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What’s Next?

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on May 28, 2009
in Race Updates, Snow Reports and Speedgoat 50K
. 14 Comments

The Bighorn 100 starts June 19th.  Am I recovered from Massannutten?  Absolutely!  I feel as though I didn’t even run in Virginia a week and a half ago……scary! 

Why am I recovered already?…….because I’m a mutant?  or is it the multiple scoops of Ultragen I consume after every run.  I’ll call it the Ultragen.  Not to mention I have a great coach…..myself!  :-)

Last Friday I was summoned to fill in for Missy Berkel at the Pocatello 50 mile relay.  I was called on my way up to Pocatello where my wife Cheryl was also participating in the 50 mile relay division.  So I said why not?,  What’s another 17 miler?  I ran it with intentions of just having fun. It certainly was fun.  Cruising along on prime Pocatello singletrack comfortably at 10.5 mph had me feeling pretty good.  I won the first leg by 5 minutes.   Recovered from Massannutten……I think so!  Bighorn will be the real test…..then of course the beast of all beasts, The Hardrock 100 follows three weeks later!

Now it’s time to check out Hucknroll.com and Realcyclist.com.  Backcountry has now added cycling to there already huge inventory, great discounts at random times and only top-flight gear for the real athlete……..that’s all of us!

The Speedgoat 50k has only 6 weeks to go till entries are closed, so time to suck it up and run/hike the toughest 50k on earth, covered by the greatest snow on earth.  That’s right, it’s still buried up in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  Perhaps I should start shoveling the course now to get it ready.  We still need volunteers for the big dance, so if anyone out there is interested in watching some carnage, come help us out.  It’s a great race to be a spectator!

I continue to review gear, not to mention others out there doing reviews for Backcountry.com, so check it out if you need anything, but only the good stuff, cuz’ they don’t sell junk.

Now…….the season can begin!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on April 18, 2009
in Race Updates, Snow Reports and Speedgoat 50K
. 18 Comments

Stay tuned for Monday’s post:  The Miwok odds are coming, and this year’s race is a barn burner for the last 3, Western States Track Meet qualifiers!

Watch the Boston Marathon LIVE right now!  (it’s 8:32 MST)  at this website:

http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?CLIP_ID=110201&_MODE_=EVENT&db_oem_id=23000

Ryan Hall is pushing the pace, the 10k split was 29:30.  I can run 5 miles at that pace….maybe!

After shoveling almost 700″ of the “greatest snow on earth”, my tenure at Sugarplum condos and townhouses ended yesterday, (these condos are sweet and would be a great deal if you have a group running the Speedgoat 50k!).  Now I can start preparing for 7 100 mile mountain races.  It all starts with Massannutten on May 16th.  First I’ll hammer out the Bonneville Shoreline Marathon as a tune-up on April 25th.  While 165″ of snow sits on the ground at Snowbird and Alta, I’ll have to run at a lower elevation, but the hills are steep, and just as relentless as the higher stuff. 

I really think the Appalachian Trail helped me put down a huge base for this year.  Although I have run far less mileage as last year at this time, I have been running faster over my standard “bread and butter” routes.  Doing it with ease.  Two good races behind me.  My “Way Too Cool” finish didn’t look that impressive, but only because my right calf siezed at 23 miles and I had to slow down to make sure injury stayed out of the picture.  It did, and all is well.  

What’s the goal this year?  Only to win one 100 miler.  It would give me 10 years in a row with at least one 100 mile win.  I believe only Ann Trason can say that.  Unless Mr. Jurek can too.  I’m not sure about Scott, but it is certainly a possibility with his stellar 7 win streak at Western. 

Alot of cool races are starting now, and I’ll start doing some odds again, as I now have more time to spend in front of the screen, I’ve been a slacker again lately, but only because of the 230″ of dumpage we’ve recieved since March 22.  It was simply out of control shoveling almost 20″ daily….but again, it’s over now, so no excuses!

Western States is getting even more interesting as a few more super fast guys have qualified for the 2009 Auburn Track Meet.  Max King is certainly the leader with speed as his stellar performance at the Pear Blossom 10 mile CR was only a week after his win at the American River 50.  But Western is 100 miles, hopefully he’ll toe the start line and step into a different realm.   Miwok is the last qualifier, and a few others are trying to get in to WS.   Geoff Roes is hoping to qualify as well, he certainly has it in him to make it happen.  Scotty J would be a stellar addition,  (although, he should not have to qualify), He is Mr. Western!  I guess time will tell.  Miwok will likely be my next attempt at doing the odds. 

The Speedgoat 50k entrants list is creeping upwards, check it out.  Sign up if you want a real 50k challenge.  No PR’s at this race, only satisfaction of getting it done! 

Big hugs and kisses to La Sportiva and Backcountry.com for supporting me and the Speedgoat race this year!  Our prize list includes killer stuff from La Sportiva, Nathan Packs, Drymax socks, First Endurance,  and Ryders Eyewear  along with a few goat legs for the fastest Billies and Nannies.   Not to mention a few other prizes we’ll muster up.  Along with this year’s prize list comes 100 bucks for the winners and 100 bucks to break a record.  Yah, it’s not much, but I’m poor and it’s coming from this kid’s pocket.  A C-note never hurts!

Way Too Cool, Way Too Wet, Way Too Sloppy,…PERFECT!!

Published
by
Speedgoat Karl
on March 9, 2009
in Race Updates
. 19 Comments
Ahhhhh….Way too dry!  Full results here:
 
Let it rain, snow, or just be freezin’,  I need some type of advantage for this one!

And the Odds are:

First off, this is a tough one.  The results of previous years was coming up moot, so I’m rolling with what I know!  Also, this year’s course is slightly longer to make a perfect 50k, so all the times I refer to in this list are as if they would be run on the old course, (to make it a bit easier for me).

Erik Skaden  4-1.  He’s no rookie here, and it’s about time he won something big.  He knows the course well with his Western experience and local knowledge.  It’ll all have to click.
Eric Grossman  5-1.  He always seems to run fast, every race, even without competition.  This race has the comp and should push him even faster.
Paul Dewitt  6-1.  He’s got the speed.  If he nails it, he can run near 3:32 (old course time).
Dan Olmstead  7-1.  Another fast guy.  He hasn’t raced much lately, but if he’s on, he’ll be in it.
Phil Kochik  7-1.  His best time is 3:37.56.  No slacker here.  His run in Moab 3 weeks ago was good on goat terrain, not his specialty.  This course is smooth (when dry), this year it should be ugly.  This won’t help him.
Lewis Taylor  8-1.  His best time is 3:41.50.   If he’s good in the slop, he be further up than this.
Thomas Reiss  8-1.  He brings a solid year behind him.  He ran well early season last year, hoping it’s the same deal this year.  He’ll have the good beer at the end.
Speedgoat Karl  9-1.  I feel pretty good, Moab didn’t even really phase me.  With all that shoveling at Alta, Utah this winter, my upper body strength should carry me to a strong finish.  31 miles is like a blink of the eye these days.
Mark Richtman  11-1.  He surprised us last year with some great times, he’ll crack top 10.
Justin Ricks  12-1.  I would put him at least top 5, but he’s had a recent issue which may have set him back a bit.  If not, he’ll pay the most!
Scott Jaime  13-1.  A sneaky fast one.  If he runs well, he’ll also be much higher.  His PR is in the 3:45 range.
Rod Bien  14-1.  He’s looking to buy all the beers. He’s from Oregon, he must be fast!
Andy Jones-Wilkins  16-1.  He says he’s a little tired from that fast 100, but chances are he’ll have autopilot on and still run well. 
Others who could crack any of these places:  Scott Wolfe, Craig Thornley, Jeff Riley, Nicholas Bingham, Mark McManus, Matthew Lonergan, Michael Buchanan, Nate Bowen, Kenny Brown, Michael Cook, Jed Tukman, Jean Pommier, Justin Angle, Jeff Browning, Jeff Kozak, and Greg Nacco

The Ladies:

Devon Crosby-Helms  5-2.  If she’s fit, she’ll take her speed and win by more than 5 minutes.
Caitlin Smith  4-1.  An inside tip let me know if this speedster.  It’s her second Ultra, so we’ll see.  She hasn’t lost a short mountain race in 4 years.  She recently broke the Seqouia 50k record.
Prudence L’Heureux  5-1.  Fast at some of the NF races, she’ll crack at least top 3.
Bev Abbs  6-1.  Probably the most experienced here.  She’s got a best time of 4:07.  She could win it and pay the most if she runs well.
Joelle Vaught  7-1.  Another girl with a fast PR of 4:17, but not quite quick enough to take a podium spot.  She needs a few more hills to move a few spots up.  
Jenny Capel  8-1.  Just a notch under “elite status”.  She can now prove it with this field.  She’s got it in her, and has run the course many times to help her out.
Caren Spore  8-1.  Like Jenny, right on the edge of being up front.
Helen Cospolich  10-1.  Good run a few weeks ago in Moab, but she also needs hills to be up front here.
Other ladies in the mix:  Anne Hitchcock, Meghan Arboghast, Suzie Lister. 

Dont forget the Speedgoat 50k for July 18th, tickets for the toughest 50k are on sale now until July 5th.

And check out Backcountry.com and my user profile for gear reviews, deals and other random happenings with BC.com athletes.

It keeps on Dumping at Alta!

 

 

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