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.
I met Richie last year at Fuego y Agua. Really nice guy and a talented runner. I wondered if he might give you a run for your money.
Karl, since you had finished 35mi of the course when it was stopped, that deserves at least a 1/3 point in UROY voting, huh?
Hey Karl - Miserable indeed out there! I wasn’t there but know what those mountains can be like (I’m the Twin Peaks RD) and talked to many who were. Heard you ended up with a Twin Peaks shirt. Consolation prize? Haha. I’m sure you would have preferred a buckle!
I think God was reading all the comments on your recent posts. He wanted to back up your claim that it’s never in the bag until it’s over. Congrats on the 57K, a great foul-weather training run…
Jessica, the shirt is coming back! Michelle Barton will get it along with a nike beanie and some black gloves.
CJ, I got to about mile 41 when I heard it was cancelled! I’ll take a few more percentage points.
I think Richie and I would have had a good battle. I was dreading going back to the ridge and the weather.
It’s never over till it’s over, unless the aid stations blow off the mountain, then it’s over!
You don’t see too many Ultras cancelled – Especially in the middle of the race. Must have been really bad out there! Was it tempting to complete the race anyway when everyone else said no-way?
All I can say is that you guys gave it your best shot. Not one can predict the weather. Regardless of the race! It could happen anywhere. Mother nature throws things at us that we never intend to happen. Despite that you guys showed up and put your trail feet forward. No doubt Karl, you and Cunningham probably would have turned this into a good battle. Net time as they say.
You don’t need aid stations, just keep running! Sucks that had to happen after all the effort but makes sense to call it.
Thomas, No, it was not feasible to even attempt to continue. The storm really kicked in after it got dark, and with no aid, it would have been real stupid!
It was a good call.
Thanks for showing up Karl - the decision to run the high course was made when the forecast was for ‘light rain’ and 6 to 10 knot winds. I called the race when the winds took out two aid stations and a third was still in place because the volunteers were hanging onto the frame. The light rained ultimately turned into 9+ inches.
The last volunteer off the mountain arrived at Bluejay at 1:15 am. He is an ultrarunner whose goal is to not be DFL… IMO he was the winner of the Chimera. We will hold a Chimera II, but probably in Oct/Nov.
Karl - well, just come back down and run some of the same trails in February and you can earn the 2010 shirt while tearing up the 50M course
how many have you won this year karl? did you beat the record you set of six 100s?
5 100 wins this year, 4 CR’s, and a 2nd at Wasatch, also under the previous record…fast, but first loser, also a fast 3rd at Moab’s Red Hot 50k, behind Mackey and Parr.
I was going for 6 at Chimera. Hard to say how that one would have panned out. Richie Cunningham wasn’t far back. It would have been a good race.
Hi Karl, was good to chat with you at Chimera. How frustrating it was to have it called off, but the right decision. I was looking forward to getting back up on the ridge into some good old familiar Scottish-type weather, don’t think i’ll get many chances like that in the States. Who knows how it would have played out but it would have been fun!
Richie, yah a little frustrating, but like you said, it was the right decision. Who knows what would have happened to a few weary runners at night with 5′ vis and the snow. It happens, I won’t dwell on it. It is what it is.
Run Mt. Blanc, we’ll race there! Now that will be fun.
Sooo, is that a confirmed return overseas for the Speedgoat? Would love to see what u could do to Mt. Blanc with some fresh, well-rested goat legs! By the way, congrats on (another) stellar season. Ultra Runner Of the Decade for sure. Yeah, Roes laid down some sick times but how many moose did he fight?
Darthrunner: Let’s just say my name’s going in the hat. And if I go, yes, I will have fresh hooves. But even so, it’s still up in the air, I still have other things I may do next year. I’m ironing out the details these next few months.
Roes doesn’t fight moose, he fights bears in Alaska.
Karl and Richie,
Both you guys seemed a bit underdressed even if the weather that we had in the day had remained that same and not gotten worse. You may have found a few other runners joining you in the race for first after mile 70 or so (not me mind you) but I saw so many folks out there in just shorts, and even several with no hat.
Just thought that was nuts. And think it would have come back to haunt many, had anyone of talent (within a couple of hours of your ability) dressed more for that type of weather.
The weather was relatively calm when we got into Silverado at mile 38 or so. It was amazing how horrible it was once we were trucked back to Blue Jay, and yes, those two peaks, on the 3rd and 4th visit would have been a real trip. No aid. No dice. Take care.
Karl, It was nice to meet you. Thanks for being a good guy. That counts in the end even more than being an ultrarunning King.
Robert
Hey Robert, Yah, I took a few risks on clothing. I forgot my hat and gloves after mile 9. That bummed me out as I kept climbing towards Santiago. I would have put tights, and a jacket on at my car at the 62 mile point, plus a warmer pair of gloves and hat, so from there, I probably would have been ok. I would have been cold going over Santiago the second time….can’t deny that.
Until next time!