Thursday, December 4, 2014

Who's going to win the 2014 TNF 50 in San Francisco this weekend?

The Bay Area is loaded full of running talent and there is no bigger race that displays it quite as thoroughly as the North Face Endurance Challenge Championship 50 mile race. My predictions for the men's and women's podium is loaded with locals and then there are 7 other runners from the Bay Area that could easily take a podium. Take a look at the lists below and let me know who you think is going to take top honors this year. If I missed mentioning a local, please feel free to give them a shout out in the comments.


First lets start with my men's predictions:

1) Rob Krar— He has a hot streak going that is epic.. 
2) Tim Tollefson— Road marathoner with Olympic caliber speed but not a seasoned trail ultra runner
3) Sage Canaday— Road, Dirt, Hills, Flat doesn't matter to this dude. He can do it all.
4) Alex Varner— *LOCAL* Another road guy with good legs and a fair amount of trail & ultra experience. His advantage is that he knows the course.
5) Dylan Bowman— *LOCAL* Marin is his training ground and his resume calls for a top finish.

My women's predictions:

1) Magdalena Boulet— *LOCAL* She knows the trails and has speed for days. 
2) Stephanie Howe— She's on a hot streak with 1st at Western States 100 and 2nd at Lake Sonoma 50 mile
3) Sally McRae— This girl is grit and determination all rolled into one and she's got the skills to back it up.
4) Kelsie Clausen— *LOCAL* Another one who really knows these trails who has youth and the speed that comes with being young. This could be her break out performance
5) Lisa Hughey— *LOCAL* Livermores best kept secret that has taken a 1st place in almost everything she ran this year.

Other Bay Area locals who have a real shot at the podium:

1) Gary Gellin- in 2014 he was 1st at North Face 50k Utah, 1st at the Miwok 100k in San Francisco. He also grabbed top 10 placings at the Mountain Masochist 50 miler and the Squamish 50 miler.
2) Galen Burrell- in 2014 he was 2nd at the Tamalpa 50k and he grabbed a top 10 at the ultra competitive Speedgoat 50k
3) Brett Rivers- in 2014 he grabbed a top 10 at Western States 100, 1st at the Diablo Trails 50k (I was there to see him come through the finish line looking strong!) and a 4th place at the Way Too Cool 50k
4) Jorge Maravilla- in 2014 he was 1st at the Coastal 50k, Top 10 at the North Face 100k and 1st at the Bandera 100k
5) Bob Shebest- in 2014 he placed 1st at the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 miler, 1st at the Pine to Palm 100 miler, 3rd at the Silver State 50 mile, 1st at the Armstrong Redwoods 50k, Top 10 at the ultra competitive Lake Sonoma 50 mile, 1st at the Marin Ultra Challenge 50 mile, and a 1st at the Chabot 50k
6) John Burton- in 2014 he placed 3rd at the Tahoe 200, Top 10 at the Skyline 50k, Top 10 at the Ohlone 50k, and 2nd at the Pacifica Foothills 50k
7) Christopher Denucci- in 2014 he placed 1st at the Coyote Ridge 50k and a Top 10 at the Tamalpa 50k

1 comment:

  1. I had no idea Ivan Medina (Brazen Racings Ultra Half Bad Ass) was running this. Congrats to him on a top 20 finish.

    ReplyDelete

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