Thanks to the US Forest Service and their Hot Shots 

A lovely relaxed jaunt along an idyllic Mountain path – it wasn’t.  It was a damn tough trek over rocky brush covered single tracks and truck trails…and that was before they rejoined the Marathon Course.   For a while, I actually wished I had been running it rather than producing it along with my ‘good mate’ the Bazza’.  That foolish thought departed early during my third drive up the bone jarring Main Divide truck trail. 

I was awed by the numbers of ‘young’ faces in this race… not to mention the beautiful women (nudge-nudge wink-wink). Oh no – I just channeled Baz!   Back in 1984 when the Old Goats Trail Runners Club was founded there were only a handful of female ultra-runners in California and there were only a handful of races.…  Now there are dozens of races and almost as many women participants as men – and they are winning the toughest races.  Five of the first eight places in the Inaugural Old Goat 50 were won by women…  It almost seems criminal to call co-winner Ashley Nordell (9:07:14) a Nanny Goat.  She and the first Billy Goat, David Dean crossed the finish line hand in hand.  Fortunately, I didn’t have to scold them for deliberately tying. 

David and Ashley were followed by Keira Henninger (9:30:29) and then Juliet Morgan (9:34:56).   Rafael Arceo  was 5^th overall and 2^nd Billy Goat (9:41:40).  Jennifer Henderson and Grechen Evaul preceded the 3^rd place Billy Goat across the finish.  Alan Singleton (9:56:36) is perhaps the most enthusiastic award winner I’ve encountered.  Please don’t manhandle the award Al, it’s very fragile. 

At one time the requirements for entry into the Old Goats Trail Running Club were being over forty and having run a 50 miler.  Several of the original members were out on the course manning aid stations and one of the goats won his age group in the Marathon.  The age requirement has been dropped for those who finish the Old Goat Fifty, so this year we inducted 25 year old Ryan Shaw (12:35:50) as the youngest Old Goat ever.  He received a mug with an etched kid goat as his reward.  Sixty year young Bud Phillips was recognized as the oldest runner in the race and finished in a respectable 10:44:27.  His mate Nigel regrets not showing up and claiming the Oldest Finisher Mug – Nigel’s five months older than Bud! 

For those runners going slow enough to notice the 25 mile marker – small green tree with little shiny balls and an Old Goat star on top… thanks.  For those who missed it – come back next year…   But next year it will be the 15 mile marker as we will be running the original course.  Don’t worry – there are only a few more hills!  But the views are to die for!   Don’t fret - it will only feel that way! 

Steve and Annie Harvey
RDs in training

Old Goat 50 Mile ultra race Race Directors Steve & Annie Harvey

Click HERE to read Steve's Story of how the the previous month's huge Santiago Forest Fires almost cancelled the Ultra.