Bandit 50k Predictions

Bandit 50k Predictions:

(Old Goats pre-match)

This course keeps drawing more and more people each year, including a bunch of fast locals.  It’s a gorgeous course, especially this year with the new single track added (by eliminating a loop from last year’s course).  Randy and Sarita Shoemaker, Larry Lee and co.  put on a great event, tomorrow will be no exception – can’t wait!

Men:

James Walsh – Ran Baz’s 21k today.  Is that going to affect him much for tomorrow?  He’s on fire lately and will probably win anyway.  He’s one of the fast cats racing Old Goat’s next month.

Guillame Calmattes – I work with Fellows (MDs) and they’re too busy to train sufficiently.  He’s very talented, and will wind up on the podium, but he won’t be on the top. 

Trey Barnes – won this race last year.

Josh Spector – he’s legit.

Chris Price – hammy and hip are a little out of whack, but I’ll have fun chasing people.  Enjoyed running this race 2 years ago and it’ll be a good test of my racing ability as I gear up for Old Goats next month.

Keith Yanov – will have a breakout race, I’ve run with him lately and he’s looking good.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finish top 3.

Mike McMonagle – I don’t think he ran to his potential at Ray Miller a couple weeks ago and will be eager to perform tomorrow.

Chris Z – Old Goats after this.

Elan Lieber – Old Goats next.

Mathew Ardine – won the tough Red Rock 50 miler

Women: 

Margaret Nelson – almost sub 7 at Avalon 50 miler!  Speeeeedy.  Will be at OG next month.

Keira Henninger – Super solid runner.  While she excels at longer distances, I think she’ll like the new course this year with more climbing and more single track.  She’ll be at Old Goats next month too.

Maggie Beach – previous winner of this race, always performs well. OG next month.

Kim Gemenez – very impressive record.

Ray Miller Predictions

After running Ray Miller last year I knew right away that this race is going to be special for years to come.  With it's ocean views and vibrant green foliage this time of year, it's inspiring to run on.  Warm weather down here even in February, draws in other runners from other areas that experience real winters like Oregon and Colorado.  I am not surprised at all that these races sold out, Keira Henninger puts on nothing but quality races and Ray Miller is no exception.


Women's 50k

Jenn Benna
Kate Martini-Freeman (her and Jenn are gonna be neck'n'neck, it's a toss up who'll win)
Meghan Arbogast
Bree Lambert
Lisa Fink

Jenn Benna's 4:53 from last year (pictured left) will be beaten this year, by her or Kate.





Women's 50M

Amy Sproston (left)
Clare Abram
Katie Desplinter

Will Amy's 8:10 last year be broken?  I dunno.







Men's 50k

Chad Ricklefs (left)
Dominic Grossman
Mike McMonagle
Chris Price
Jeff Kozak (sounds like he's stepping down from the 50M distance)

Jonathon Toker's 4:07 CR, as fast as he is, is going to be obliterated.  I'm predicting winning time will be 3:50, but who cares?  There's a 50 miler going on here:



Men's 50M

Dylan Bowman (see a pattern here?)
Tim Olson (word on the street is that he's racing 50M)
Hal Koerner
Andy Jones-Wilkins
Tommy Nielsen
Marc Laveson
Toshi Hosaka
Thomas Reiss
Chris Rennaker
Brian Fuerst
Jimmy Freeman
                                                                                   


Can Jorge Maravilla's time of 6:45 last year be beat?  I think Dylan or Timmy might be able to on a good day.  And with each other to feed off of, it'll probably happen, but no faster than 6:35.





I made up this list a little hastily, so please chime in on who I missed and/or misplaced.


Looking forward to a fun day of running in the mountains with tons of friends, which is a huge reason for me doing a bunch of these races in the first place.  And last but not least, good luck to my wife Elissa running her first 50 miler!