Speedgoat 50k almost full! 17
Jun9
Only 3 spots remain for a chance to run the toughest 50k in town. Only 11,693′ of vertical gain to entertain you. Some snow, some rocks, some really ugly trail is all we need for a full day’s work. Expect the course to have some snow, but don’t expect it to change because of it. Many areas at Snowbird where the snow sits late in the season are not on the route. With the exception of the “Bookends Climb”, and “Little Cloud Buttslide”, the course should…….and I say “should”, melt out. If it does not melt out, you’ll be slipping and sliding more, and I’ll be even more entertained with the carnage. 
Hugs and kisses to First Endurance for sponsoring our event. Our primary fuel source will consist of First Endurance EFS drink at aid stations, Red Bull to pump you up, and then close it with a healthy dose of First Endurance Ultragen recovery drink at the finish line. How many races have a recovery drink that actually tastes good when the pain is over? Not many, we are one of the few. big thanks to FE for supporting my race the past 5 years. Hit the link and check out the products FE offers. Ever heard of rocket fuel? EFS is just that. And you’re gonna need it.
With only 11 spots left, you better hurry up and enter. Hit this link to check out race info. Please read info on the race page though, so you know what you are gettin’ in to. Here’s a link to the snow reports at Snowbird, yup, we might have to dodge a few skiers…..it’s deep up there. Note the “mid mountain depth at about 9600“. It’s only 159 inches as of June 10. yikes! Most of the Speedgoat race is above 9600′.
With my website obviously still under construction, bear with me as I create my own ideas. With the help of Widsix and John Roope, I’ll have it dialed in eventually. I guess I just need time to run too.
On another note, my plan is/was to run the San Juan Solstice 50 mile on June 18. This was to be treated specifically as a “training run”. I have never seen the continental divide section, so I decided to enter so I could get a good view of the San Juans from another angle. It looks like the course, like many others this year may change. If it does, I won’t head to Lake City. Not in any sort of protest or anything, I am sure the RD will make the correct decision. Water is flowing extremely high and could be fatal if something random happens. My goal was to go see the original course and have fun. I’m not a fan of dirt roads when all the fun stuff is up above. All in all, I think it may be a sign for me to just keep training for the Superbowl…..I have “young money” to deal with, along with many other fast folks.
After this weekend passes, expect me to post some odds on the track meet in California. It’s gonna be a barnburner for sure, and very hard to pick the winners….we’ll see.
That’s all I got for now, gotta run…..
Can’t wait for Robert to come out with beer flavored Ultragen….
I know the correct order of consumption – EFS liquid shot, washed down with EFS electrolyte drink, Ultragen post-race (give time to absorb), and then the essence of the earth loaded with barley and hops. WHEN IS THE BEER SPONSOR FOR SP50 coming? And who will it be?
you know if I could have a beer sponsor, we would have one! Unfortunately, in Utah it’s tough with permits, Snowbird liability. It’s a BYOB race though, so at least we have that….
You definately have the fuel order down, me too, love the stuff.
See you there, Karl….my first Speedgoat, hopefully Scott has entered us. AND hopefully we’ll be recovered from Hardrock. Usually after Hardrock I run the MMD50K in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, which is the hardest 50K in the country
Deb and I will also be at SJS, alternate route or not, to get up high and get a 50 miler in before Hardrock.
See you in Silverton!
Hey Steve, no Scott has not entered you as of yet. You might want to talk to him about it. 19 spots left now, better get on it.
Yes, the MMD50k in NH is probably tougher, but do you pay to enter it as a race? If not, it’s nothing but a hard fat ass event….those don’t count. I could easily run the Mahoosuc 50k and call it the toughest. If you pay to enter it though, I stand corrected…:-)
Having done the SJS50 last year in record ‘dry’ conditions, I could only imagine the disaster the course would be after a snow year like this one.
The danger really lies in the creek crossings, they have to be ripping right now.
You Rock man why do courses change because of snow?
It’s not always the snow, it’s because of high runoff, where it might be so high, we can’t cross a creek safely, avalanche danger, crossing steep slopes where we can slide for life, which could be along dangerous slide, even up to 1-2k (feet) long. Also where snow lingers around creeks, it can be easy to fall through a snow bridge and get trapped under water or snow. Walking on it is no problem, which is why the Speedgoat should be ok. The only sketchy part is where we go across the Bookends on the backside of Snowbird, we cross a steep slope on snow, and Paradise Bowl could avalanche if conditions are right.
It ain’t melting much today, looks to be snowing at the bird right now.
How about getting EFS to provide some liquid shots for the race too? Maybe a 4oz flask of the new flavor in the swag bags, and big bottles at the aid stations with tiny 1oz paper cups.
Any chance you’ll have to change the course due to flooding or access to the Pacific Mine aid station?
Hey Stephen, I’ll work on the EFS flask, maybe at check in, but doubt we can provide it at all aid stations. I do like the idea though, I’ll look into it. The problem is not being in single serving packs, it gets messy and complicated. The little paper cup is a good idea.
I doubt we’ll have issues getting to Pacific Mine, unless the aid station can’t get there with their vehicles. That road is super popular in the summer for regular folks in American Fork too, so I doubt we’ll have an issue. I guess time will tell. There are no creek crossing to worry about as far as runners crossing fast water. We shouldn’t have to change the course.
Skied a south facing line this morning…all the way to the road! The view across the road (snowbird) provided zero patches of dirt. From the top of the ridge I could also see a little bit of water on top of the Lake Blanche ice covering. It’s going to be a memorable year for the speedgoat race. Maybe you could divert the course to slide down the pipeline? It may still be filled in!
is it 3,11 or 18? it being 3 days later now , is there still room?
Mike, the race is now closed, but you can register on a waiting list. If I get a few people to tell me they won’t show up, you’ll be in. You have to go to Ultrasignup to see that it is closed.
Four weeks away and still a load of white stuff up there…do you suggest crampons and ice axe?
no.
The areas of harder snow, won’t be hit in the morning, we will buttslide little cloud bowl if it’s not a threat, but that’s at least at noontime. it shouldn’t be a threat once we have a groove built down,and it’s so skier compacted right now, that avalanche danger is non-existent unless from above, where it should be firmed up plenty by race day.
I’ll guarantee there’s gonna be snow, but how much is up to mother nature. We’ll have a course, and it’ll be a good one, don’t you worry.
Looking forward to it, should be fun. Thanks!
As long as the snow is consolidated, the course will be the same. It’s only gonna change if it’s avalanche threatening, or potential postholing into a creek. But I know exactly where all the creeks are, so don’t be too concerned….
Cold feet? that may be another story.