Monthly Archive for December, 2009

We are almost there!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on December 29, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 10 Comments

Just a few more days till registration goes live for the Speedgoat 50k!  Reserve your spot for the toughest 50k in the US.  After some new mapping, I’ve found there to be 11,945′ of climb and descent. Throw in a few rocks, snow, scree, billy goats on the ridge, and 200 crazy runners, and we’ll have a race for $500 bucks!

We are also close for the announcement of “Ultrarunner of the Year”.  There’s been lots of talk about last year, and how many stellar performances there were.  They were everywhere, from the flats to the mountains.  Big wins with big comp, big wins with little comp, fast performances all around.  Who’s it gonna be?  We’ll find out in a few weeks at Ultrarunning.com. 

Next year?  Still somewhat debating, but I’ve managed to send in 3 apps so far…..Hardrock, Mt. Blanc, and Wasatch.   The only tough one is Mt. Blanc.  Hardrock and Wasatch are guaranteed for me, so I can’t complain.  Hopefully we’ll have strong competition at these two races.   Of course Mt. Blanc will have some fast Europeans.  Maybe if I get in, I can see how fast Mr. Jornet really is…cuz’ I don’t think we really know yet.   It’s time for the US boys to show a presence there.  We haven’t had our best runs there yet.

I haven’t run since the Chimera 45ish race.  I’ve been on a battery recharge for the past few weeks.  This is the first time I’ve taken a significant time off after a long season.  My batteries are now 95% charged, once the last 5% loads, I’m heading out, and never turning back…. even to see if someone is on my tail.  As I get older, I’ll probably be looking forward more often.  :-)

Thanks to all my personal sponsors for jumping on board for 2010.  Red Bull, La Sportiva, First Endurance,  Nathan hydration packs, Ryders Eyewear, Petzl, and Backcountry.com.  Without these guys, I couldn’t do what I do.  It’s an honor to have a line-up of sponsors like this….the best in the business!

Backcountry.com is now having the after Christmas blowout sales, so check it out if Santa didn’t bring every request down the chimney, I’d be willing to bet BC.com has what you need.

Santa is on his way!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on December 24, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 2 Comments

Hopefully he’ll have his laptop so he can sign up for the Speedgoat 50k.  Registration goes online  January 1st at Ultrasignup.com.   The race is limited to 200 runners.  This year the fastest nannie and billie will take home $500 bucks, along with a goat leg for the dog to stare at.  Expect a flyover map of the course this year.  I have some software to figure it out, so check the Speedgoat registration page for details on that.  But give me a few weeks, cuz’ I’m computer illiterate. :-)

I haven’t run now since the Chimera 100.  I am on a hiatus (briefly) until the new year begins.  Why?  I’ve been building an epic luge run here in the Wasatch Range.  But I ain’t telling where it is, it’s my little secret.  All I can say is that it’s a 1960’s replica of luging in the woods.   Also hope to have a video of this one in the near future. 

My plans for next year are still not set in stone.  I may go to Europe, I may run Hardrock again.  Still not sure, but he apps are on the way just in case I want in. 

Ultrarunners of the Year should be coming out soon from Ultrarunning Magazine.  Stay tuned for that.  I think the date is sometime in the middle of January.   I think we all know who’s gonna win, but you never know.  It’ll be interesting.   Stay tuned for that. 

Stay tuned for big sales at Backcountry.com after Christmas.  It’s been a lean spending year and many shoppers are waiting for the sales.  There will be lots of great stuff going cheap!

Now go run!

El Nino—1, Chimera—0, Karl—still 28!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on December 14, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 19 Comments

If you haven’t already heard, this one was cancelled during mid-race.   Two aid stations were blown off the mountain by 40-50 mph winds, leaving no aid on the ridge for 20+ miles.  Even with aid, the right call was made.  It is rare in any sport to make the call during the event, but this one was welcomed by all…even me!  :-) 

It was shaping up to be a good race, Richie Cunningham was only 10 minutes behind me when the race was called.  Noone else was in sight, but the way I was feeling, I bet it would have been entertaining. 

Check back later for a better report.  I will now go shovel 3 feet of fresh at Alta, to “warm down” from that crazy adventure.

One more 100……then I guess I’ll take a nap!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on December 10, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 21 Comments
Off to the Chimera 100 this weekend.  Looks like it’ll be uncharacteristically muddy, but that’s good, cuz’ I like it when it’s ugly! 

Report when I return on Tuesday.

“100 miles is not that far”
 

Steidl beats Roes at the NF 50!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on December 5, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 56 Comments

Ulli Steidl runs 6:33 and change, while Geoff capped off his “Runner of the Year” performance throwing down a 6:40.  Both these times are faster than last year, but let’s remember it was a slightly different route. 

More to come from me, but follow Irunfar.com and click on his twitter feed for the best up to date info for now.

The final big dance of 2009…..The North Face 50 odds!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on December 2, 2009
in Race Updates and Speedgoat 50K
. 57 Comments

First off, this is a tough one.  There are so many solid runners in this race, it could go to any of the top 10 I have listed below.   I like to think experience will play a role in who takes home the cake!

The men:

Ulli Stiedl 5-2.   No doubt  Ulli is the fastest in the field when it comes to turnover.  The man runs like a gazelle.  He’s the only guy in the field this year that’s gone under 7 hours, won the innaugural and was a close second last year….he gets the nod from me again.
Dave Mackey 3-1.  Dave will take the place of Carpenter this year and stay right on Ulli’s heals if he’s not ahead of him to begin with.  Dave’s incredible 7:51 at Miwok this year tells all of us he’s got it down at Marin and won’t lose the trail.   He’s the man to dethrone Ulli, if Ulli is not on his game.   Dave will be on his game.
Tsuyoshi Kaburaki 4-1.  3rd last year and has to get the nod to place the same.  He ran super strong at WS.  What this tells me is he is a tough competitor and will dig deeper than anyone else if it comes down to a sprint up that last little hill nearing the finish line.
Geoff Roes 9-2.  What can we say about Geoff, he’s the “Ultrarunner of the Year” for 2009 (in my book) and after his Masochist performance, is probably not getting as much love on this list as he deserves.  He broke Mackey’s record by about 20 minutes at MM, so he’s got it in him to pay for his Alaskan flight if he’s still on fire.  My guess is that he’s still on fire.
MIke Wardian 5-1.  He’s kind of a mystery man to me, although I certainly know he’s capable of running up front….something will happen putting him 5th in the end.
Sal Bautista 6-1.  Sal won two NF 50 qualifiers, beating some tough comp,  so if he’s fit he’ll be one of those guys not everyone up front recognizes, and this is somewhat of his home turf.
Chikara Omina 7-1.  Super fast at Helen Klein and over the past few years has been running strong.  He’s the guy that might surprise us all if he has a good day.
Leigh Schmitt 8-1.  Another guy who ran well here last year, I think 5th.  So like Geoff doesn’t get as much love as he should on this list, but certainly one who’ll be in it for the cash.  He’s faltered a few times in races at the end, hopefully not at this one.
Hal Koerner 9-1.  Fresh off a 6:06 at JFK, so he’s got some speed, but his camera might slow him down.  He claims to be this year’s front running photographer.
Chris Lundstrom 10-1. I’ve been notified he’s a super fast guy form the upper midwest, but failed to get good google results when I looked, so he slips in the top 10.

Other men looking to run well, but won’t make any money: Maybe they’ll win some shorts for the size of elephants in a age division category! :-)

Sam Thompson, MIke Wolfe, Chris Rennaker, Sean Meissner, Dakota Jones, AJW only gets mentioned here cuz’ of his 5:14 mile recently. :-)
Don’t forget I stumbled upon two other Japanese runners….Hidefumi Kimura, and Minehiro Yokoyama, who knows, they might be fast too.  If they are wearing a billboard like Kaburaki, you can count on them being quick.
 

The Ladies:

Kami Semick 3-2.  It’s her home turf, she’s the previous champion and is likely the “Ultrarunner of the Year” again.  She’s fast, but will have lots of pressure on her, especially from the two listed below.   She may end up being the richest NF athete in town when it’s all over.  
Caitlin Smith 3-1.  Caitlin has what it takes to win this thing if the stars line up for her, but it’s hard to put her ahead of the other two.  She ran well at Miwok, but was beaten by Kami.  She’ll earn some cash.
Joelle Vaught 4-1.  Joelle is my sleeper to perform well here.  Most won’t be watching her, and on a good day can run with the best of em’.   She’ll look to squeeze out $1000 bucks for third.
Lizzy Hawker 5-1.  Fast girl that hasnt’ proved herself to me yet on this track, but like Joelle, she’s quick and could surprise the few girls ahead of her.
Helen Cospolich 6-1.  Helen doesn’t give herself enough credit and with 10,000′ of climbing here, it works with her strength.  If she holds together the whole day, she’ll be thinking about $1000 bucks too.
Chris Lundy 8-1.  Don’t know much about her, so I give her some love on the list, we’ll see what happens.  Anton mentions she’s just run a 2:40 marathon at Twin Cities.  And beat Kami and Susannah there.  I guess on Anton’s recommendation look for her to be the sleeper.  Still, it’s 50 miles, not 26.2……..very different in my opinion.  But that’s only worth a penny. 

Just my two cents, worth about a penny!

Check out this flyover of the course, brought to you by “run scout”

Don’t forget the real mountain race, the Speedgoat 50k applications go online on January 1st.  We know I”ll keep mentioning it.  My prize money is no $10,000, but I”m working on $500 for the winners.  It’s a mountain race with real vertical!

After this one, I won’t promise odds for the last 100 of the year….the Chimera 100 in Southern California.  My last race and thankfully my last 100 of the year.  This year was slim for me, only 7 100s. Next year we may almost double that….we’ll see. 

 

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