Well, the plan was to run the North Face 50 in San Francisco. Due to a weak webpage and updated runners list, I didn’t get the invitation or money in, in time. So I bagged it. I don’t feel I am qualified to compete for the $$ anyway, so I decided I’d go run another 100 miles to get rid of this nagging periformis issue I’ve been having. The one thing I’ll be missing is chasing the front of the women’s race in the Marin Headlands…..not to mention the original plan was to go visit some good friends in Ashland before the race. That’ll have to wait for another road trip.
So another 100? Why not? I feel fine, other than the periformis. The periformis hurt before the Pinhoti 100 two weeks ago, only to go numb by mile 40. It stayed numb until the following Wednesday. Funny how running a 100 miles for me gets rid of injuries instead of creating them. I am truly a freak sometimes.
The Chimera 100 is the race, it boasts 24,000′ of climb. I figured that sounds like another 20 hours of fine trail running in California. It also gives me a chance to win at 100 miles for a 6th time this year. NO, I’m not cherrypicking races, (if anyone out there thinks I am) I’m running this one cuz’ I have nothing better to do that weekend and it looks like a fun course. Unfortunately on the competition side, most of the faster guys will be in San Fran the week before. The beauty of it is I get to run all day supported, they only get to run 7-8 hours. So I win! :-) Funny how my brain thinks that way. 
The Speedgoat 50k is rapidly approaching the opening of registration, that’ll be on January 1st. Sign up early and commit this time, or take the risk and sign up later. Either way, it’ll be a fun day at Snowbird Ski Resort running on one of the most beautiful courses this planet has to offer. Check out the video of the race here. Some day when my site takes a u-tube video, I’ll have it here to view. At least the link works!
Backcountry.com is constantly having sales these days, with coupon codes, deals and motivation to get the gear we need. Click the goatman on the right hand corner above and check out this week’s specials.
Also, the JFK 50 mile is happening Saturday. It should be a great race to follow. Team Rogue Valley Runners are looking to win yet another team title with Ian Torrence leading the way with the most JFK finishes. His team consists of Hal Koerner, Josh Brimhall, Scott Jurek, CR holder Eric Clifton, and Ian himself. The dream team is set. Enjoy! I”m goin’ runnin’
Good for you Karl. Doing what you love to do and were built to do. We all should take a page from your book. Cherry Picker? I don’t think so. You’ve more than earned the right to toe the line at any 100M, regardless of who shows up. Then again, the competition won’t be running this many 100s in a year. Good luck! Get after it.
Thanks Craig, I certainly take pride in doing what I like, not what others expect me to do, or would like to see me do, So what if I never run Western, Hardrock and other courses are far more above and beyond.
The NF race is cool, and fun to watch Matt and Ulli dig deep and run hard. It’s a spectator sport for me there. 100s are far more enjoyable and satisfying to me.
Ummmmmmmmmm, yea selecting a race with 48,000 feet of elevation change is cherry picking. HA! I can’t even get my mind around that.
Hi Karl….
Sounds great and perfect for you. Wish I lived closer, I’d run it, too! I even like the name of it…
Stay away from those North Face races…
Baaa-Haaa! Go for another win!
Steve
Look forward to watching the results at Chimera. Also, would have loved to see you at the Javelina 100, what a show down it would have been between you and Dave James; maybe in the future? Come on back to Arizona to reclaim your record.
Finally, love your site! Keep up the great effort on and off the trail, many of us love your writing too!
James was on fire at Javelina. I probably wouldn’t have gone out that fast. Then it would have been a real chore to catch up. Not to mention every time he would have seen me a few minutes behind it would probably have pushed him harder.
I’ll be back to Javelina. Not sure when, lots of cool 100s out there and fun courses. For me it’s about the fun course, not all about the comp.
Western is where the best comp is, but I don’t qualify for Western for some reason. My decision on that though, I was in in 2008, and bagged 2009 cuz’ of financial reasons….now I’m shut out with the exception of the lottery…which I didn’t enter this year. Oh well.
Karl, you’re not alone. I’m always banged up after a road half marathon or marathon but within a week after a 100, I feel great. I guess it just serves to demonstrate which surface is more natural. Mike
chimera is one week after north face? hmmm? you got me thinking. it sure is nice to get two races in from one flight down south from up here. 50 milers kick my ass though. 24,000 ft. hundred miler would be pretty crazy a week after the 50 in marin but it sure does have me intriqued.
Think about it Geoff, I might give you a race if you’re somewhat hammered from the NF50!
Honestly, I need to shake out this periformis, at the moment I’m not running, just playing golf. The rest will probably do me good though, I just can’t crack the running addiction.
Looks like a fun course! Kill it at NF man, I”m rooting for you! You’ve had a sick year, one of the best ever in Ultrarunning…..even if you stopped racing now.
Get out and kick butt in more 100m races and close another great year.
I’ll miss racing with you at NF50, but enjoy the 100s. Maybe one day I’ll try one of those out myself! And best of luck with the glute!
50 miles wasn’t far enough! 100s are more my style.
I had a great experience w/ acupuncture in curing a periformis problem I was having. Took about 4-5 sessions. POOF…gone!
If you really wanted to run the NF race, there are ways to get in! if it were 100 miles for that prize purse I am sure you would be there.
Allan, You are 100% right, I would have entered the NF50 a while ago and not run the Pinhoti 100. I feel I am qualified to run for the big bucks at 100 miles. 50 is different though. I’m good at it, but can’t compete to win there at 50 miles. My decision to go to Chimera was based on just my own preference of what I like to do. I like 100s, that’s the bottom line.
Last year the NF50 race committee was seeking out as many top runners as they could, comped them all, then we all ran. They even let me in for free with super slow legs after the AT last year. I had NO chance of running for the money, even if I ran with the women!
No offense ladies! 
Although I really don’t know, NF never really was seeking out elite runners, they just let it fill up, then fast guys have to jump through hoops to get in, and make it a pain in the arse. I didn’t want to bother jumping through hoops, so I’m going south to Chimera.
At least we know that NF would let faster athletes in at the end, something Western won’t do as the old school committe just won’t change a policy of “special consideration” for those who qualify.
Think about it, Geoff Roes had to fly all the way to Virginia from Alaska to “qualify” for a race that he (and I) are certainly qualified to compete for the win. There should be a few exceptions sometimes if races want the best comp. Runners who are qualified to race with the big boys at big events should be able to get in within a month of the start. Carpenter started this idea at Pikes Peak, and it’s probably the only race that allows runners to get in by sending in a resume to say why one is qualified. Then the committee decides who makes the cut and who doesn’t. And they get comped. OK, I”m rambling.
It is what it is!
Top ultrarunners should have to pay and enter races just like the rest of us, sorry, but just because you’re fast doesn’t mean you should race for free. Late entry into a race? Fine. But until the sport gets big enough that there are actual championship races that one must qualify for or get invited to, everyone should be paying for entry. Why would NF let you in for free when you’re not a top 50 miler? Doesn’t make sense.
You no longer sound like an elite, but rather an elitist.
Thanks for the entertaining commentary!
Peter, I think you mis-interpreted what I said. Nowhere in my statements did I say I should be comp’ed for anything. I merely stated that the NF50 committee “comp’ed” us all. That was nice, but I would have paid too. They were seeking out top runners and the “comp” was little bonus to get us there. I thought that was cool, and it’s really the reason I went. I also got to hang out with good friends afterwards.
“Last year the NF50 race committee was seeking out as many top runners as they could, comped them all, then we all ran. They even let me in for free with super slow legs after the AT last year. I had NO chance of running for the money, even if I ran with the women!”
“Runners who are qualified to race with the big boys at big events should be able to get in within a month of the start. Carpenter started this idea at Pikes Peak, and it’s probably the only race that allows runners to get in by sending in a resume to say why one is qualified. Then the committee decides who makes the cut and who doesn’t. And they get comped.
This is another cool thing by comping the last minute fast guys, but none of the fast guys who enter this way (as far as I know) expect to be comp’ed.
“They even let me in for free with super slow legs after the AT last year.”
As you can see, I know I don’t qualify to race at 50 miles with Matt, Ulli or the other few handfuls of guys faster than I.
You might read through this again, and decide whether I think I should ever be let in for free. Not once did I say that.
Call me an elitist if you like, I don’t care! Mumbo jumbo is all it is, we all get the same silly buckle at the end.
Pretty entertaining commentary.
I think Peter reflects the current culture of ultrarunning; it is at this point a community participatory sport that emphasizes the common man/woman. This is excellent and I like this. It is grass rootsy and inclusive; I am all about this being a left leaning Obama voter. BUT.. a pure common-man’s sport doesn’t lend itself to the sport’s evolution. There is a middle ground here and if the running community wants elites there they should allow comps, prize money, and mild favors.
Along Peter’s line of logic, I assume he doesn’t like prize money in sport and doesn’t like sponsorship where elites get free gear and shoes and travel. Some ultra elites even get paid to run long dirt. Is this okay? Yes it is (to me at least) and it is good that ultra races support the elites in various forms, as well as supporting the midpack runners and end of pack runners. If Peter wants to only run races that don’t encourage elites, he has the vast majority of them to pick from. Hats off to the north face for being a bold rare exception in ultrarunning that reflects the better evolution of the sport. Will more eyes be on the sport for what they do? Yes. Will it be more exciting? Yes. Will it negatively affect his experience if Peter choses to run? No.
Most other sports have evolved, but American ultrarunning (and trail running too) has lagged in this regard. Western States, as an example, has taken a very tentative step forward in it’s evolution by allowing elite to enter (still have to pay the entry fee though) and I hope it moves beyond it’s storied past to take it much further, as they have more resources and momentum that any race to be a true world class race with real world class competition. I like to think most runners would enjoy this; at least everyone everyone in the sport is on Karl’s site because they like elites!
Signed, conceited elitist
Karl,
First and foremost, sincere best wishes to you in the Chimera 100.
Given the year that you ahve had, you’ve got to be the odd on favorite.
Although there are a couple of talented runners who, if they have a very good day (and night, for nightfall is only 11 hours into the race, at around 5PM), and you have an average day, or somehow take the course too lightly, might have a chance against you.
I have a feelin’, even if (after) you win the race, you might not be thinkin’ it’s a “fun” course, for a pretty snow dusted picture on the website might be deceiving.
I can see the WS100 as looking fun, and even the AC100 as looking fun, but I think most runners on 12/12/09 are going to discover that the Chimera “100″ course is a friggin’ scree filled, truck trailed nightmare.
I do think it’s short as well. There’s a section from Santiago Peak to Maple Springs that the 100 milers will run back and forth on twice.
In other words, four times on that stretch, total.
RD has the distance as 6 miles one way, but it’s really 4.5 miles. Thats a 4 x 1.5 mile = 6 mile discrepancy.
Unless there is some addition of more “fun”, scree filled, up and down, truck trail, at another point on the course, it’ll be more like the Chimera 94. Have measured that stretch six times. Always comes up 4.5 miles, not 6.
Of course, there probably won’t be the heat to deal with, and that’ll be nice, unless we get the opposite in bitter cold.
Thanks for signing up for the race. As an average runner, it’s inspirational to see runners with your talent in these races.
Sincerely,
Happy “Middle of the Packer”
Meant to say “given the year that you have had, you’ve got to be the ‘odds on’ favorite”, (not odd on favorite).
“the Chimera “100″ course is a friggin’ scree filled, truck trailed nightmare. ” -Rob Blair
Sounds like a fun course. I eat rocks for breakfast!
And if it snows, I like ice too. If it’s hot, I’ll eat a little more salt. Darknes, I have infrared eyes. Competition, bring it on!
Hilly? Remember this is the guy who thinks the “Speedgoat 50k” is runnable. Hills are not an issue, they are simply a place to slow down and rest a bit.
You are right though Robert. There are a few faster guys in the field. I’ll just keep the textbook in the back pocket as always and run my own race as usual.
Here’s to sharp rocks, ice and nasty conditions.
Karl,
Thanks for your response. Your attitude obviously illustrates why you are a champion.
(That is actually an accurate description of much of the Chimera course, although there are some smooth parts, the paved road sections, but few, thankfully.)
I will take your attitude into this race, so that I can perform to the best of my OWN abilities. For me, that would be a sub 24 on a personally very good day, far behind you, but I would still be elated.
Just being in the mountains, in any weather, enjoying the challenge, the peace, the enduring ultra spirit will be wonderful.
Can I just ask for one favor? If Geoff Roes enters the race (I know, unlikely with his NF50 just 6 days before), can both of you guys practice falling a few times?
Not enough to get hurt at all. No. Just enough to slow you guys down a bit.
That may be the only chance anyone else has of beating either of you.
I only ask this knowing, from a previous post on Geoff’s blog, that you both love falling!
Yes, here’s to sharp rocks, ice and nasty conditions, including howling winds, but can we have a little sunshine during the day, though?
If I see you at the start, I hope to have a chance to say hello and wish you a great race.
Take care,
Rob Blair
Going into a race for me is always the same. Take it as it comes. If anyone whines about weather, conditions or whatever Mother Nature brings, chances are they will have a tough day. It’s all the same for everyone, so why worry about what the course throws at us.
Geoff and I crash alot, it’s part of the deal.
Don’t worry about conditions, just have fun and deal with it.
Karl,
Great news! The RD has added going up and down Modjeska Peak, twice, for the 100 milers (and once for the folks running the 100K). The view from up there is even better than the view form Santiago Peak.
If runners take a short minute to enjoy it I think they are going to love it.
It is exactly 1 mile up and 1 mile down, so that adds 4 miles to the 100 mile course.
He is also tweaking the start in some ways so that it is truly 100 miles. It will truly be the Chimera 100.
Let’s all have a great race, and pray that everyone stays healthy and gets home safely.
See you there!
Well, you asked for nasty weather Karl, and I guess the weather Gods have, and will continue, to oblige.
Maybe not as nasty on this Saturday (and Sunday for most of the rest of us but maybe not you) as it would have been had we run the race yesterday, but nasty enough anyway.
My hunch is that the Forest Service may change this course to a 20 mile loop that we run five times, (at a lower elevation) because of any snow that the mountains there got above 4,000 feet.
But I truly hope not. It may be an impossible wish though, at this point, to have Forest Service approval to run the original course. I expect RD Harvey will send out another e-mail to us by Wednesday.
Do some more praying to the Forest Service Gods now, Karl. And again, best of luck in the race.
I”ve heard the 20 mile loop is nice and technical. I may like that better. The regular course has been described to me as “smooth” from some other local. And I’ve seen many pictures at this point.
Doesn’t matter to me what it is. It’s all new for me. I’ll pretend that I”m at HURT if it’s the 20 mile looper.
Karl,
You might be right. You might indeed like the 20 mile loop better than the “high” course. There is not much technical trail at all on the “high” course. But I’ve been on both, and I prefer the high course much more because it is more challenging, and obviously would be less repetitive. I’m really still hoping for the “high” course.
There are smooth spots, but really a lot of it is littered with a certain size of rocks that make you really have to pay attention to where you are placing your feet.
It’s also, to me, a more beautiful course to run than the 20 mile loop, and less repetetive since it’s not five loops.
That view from the top of Modjeska is very nice. And there are many nice views.
Either way, yes, it’s going to be great.
If you pretend this is HURT, that is a great perspective to take into it, and you will have no problem at all.
I have never seen the HURT course, but I have read accounts, and even though I would call this a very challenging course, it does not seem as challenging as the level of HURT. The weather we get may change that.
Here’s to hoping you do a nice write up with your balanced impressions after the race.