Results of the

2008

Snow Peak 50

After 11 years of good weather at the start, it was bound to happen and this year it caught up with us as I had to send out 223 runners into rain which turned to snow by mile 7 with mud along the way. And by the time the last runner went through AS 4, Mile 15 at Kolob Basin Overlook at 8200 ft, there was 4 inches of the white stuff on the ground. It made for an interesting day as the runners times reflected the conditions. In many places they were taking 1 step back for every 2 forward. The extra muddy conditions combined with a moderate snow pack on the course of about 4 miles, slowed even the first place runner Alan Belshaw of CO, down by over an hour from his winning time of 2 years ago, and that year there was actually about 5 miles of snow on the course, the mud, this year, was the difference.

The storm would soon pass over and left us with actually a pretty nice day from about 10 AM on. With the temperatures staying unseasonably cool, it helped some of the runners to make up time they lost on the muddy first 1/2 of the course. If I had known ahead of time, what it was going to be like, I would have had some extra awards for the muddiest rear and overall muddiest body as runners were wearing it all different kinds of ways. As one runner put it, when he was asked if he would liked to be cleaned up a little at The Sheep Canyon Aid Station at mile 29 and he said “no”, as his was mixed with a little blood running down off his knee, he explained… “This is my badge of courage!”

Erik Storheim from SLC, had his best overall finish ever, placing 2nd in the closest finish in the 12 year history of the race, coming up only 31 seconds behind Allen. If the race had been about a mile longer, the out come might have been different, Erik running in 2nd had the advantage of knowing how far ahead Allen was. That lead was 20 minutes at the Little Valley Aid Station, mile 33.5 about 10 minutes behind Allen when they left Windy Pass Aid Station with 10 miles to go and when they reached the Big Springs Aid Station and 3 1/2 miles to the finish, Erik had chewed down that lead to about 3 minutes. At one point Erik got to within about 100 yards behind Allen, just as Allen turned around and saw him on one of the few straight sections of road within a mile from the finish. Erik said “after that I saw Allen pick up his arm swing. I tried to stay off to the side where he couldn’t see me, but he did and off he went and that’s a chance you take”

Local runner from Salt Lake City, Birgitta Johnsson last year’s womens winner almost pulled off back to back wins, as she lead the womens side of the race until the downhill section coming off of Windy Pass. Jean Coulter from CO, running her first Snow Peak, had been running with Scott Mason a veteran of Snow Peak. At one of the aid stations before Windy Pass he had checked to see who had been through ahead of her and upon finding out that Jean was in 2nd, proceeded to tell her. In talking to her afterwards she said “that she would rather have not known that” as she explained “I was just out to have a good run and have fun and was afraid that might jinx me.” Not knowing how much of a lead Birgitta had she just kept on her pace which did slowly chisel away at Birgitta’s lead where with about 8 miles to go she passed Birgitta and went on to win for the first time. Birgitta said ” I was glad that I had a friend who had come up to pace me to the finish from Windy Pass, because when Jean passed me she was looking real strong and I knew I would not be able to keep up with her, so it was nice my friend was there and to me company”. Birgitta didn’t say this in so many words, but I am sure it had to be disappointing after having lead the race for most of the day, to get passed.

As always a big thank you to all of my Aid Station and Ham Radio Volunteers and to a group from our local Search and Rescue Team that does our sweep for us. Also, to all of our sponsors (who are listed on the Sponsors Page). Please try and support them where possible.
And last but not least … to all of you … the runners!!!!
for your support of this race and making it what it is today.—

Thanks Everyone, JOHN