By Default? Yah, while hanging at the Way Too Cool 50k this past weekend, it was quite entertaining to watch the race from the other side of the fence. I made the best of it and went for a 10 mile run and put myself out on the course to watch where no other spectators were. At the Goat Hill aid station, mile 26.8, Max King, Geoff Roes, and Leor Pantilat were all together. It was shaping up to be a great battle the last 4 miles. I was sitting across a meadow where I could see a few minutes back. Once I saw all three guys, I started running towards the finish line, thinking they would catch me. They didn’t catch me, but I waited at the last aid station where there is only 1.3 miles to go to the finish. Leor came in first, with a 3 minute gap over Max King. Where was Geoff Roes?…..he was running on some other trail where he got off course….OUCH! Geoff had the race in his pocket, but only to find he had burnt a hole in it running so fast. Wrong way, lost 15 minutes…ended up third. Leor looked good at the end, but in Leor’s words….”Geoff was gone, and would have won”. These things happen in ultras………..I guess it’s a good thing there’s no real prize money. 
Joelle Vaught returned to Way Too Cool after finishing 3rd last year. She had some stiff comp from “expected winner” Kami Semick. Joelle turned in a stellar performance running 4:13 to make it her second win at WTC, not too far off Susannah Beck’s record pace set on the old course. Kami Semick dropped for some reason, Bev Abbs ran second around 4:26, Darcy Africa ended 3rd a few minutes behind. Both races were great to watch. This one always brings in strong talent, and this year was no exception.
The Speedgoat 50k is now over half full, and I can now expect it to fill up early as entries continue to trickle in. If you are thinking about running, time to make the committment and get’ er done. Only 97 entries available at this point.
This weekend I will travel to NYC for the opening of the new Red Bull Stadium, in support of the “New York Red Bulls” Futbol team. (Soccer for all you US folks! ) :-) I don’t think I’ll be moving around like the guy in the video, however, it will be an extreme honor to hang with fellow olympians, Shaun White, Lyndsey Vonn, and all the other Red Bull athletes this weekend. I hope I can hold my own in this crowd. I’ll just be myself and be entertained in many different ways.
Coyote Two Moon results are up now. For the second straight effort, I finished 4 minutes behind the “winner” in this year’s event. Although I was easily the fastest one to complete the distance, it doesn’t really matter here, it’s who has the most fun. Although, I can say I was right in there in the “fun” catagory.
I will have to add that this was my 29th 100 mile win in 44 starts. The time counts in my book!
Congrats on the C2M win. You are correct! It is the finish time that counts. Interesting that Geoff got lost. Who hasn’t, right? God knows I have in a couple ultras. At least he held onto 3rd place. Had to be alot of fun though watching from the sidelines as those guy were motoring along.
It’s hard to get lost at Cool, but I know right where he went wrong, that’s the only place to make a wrong turn there. It was marked, but his head was down, and at 6 minute miles, it’s no surprise that can happen.
Correction: Joelle was at Cool last year, took 3rd in 4:19:41
Ah, thanks Peter, I knew she won previously, thanks for the correction. She did win a few years ago, according to the guy with the bullhorn at the end!
Yeah, congrats on a fine finish at C2M. Good to see the course wasn’t quite as cordial to you as the last time, too! Rebate make it to you yet?
That sucks that Geoff got off course, he would have kept some heat on at the end!
Got the rebate, I see at least 52 Double Cheeseburgers in my future! Maybe it should really snow next time, give me something!
Way to go on the C2M, I admire the fact you finish what you start within good judgement. Speaking of which, better wear earplugs this w/e, the AT is calling and you have Europe to beat up this year.
I keep hearing that man on the AT, believe me it’s coming again, I really hope it’s 2011, but we’ll see.
Hopefully Geoff and I will finally show he Europeans we can race 100s.
Where did you get those slipper’s you were wairing at Cool? They’re boss! Never seen anything like them. Who makes them?
Congrats again Big Bad Karl!! You rock…however, I have a soft spot in my heart for Shaun White!!! (you can tell him!)
Hey Grae, REI is where I got the slippers. They are comfy, who needs running shoes?
Beth, you would have been dissappointed, Shaun did not show up. Apparently he had some other big show to go to. He missed out!
well, that knocks him down a notch in my book then!
He was probably meeting with the President.
that was my guess too!!
Sadly, we won’t see you at HR, Larry is #53 on the WL. Thinking about running the new Fat Dog 100. I’m moving to Chicago (finally!) this summer too, so we’ll be busy with that. Good luck with your upcoming races and we’ll be “following” you along the Pony Express. (and missing your aid station at the Bear!)
“Hi” to your beautiful wife.