Finally after 18 ultramarathons in a row my streak came to a end! I had some scar tissue next to my Achilles tendon from the Bighorn 100 that took away my ability to run down hill after about 58 miles. I was coming down Hope pass on one good leg when I decided to make a smart decision and retire from the race. As hard as it is, I want to be healthy for another day. I think some of the best decisions are the hardest to make in the world of 100 mile running, as I was way ahead of any cutoffs, I could have masked the pain and limped to the finish, but I want to go kick some as- at the Bear 100 ! My friend Rick Gates ran to the finish in 28 hours and some change to ad to his total of 39 100 mile finishes! Rick is going for his 23 Wasatch 100 finish in a row next month, he is the only runner to ever finish that many Wasatch 100′s ! It was a pleasure seeing all fellow speedgoats this weekend, Kristi Bloodsworth, Ryan, Sean, John Hemsky, Larry Hall, Cory Johnson, Dave Crockett and Dave? who reads our web page had a great finish at the leadville ! Stay tuned for the Mt. Blanc race reports this weekend!
Wasatchspeedgoat Trailrunning tips (downhill running) / Park City TV video. This is the first of a three part series.
Hey Scott, sorry to hear about the Leadville experience, but I know how that goes. The important thing is that you have a good attitude about it and are already pumped about your next race and using this as a motivator, rather than fretting about pulling out. Not finishing is always the last resort, but I’m also one who believes in “Brains over Braun” rather than the old adage of “no pain, no gain”, which is experienced in every ultra to some extent, but if leads to an injury than what good is it. I say you definitely made the smart move. Brains over Bravado. At least you got to meet up with good friends and the way I look at it, a damn good long run.
Good luck at Bear, you’ll smoke it
Thanks Wynn, it is hard to be smart at a 100~
it happens to the best – no doubt that you’ll be back in no time
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yeah better to run again soon than put yourself out for months. i have yet to learn this one.
yea, I have learned the hard way. wsg
Smart move Scott! I could have used your logical-thinking brain at mile ~75 at Fish when my right knee was hurting and continued on. I finished but now the unofficial diagnosis is a torn meniscus. Yeah, I’m not stronger than I think I am and apparently one can dig too deep.
And to add insult to injury the finisher’s sweatshirt is white again. White!? Ouch.
Good luck up at the Bear! Kill it!
Thanks Jason,
I have dug deep and caused additional problems before, it is tough for us Ultrarunners to quit anything, ecspecially a 100 miler. Old Wise Goat, bahaha
Scott,
Good to see you at Leadville. You were wise to stop. Sometimes you just have to push on through, and sometimes you have to have enough Goat-Wisdom to drop. There will always be another race. If your achilles is feeling up for 50 and not 100 in Sept., join us in Moab for the MAS50. It should be fun.
Ryan
BAAAA!!
Karl… rest that ankle.. You’ll need it in ’08!
Good luck in France and at Bear… You’re in my thoughts!
Grand Tetons here I come!
Sherpa John
Good call there, Scott. Heal up and wrastle the Bear. Hope to meet you out in your neighborhood in a couple weeks. Any suggestions on how to do Utah right with just a couple days leading up to Wasatch?
Brennen
Hi Scott, Sorry to hear about your injury. You guys are amazing to run like you do. Don
‘t let one race get to you. If your anything like Dan and I know your worse, you’ll be back out there sooner than you should be.) Hi to all! You guys did a great job with the snowbird race. Dan & I wrote an article for the runners club newsletter and it was published this month. We’ll send you a copy of Dan’s goat story. Yes, they think a guy from the East is crazy for running this race. Get better soon! Linda
Hi Scott,
18 of 19 is impressive….I met you at Bighorn, we ran together for a bit around mile 40, before I turned the last 60 miles into a moody death march and you rocked on. Good luck at Bear. I’m still pondering my next… thinking about San Diego, although the course has recently been changed. Good luck w your recovery and look forward to sticking with you the next time you pass me…..
Hi Amy,
Good to hear from you! Good luck with San Diego if you run. Karl Meltzer ran that a couple times and really liked the race. c-ya soon at the next adventure!
Scott
Bahhhh!!! Leadville is not goat habitat!!! All that pavement and hard-packed roads are bad for your hooves! Rest ‘em for a bit and then enjoy your return to proper goat country at the Bear.
That goes for you too, Halladay!
Hey Scott,
Sorry to hear what happened. It was good to see you out on the trail. Looks like you were within five minutes of me all day until top of Hope Pass. Heal up and I’ll see at the Bear.
well well what a relief to have know i beat you! at the finnish of the leadville i seen you at the finnish and thought “you little shit you beat me” then i said to myself good job man i like you.after wasatch i will be with you at the bear so we can run together for awhile.
the web sight is very exciting to me thanks for all your efforts in putting it together,and to you karl thanks for all your efforts you and scott inspire me thanks .by the way i will be going for my sixth 100 this year and seventh if i manage the bear for a completion of both the “rocky slam and the western”keep up the good work i like it.cory t johnson