Hardrock Updates and an inside look at what’s going on up front!
Now that Kyle is asleep……………..
Let’s sit back and watch Diana Finkel finish tough, and give Krissy’s record a shot! I don’t think she’ll get it by 3 freakin’ hours but she’s got a chance to take home the cake, unless Kyle already ate that too!
Congrats Kyle, you are the man now!
And after briefly looking at Kyle’s split from Cunningham, the record is soft as his split from that last aid station is NOT the fastest (nor was mine)…..of course Kyle was likely barefoot as he “blew out his shoes”.
Grouse Gulch Aid #8
I guess the race is for 2nd, and it’s a good one, this could be the year more than 3 break 30. Jared, Scott and Glenn have a good run at sub 28!
Diana Finkel still rolling, showing that altitude is not a factor, she too, has a chance at taking Krissy’s record down
Someone cutting corners out there?…..yah right! Damn it’s fast!
Ouray Aid #6
Well the boy is flying, the only hope I have left? Will he run a faster split from Sherman in? probably.
The race for second is awesome right now. Jared is starting to gap the group, his 20,000′ vertical days are paying off!
And Diana Finkel is kicking some arse, showing off on her Leadville speed
Telluride Aid #3
Skaggs is now 1:18 ahead of record pace, will he turn around and run the second half backwards? Give me a chance to keep the clockwise record. Shall I predict that the Pole Creek and Maggie aid stations will be sound asleep…..hopefully that’s not the case. Go Kyle! He’s flying, we’ll see if it continues.
Aid #1 Kamm Traverse, Mile 12
AT Kamm Traverse,(mile 12)it looks like Kyle has thefastest split ever, according to my records, the year I ran 26:39 my split there was 2:52! Kyle ran by in 2:19…AdvantageSkaggs by 33 minutes!
Roch Hortonmaking an early run at it in 2:35, with Jared Campbell with the smartest start at 2:33. All the other boys are still in there quickly under 2:40-2:50.
Diana Finkel (Leadville winner), and Kim Holak (Bear Winner), both Hardrock rookies, have the early lead. Betsy and Betsy are lurking behind. A true look at experience.
I’ll be back after Telluride and perhaps Chapman for another race update!
Check outthis year’s odds below
The Hardrock 100 promises to be exciting,not necessarily who will likely win, but what will the time be? That is the question this week. The race for second should be the spectators delight. A battle of the Betsy’s part 8 will be the women’s race.
The Men:
Kyle Skaggs 1-2. That’s right 1-2, he lives there, knows it, and is the fastest kid around, and although young to some standards, Kyle has mature experience….he’ll be gone at the first water crossing, and never look back. And the record will fall if snow doesn’t protect it. Jared Campbell 3-1. Anything happens to Kyle, Jared is the man, he’sextra strong right now and a veteran at Hardrock, he just has to go out a little faster. Potential to go under 28 hours. Ricky Denesik 4-1. Previous Hardrock winner, made a little mistake last year early, butthis year he probably has a better gameplan…..sub 30 easy. Paul Sweeney 4-1. Another previous winner, always a strong finisher, he could be the sleeper if he doesn’tnap Kevin Schilling 7-1. Has what it takes on a good day, he’s been running hard and should be ready to go sub 30 too! Kieth Knipling 7-1. If altitude doesn’t slow him down, his technical running skills could bring him in top 5 and another sub 30 time. Scott Jaime 8-1. If hebrings some of his shorter racespeed, he could run top 5. Kirk Apt 13-1. He’s slipped in there before, and a sub30 to his credit. James Varner 14-1. How can we forget Varner, master of technical terrain. Thomas Schnitzius 41-1. German name keeps him on the list Others: Sean Andrish, Scott Eppleman, Roch Horton, and Paul Hopwood.The women:
Betsy Kalmeyer 3-1. Multi winner at Hardrock, always in it, comes out on top here more often than not. I think 4 wins, maybe 5. She gets the nod. Betsy Nye 7-2. It’ll be the battle of the Betsy’s again, if she can finish strong, she’ll have the best chance at coming out on top. Diana Finkel 9-1. Won Leadville a few years ago, with an impressive time. Altitude shouldn’t hurt her much, but this ain’t no Leadville, there are big hills at Hardrock. Kim Holak 12-1. She’sgot the speed, but a rookie at Hardrock has a slight disadvantage at this big dance. Kathy D’Onofrio 20-1. She’ll do real well if sheholds back early, she has a tendancy to go out too fast, and this course is not made for that! And the BADWATER 135, pavement…ouch! The men: Jorge Pacheco 4-1. Moeben is a new sponsor of the event, so why not have a Moeben runner win it. It’s Jorge’s turn, if he can hold back early. He tends to go out a little fast…bad idea in the heat. David Goggins 5-1. He’s been getting faster and faster, and will play it smart, it’s time he finally busts one out…..and he’s more rested than any time last year. Akos Konya 5-1. The road is his friend, and no rookie here, runs well in the heat. Dean Karnazes 8-1. Makes it look easy to run top 5, off to the next desert he goes. Charlie Engle 12-1. Sube 30 before, so he’s not out of it. The women: Monica Scholz 3-1. It’s her race, she just roll through as always, not a record but solid. Shanna Armstrong 7-1. I loaded her ipod, so she has a chance. Strong triathlete, wins regularly, but can she run 135? Pam Reed11-1. She’ll get it done and round out top 3. In other news The whereskarl RV was part of the Park City Parade on the 4th. I sat on the hood like a celebrity waving like a rockstar to 10,000 parade goers. PBR and bagels for breakfast made it just right. Thanks Backcountry.com! For the Speedgoat 50K, registrations must be postmarked by July 15 oryou lose a chance to run with some 150 other goats through Snowbird’s killer singletrack.
Click the goat for 15% off at Backcountry.com on almost everything they sell
