KarlMeltzer.com

Karl Meltzer, Sandy Utah

1. High School Years: 1982-86
2. Plymouth State College: 1988-89

I moved to Utah in 1989 to become a full fledged ski bum. I hadn’t run in 3 years at this point. I skied about 120 days the first year and when spring came around, I had planned to move back to NH. Instead, I decided to stay and enjoy the summer in Utah. This proved to be the best move of all.

I started running in the Wasatch Mountains during the summer of 1990. After running very little and winning a few mountain races, I was hooked.

After a few years of being a ski bum and then a running bum, the Pikes Peak Marathon became the big race of the year. I did very well at Pikes Peak with my best performance finishing 4th running 4:05.

In 1996 I ran my first Ultra, the Wasatch 100. My goal was to run under 30 hours, I did that while bonking the last 20 miles. From this point Ultrarunning has become my life. I later won the Wasatch 100 in 1998, (my first ultra win) with a course record of 20:08. I was 30 years young that year. My goal since that day was to win 25 ultras by the time I turned 40. I turned 40 in December ‘07′. To this date I have won 53 ultras in 105 starts. 29 of those wins are at the 100 mile trail distance.

A few more stats:

• All time winner at the Wasatch 100 (6), Hardrock 100 (5), San Diego 100 (3), Squaw Peak 50 (5), Bighorn 100 (2), Bear 100 (3) the Bear is not “all-time”, Massannutten 100 (2), Coyote Two Moon 100 (2),  Moab Red Hot 50k (2).
• I have won at the 100 mile distance 29 times, the all-time record, and currently have 53 ultra wins in 105 starts as of March 7, 2010
• Hold the record with most 100 mile wins during a calendar year with 6 in 2006, 4 of those wins were record performances, the final 4 were in a period of 8 weeks! 5 wins in 2007, 2009, and 4 in 2005…the previous record was held by ultra legend Eric Clifton, with 4 100 mile wins in 1991.  Joe Hildebrand also won 4 100s in 1999.  4 times I’ve won at least 4 100s in a calendar year.
• USATF, Ultrarunning Magazine, RRCA Runner of the Year 2006, Everest Award 2006
• 2nd place Ultrarunning Magazine Ultrarunner of the Year 2007, 2009
• Maine to Georgia 2008…2176 miles, 500,000′ vertical climbing. 54 days, 21 hours, 12 minutes. The 4th fastest Appalachian Trail thru-hike.

Sponsors for 2010….Some from previous years as well

• Red Bull 2001, First Endurance 2002, Petzl 1999, Ryders Eyewear 2002,, Nathan Sports 2001,nuun 2006,
• NEW in 2008:  Backcountry.com, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort.

Do I have a job you ask?

• Professional Ultrarunner since 1999
• Professional Ultrarunning Coach and Consultant since 2007.
• Race Director for the Speedgoat 50K at Snowbird Ski Resort, this year’s date is July 31th, 2010
• Professional Snow shovelling technician, Alta, Utah since 2008  (seasonal)

Race Results 2009:

•  Moab 34 mile,Feb 14  (finished 3rd, PR by 13 minutes, great run) 4:13
•  Way Too Cool 50k, March 14  (finished 20th, minor calf injury at 25) Had a good run going, but fell short when I had to hobble the last 6 miles.  5th was in my sights. 4:08
• Massannutten 100, May 16  (finished 1st, 17 minutes off CR)  Won by 2+ hours.  18:29
• Pocatello 50 mile relay-3 runners May 23.  Won the first leg overall 17 miles-2:23
• Bighorn 100, June 19th  (finished 1st in 19:13 with a Course Record) Won by 2+ hours
• Hardrock 100, July 10  (finished 1st in 24:38.  Counter-clockwise record, 5th Hardrock win.  Won by 1.5 hours) 
• Jupiter Peak Steeplechase 16 mile, August 8 (20th place, small foot injury, hobbled to finish)
• Wasatch 100, September 11 (Finished 2nd, but under previous CR, very fast run, 19:12)
• Grindstone 100, October 2  (Finished 1st, Course record by about 2 hours) 18:46
• Pinhoti 100, November 7  (Finished 1st, Course record by over 2 hours)  17:12
• Chimera 100 Dec 12.  Was leading at mile 41, race cancelled during mid-race due to crazy weather. 

Race Results 2010:

• Moab Red Hot 50k, Feb 13…1st, New course, so a course record.  4:19.07
• Coyote Two Moon 100, March 6…1st, second win at C2M.  21:05

I will possibly go after the AT record again in 2011, but this depends on support and funding, which I hope to have finalized by December of 2010.

I am currently scheduled (subject to change) to run the Pony Express Trail from Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California starting in the fall of 2010. 1840 miles!

• My ultimate goal has been to win 100 mile trail races. It is my specialty to run long technical trails all day, so why not do it forever? I hope to reach 35, 100 mile wins. I do have a long way though, as many of my closest friends are not far behind me…and all quite a bit younger. When I am old (80), I would like to look back at my career and still hold a record. Only time will tell. Now go run!

a. k. a. Speedgoatkarl