For those out there thinking about the UTMB…think no more. After finding out last year over 7000 runners applied to get into the ultimate 163k race, everyone applied at once. In the US the time was 1am MST to do it. The Europeans really love their Ultra runs! Cheers to the 2500 that got in!

What Americans will try to win this big race this year?

Generally regarded as the father of American ultrarunning, Corbitt died in Houston on December 11 from cancer.

Born in South Carolina in 1919, Corbitt was a quarter miler in college at the University of Cincinnati. He began running marathons in 1950 and competed in the marathon in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. He ran his first ultra, a 30-mile race, in 1958 and in 1960 was elected the first President of the Road Runners Club of America.

In 1966, RRCA established a national 50-mile championship and Corbitt finished second. He won the 1968 RRCA 50-mile championship in a time of 5:39:45. He continued his competitive career well into his 50s, setting an American record at 100 miles (13:33:06) at age 50 and running 134.7 miles in 24 hours at age 54.

Injuries and asthma removed him from the competitive scene for many years, but he continued to run well into his 80s, and completed 303 miles in the Sri Chinmoy 6-Day race at age 82. He worked as a physical therapist for more than 40 years, and could often be found quietly volunteering at races in the New York City area. Corbitt was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1998.

A founding father of Ultrarunning.

It is time to get your application in for the Hardrock 100, this buy far is the toughest 100 in the world. With only allowing 150 runners in the race due to the National Forest Service rules this is one of the toughest races to get in to! If you are a lottery winner be sure you are ready to take on the toughest course you will ever due in the San Juan’s Mountains which starts and ends in Silverton, Colorado. There is just about 33,000 vertical climbing most above sea level, so hang on for the challenge of a life time because you have 48 hours to finish!

Beginning August 5th on the summit of Mt. Kathadin Karl will begin his quest to run to Georgia faster than anyone else has. Andrew Thompson currently holds the record of 47 days and change. A stiff record that will be tough to challenge. GPS tracking and daily updates will give the world a chance to watch a goat run through the woods…all day long! Any takers or supporters out there? I welcome any assistance, but will NOT be muled in any form. -Speedgoat Karl

Happy new year to all, it is time to run off all that holiday bulk! Here in Utah it is tough to get training in but thank goodness for all the ski resorts. We put on our headlamps and run up and down the ski resorts on the groomers. The only catch is you got to be able to out run a snow cat, these guys will through a spot light on you as you sprint away downhill! This type of training is great fro base work and low impact training. When spring arrives you hit the dirt running! Our first race for Karl Meltzer and I is the Red Hot 50k in Moab Utah! This is usually the toughest race of the year because I am not in race shape yet~

Wasatch Speed Goat