By Default?  Yah, while hanging at the Way Too Cool 50k this past weekend, it was quite entertaining to watch the race from the other side of the fence.  I made the best of it and went for a 10 mile run and put myself out on the course to watch where no other spectators were.   At the Goat Hill aid station, mile 26.8, Max King, Geoff Roes, and Leor Pantilat were all together.  It was shaping up to be a great battle the last 4 miles.  I was sitting across a meadow where I could see a few minutes back.  Once I saw all three guys, I started running towards the finish line, thinking they would catch me.  They didn’t catch me, but I waited at the last aid station where there is only 1.3 miles to go to the finish.  Leor came in first, with a 3 minute gap [...]

This race will hands down be the most competitive 50k so far this year with at least 4 runners with the ability to go under 3:30 on the rolling singletrack. Ulli Steidl’s record will remain safe at 3:18+, (in my opinion) but the Cool Champion will be close. I predict a 3:24.20 for the men! And a slick 4:01.18 for the women, narrowly missing Ann Trason’s record.Trason’s 3:59 could be in danger! Mens Race Matt Carpenter 5-2. He is the man, but his hands are full Galen Burrell 4-1. Sub 4 at Pikes Peak Multiple times Erik Skaggs4-1. 50k is his distance, and has the speed to compete Rich Hanna 5-1. Former WTC record holder at 3:31 ish,fast marathoner Bradley Mongold 7-1.Narrowly missed record last month at Holiday Lake Lewis Taylor 8-1. Won it last year in 3:41 Scott Jurek 8-1. 3:30 potential but not a focus race Eric Grossman [...]