Comments on: Karl Meltzer on Mt. Blanc

By: Good Charlotte Billy Martin

Good Charlotte Billy Martin — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:00:11 +0000

Good Charlotte Billy Martin…

Man i love reading your blog, interesting posts !…

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:00:02 +0000

Cutting corners, deviating from rules. The point of rules in competition is to evenly match the contestants. Deviating from the established rules may gain an advantage-it is not done to make things harder-(ie. cut corners so you run a steeper route). The only other reason for avoiding the guidleines is unintentional error-and it may or may not give you an advantage. We all agree that we should have speed limits on our streets-it takes another type of person to agree when they are pulled over for exceeding the speed limit. Our gut reaction is that we should be an exception to the societal standards we agree on. It takes humility to impose the same standard when it’s not to your benefit-no matter where you are born, raised, or live.

By: Ingo

Ingo — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:46:52 +0000

Hey Karl,
it was tons of fun to getting to know you guys in Chamonix. It was really impressive to see you race that thing. And be sure, you definitely gave them a hard time running around the white mountain for as long as you stayed in the race (I am still impressed to see you top 3 runners within 2 mins of each other in Champex Lac). That’s why everybody wants you too be back over here…me too, to see you guys again…

Ingo the Deutschlander

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:51:58 +0000

Yo Karl,
You’ll always be my hero man!
And really, I’m not cheating on you if I have more than one
… it is the European way.

By: Karl

Karl — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:38:54 +0000

Thanks Frederico, well said. I do really think many have not really got the whole point on cutting corners. Had the race come down to a 1-5 minute sprint at the finish, the cut corners would make a difference. Not one american dropped from this race because another runner cut a few corners. The point being made about cutting corners is one thing. It is not the route marked for the race. Said racers did not follow the “course” which was set to be 163K. Not 162.5K. The sport is really an honesty thing. At Hardrock the course is “Closed”, meaning you must go from Marker to Marker, those who cut off a few markers are DQ’d. When a track runner crossed his feet three times on the inside line, he is DQ’d, but really how much distance did he gain…not much. Apparently the course is not “Closed” at Mont Blanc, unfortunately I was led to beleive it was. Next year I know the rules and will be back without 5 100 milers under my belt in the last 4 months. Marco is 59 years young, not old! I would love to retire like him. Miquel, I can recall one switchback on the last climb before Cormayeur where the difference is about a 1/2K. This is one place where it matters, among many others. Caoi for now, Wahsatchspeedgoat

By: Federico

Federico — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:11:07 +0000

Hi Karl,
my name is Federico, from Italy. I’m sorry things didn’t go well as planned but I think the main reason was that you and Scott were simply not recovered from Hardrock. Marco Olmo the “old” man winner of the last two edition, last year won without knowing the course (he didn’t run it before the race and is crew is just is old wife waiting at Cormayeur Aid station. He doesn’t have sponsor, he’s retired and live with a pension of €500 a month. So he’s just a poor, angry and tough mountain man.) so it’s a bit boring that everybody (american) say that you didn’t have the possibility of winning because european cheat!!! Nikki Kimbal is the proof: she was well rested and won. So if you and Scott come over to UTMB well trained and rested you will give hard time to all the other european good runner.
Keep running strong, hope to see you in europe again.