Blog

The Wasatch 100, 2012

August 29 2012, 3:51 pm

Well, it’s been forever again that I haven’t posted anything about anything.   I’ve been a busy boy training for the Steamboat 100 on September 14th.  We’ll get to that big money dance next week after Wasatch.  

The Wasatch 100, one of the greatest 100 mile routes on earth, is once again….not a real competitive field up front.   As usual, there are a few guys that can run sub 21, and one guy I think will run sub 20.   Look for Bronco Billy to be that sub 20 guy.  On the women’s side of things, this is the year of Sarah Evans.  Sarah….you’ve been killing it all year, and lets see you put some icing on that skull!  

I’ll have to say, I’ll miss running this year, I’ve been running around Katherines Pass alot this past month, but the Steamboat 100 having  a $40,000 prize purse, I”m headed to Colorado. 🙂  

So, here’s my picks for Wasatch.

1.  Jeff Browning  2-1.  He’ll be challenged early by the guy below, but Jeff will run away, and have at least a 45 minute lead at Brighton….Giddyup Browning, the rare sub 20, and a big fat skull awaits you.

1a.  Ben Lewis  3-1.  How could I have forgotten Ben.  Good god…..Local favorite this year.  I think Browning will be tough to beat, but if anyone can beat him here, it’s Ben. 

2.  Sean Andrish  4-1.  He’s super fast, but hasn’t had a great Wasatch yet.  He’s run it a bunch of times, and does well, but not sub 20.

3.  Dan Barger  5-1.  I first met Dan in 1996, my first ultra.  He knows how to get it done, he’ll make the podium for sure…if they had a podium. 

4.  Robert Mueller  6-1.  He was behind me at Antelope Island and has had a pretty good season for a “rookie”. He’s got the speed and perseverance.  If Browning blows….Mueller is the sleeper to win. 

5.  Jared Campbell  6-1.  I’d give Jared a better position had he not completed Barkley, Hardrock and Nolans 14.  Nolans was a few weeks ago, he’ll be a bit tired, but still, around 21:30.

6.  Jason Koop  7-1.  A 4 hour PR at Hardrock, he’s gotta be itching to really nail one.  Will he?

7.  Kelly Lance  10-1. He doesn’t know how good he is….

8.  Chris Cawley  11-1.  Always does well at the Speedgoat 50k, and the Speedgoat is harder than Wasatch.

9-11.  Brendan Trimboli, Brett Gosney and Seth Hales  13-1. Both of these kids and one old guy 🙂   will duke it out for going under top 10.  These will be the last 3 under 24 hours. 

Sorry to put the pressure on ya Sarah  1-2, but you’re the shoe in to win the women’s race.  Amie Blackham  6-1, has had a decent season too, but Sarah is far more experienced at this dance. 

The course will be very dusty near the end, it has rained one day in Salt Lake City since about May,and the dust is about as deep as a good winter powder day.   It’s gonna be a dirty one.

For me, the next step is the Steamboat 100 on September 14th.  It boasts a $40,000 prize purse, going 5 deep, we’ll have two of the famous Tarahumaras running too,  who knows what those guys will do. If they win some cash, we’ll all be psyched for them, they’ll probably be able to fund a whole village in Copper Canyon.  

Looks like UTMB this week is gonna be a deluge of nasty weather again, sure glad I didn’t drop the coin to go run around Mt. Blanc this year.  Either way though, it’ll be epic. Good luck to all the Americans (and everyone else too) for a good, wet, sloppy, cold, hypothermic run!  

We’ll have some of Speedgoatkarl’s 100 mile blend available at the finish line at Wasatch, come see me and I’ll hook you up…..if I make it there.  I should be around. 

I know I’m a slacker sometimes but look for a post on the Steamboat 100 odds, the field is stacked.

Don’t forget, coaching plans are always available.  Learn how to run 100 miles without even trying, cuz’ it’s really not that far.  Now go run!  

Something to laugh at below: