Speedgoat 50k champ and no rookie on technical terrain.  If he keeps his game-face on, he’ll run sub 22 and will compete for top 5.
Jared Campbell 8-1.  He ran real well at Hardrock and it’s time for him to throw one down at Wasatch.  If he runs like he does on our occasional training runs, I’d put him top 5 easy.  
Topher Gaylord  9-1.  Former Alta-Snowbird Local who knows the course well and is one of those guys who is often a mystery.  He’ll be under 23 for sure, but could also move up if he uses his supreme experience.  He’s coming off of UTMB, so may be a bit tired.
Corbin Talley  12-1.  Wasatch Running Center’s top dog,  Corbin is a SLC local and a fast road marathoner ( 2:20 range ).  He was in the top 5 a few years back when Roch Horton and I passed him sitting on a rock after Brighton.  Chances are he won’t be sitting on a rock this time.  He’s got great speed but needs to keep his stomach happy.
Brandon Sybrowsky  14-1.  If Brandon is in good race shape, he’s easily in top 5.  He’s run this thing over 10 times and could go blindfolded if he wanted to.  I hope he’s up front with us so we can talk Hong Kong and the Trailwalker 100k experience we had a few years back in 2002 and 2004.

That’s it for the men.  Others to watch for a sub 24 finish:  Jay Aldous, David Hayes, Dave Hunt, Scott Kunz and a few others I’ve probably missed.

The women:

Always a little easier to pick, but this year we have 6 women that could win it.  Some faster and more experienced than others, but nonetheless it’ll be competitive to the end.

Betsy Nye  4-1.  We have to give her the nod here as she’s won this thing a bunch of times.  She does not hold the record but will run it textbook style.  And with Roch Horton at her side trying to get her that silly Cheetah Buckle she’s got a chance at breaking 24.  Around 24 hours should win it.
Mandy Hosford  5-1.  Mandy brings a great Speedgoat 50k run to the table, but lacks some 100 mile experience.  If she nails it though, she’ll surprise lots of folks and run away.  She’s got speed, a good coach and determination to go for it.
Sarah Evans  6-1.  Sarah also has a good coach :-)  and if she sticks with a good race strategy, she should run strong to the finish.  She has to stay smart though, and not let others dictate her race.  She’s as fast as the other two ahead of her if she wants to be. 
Prudence L’Heureux  8-1.  I’ve picked Prudence many times to run up front, but she hasn’t really done it yet.  I’m thinking this may be her time to shine.  She’s got it in her if she nails it.
Jane Larkindale  9-1.  Jane ran second at the San Diego 100 in June with a solid 21:40ish time.  This is her chance to run with the top ladies and prove she’s one to reckon with.  The “sleeper” in my book.
Darla Askew  10-1.  She’s got a veteran pacer ( Krissy Moehl ).  If Krissy can keep her moving well later in the race, like she does, she’ll move up late and surprise a few.

That’s the ladies, and there are probably a few I missed, but this time I think I have it right!

Don’t forget to keep tuning in as I am working on a project for next year…once again.  But it’s a secret for now, the details are coming soon.

For those out there who can help the needy.  Consider donating a few bucks for a good cause.  A client of mine, Kieth Kohler, is running the North Country 50 mile run in a few weeks. This charity helps an orphanage in Sri Lanka, a place where real cash is needed to help save these kids’ lives.  Check out the website here,  and let ultrarunning assist the kids in need! 

On another good note, Erik Skaggs is now turning the corner and improving, check out the good words at Rogue Valley Runners.

And don’t forget to click the “Goatman” in the upper right corner for deals at Backcountry.com.  It’s time to gear up for winter soon, as another 700″ is ready to fall on the mighty Wasatch Front.

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