Monday, January 5, 2009

Ultra Runners of the Year – 2008

Below are some of the performance that caught my attention.
In no specific order.
I'm sure I missed a few.

No question Mike Wardian was runner of the year.

Mike Wardian
One of the most impressive highlights was his back to back marathons.
1st Overall: 3/29/08 National Marathon 2:25:00
3rd Overall: 3/30/08 Knoxville Marathon 2:29:50

Being a flat lander and winning White River 50 miler I thought could never happen.

1st Overall: USA Track & Field 50K National Championship
1st Overall: USA Track & Field 100K National Championship
1st Overall: USA Track & Field Trail Marathon National Championship
1st Overall: USA Track & Field 50 Mile Trail National Championship



Jorge Pacheco
Smokin' fast times.
1st Overall: Rocky Raccoon 14:12
1st Overall: Badwater 135 23:20

Scott Jurek
Three-peat
1st Overall: Spartathlon 23:12

Adam Lint
Adam had a great season impressive performances all around.
3rd Overall: USA Track & Field 50K National Championship
3rd Overall: USA Track & Field 100K National Championship
2nd Overall: USA Track & Field 50 Mile Trail National Championship

Karl Meltzer
Karl's AT record attempt was impressive.
He had issues early on but continued on.
1st Overall: Coyote Two Moon 17:24
1st Overall: McNaughton 17:40

Serge Arbona
1st Overall: Umstead 15:53

Matt Carpenter
After a year to contemplate the race he came back and won.
1st Overall: North Face 50 Mile

Kyle Skaggs
Made Hardrock look easy. Half: goat/cheetah.
1st Overall: Hardrock 23:23

Andy Jones-Wilkin
Repeat offender at Vermont 16:07

Hal Koerner
Angeles Crest 18:29

Anton Krupicka
Maybe the fastest time for a 50 mile trail race in the US.
1st Overall: American River 50

Dave Mackey
1st Overall: Miwok 100K, CR

Oz Pearlman
May have the fastest time in the US for 50 miles on road.
1st Overall: Chicago Lakefront 50 Mile
2nd Overall: JFK 50 Miler

Tim Clement
Fast time for a old man with a family.
Burning River 17:40

Steve Stowers
2nd Overall: USA Track & Field 100K National Championship

Daniel Verrington
Fastest USA Time for ever for 45 and up.
5th Overall: USA Track & Field 50K National Championship 3:17:29

Eric Grossman
1st Overall: USA Track & Field 50 Mile National Championship
1st Overall: Mountain Masochist Trail Run

Kami Semick
No brainer for female runner of the year.
2nd Overall: 100K World Championship

Mark Lundblad
Well deserved, and getting faster.
1st Overall: JFK 50 Miler

My performances.
Gold, Silver, Bronze and Me!
4th Overall: USA Track & Field 50K National Championship, Ran a personal best of 3:16!
4th Overall: USA Track & Field 100K National Championship
4th Overall: USA Track & Field Trail Marathon National Championship

Friday, January 2, 2009

2008 - Year in Review.

I had a great start for 2008.
Ran a strong marathon 2:38 followed by a pr in the 50K at the USA National Championship.
Just missed qualifying for the Boston Marathon with my time for the 50K. Ended up running 3:16.

I competed in 3 USA T&F National Championships and was 4th overall in all three.
[50K, 100K, Trail Marathon]

My summer was a bummer.
When Western States was cancelled I decided to take advantage of some hard runs.
I hammered too hard at Squaw Valley and really trashed my hamstring.
June and July was trying to recover and still keep some base miles while backing off the speed on the track and my tempo runs.

In October tried to re-group for a fall ultra, but never felt race ready.
I committed to running Sunmart Texas Trail 50 Miler in December.
During the race I never felt like I was actually racing or in a groove.


Total Milage for the year was 4,957.

Not too bad for having a bad couple months during the summer and backing off the tail end of December.

Last Month of 2008

Training Week November 24 - November 30
Week Total: 122 Miles

Training Week December 1 - December 7
Taper with Sunmart 50 Miler on the 6th.
Could not get into a groove.
Week Total: 80 Miles

Ended the year with a little down time after Sunmart.

Training Week December 8 - December 14
Week Total: 66 Miles

Training Week December 15 - December 21
Week Total: 70 Miles

Training Week December 22 - December 28
Week Total: 66 Miles

Training Days December 29 - December 31
Week Total: 33 Miles