The Ultra Minute: Cold and Muddy
Chuckanut 50k turns brutal, Farvard breaks Walmsley’s record, Barkley claims everyone, and a historic showdown looms at Chianti
Issue 34
Chris Myers and Jade Belzberg Overcome Brutal Conditions at Chuckanut 50k
The 2025 Chuckanut 50k will be remembered as a battle against brutal weather conditions, transforming an already challenging course into a muddy, icy survival test. Relentless rain, freezing temperatures, and slick, technical trails led to DNFs as hypothermic symptoms set in among even seasoned runners.
In the men's race, Chris Myers thrived despite, or perhaps because of, the treacherous conditions. Myers took advantage of slippery descents, running aggressively to build a decisive lead. “I was able to pull away on the descents,” Myers told The Ultra Minute. “Maybe it was partially the conditions, or maybe I was running more recklessly, but I kept extending my lead.” Myers finished in a commanding 3:39:10, nearly ten minutes clear of runner-up Karl Augsten (3:49:04), despite multiple falls that left his legs "looking like I got mauled." Myers is next targeting Lake Sonoma 50 Mile, Western States, and CCC later this season.
The women’s race began with a competitive front pack featuring defending champion Claire Devoe, Sarah Biehl, and last year's runner-up Jade Belzberg, who’d arrived fitter and chasing the course record. The trio set an aggressive early pace before the deteriorating conditions quickly reshaped the race.
Belzberg initially fell back due to the thick mud and standing water that slowed progress dramatically. "It was suddenly clear this would be a very muddy race," Belzberg later recalled in her race recap. But the tide began turning for her on the long Cleator Road climb, where solid footing allowed her to regain ground on the leaders.
Meanwhile, up front, Devoe pushed hard through the technical Chuckanut Ridge and built a gap. But as temperatures dropped and sleet intensified, conditions turned dangerous. “I didn’t realize how cold I was getting,” Devoe told us. “My vision was doing weird things, and I felt fuzzy.” At mile 26, she made the difficult decision to drop, turning back to find volunteers. Kristina Randrup, who helped care for Devoe post-race, shared with us: “It was just heart breaking to see her sitting there. I saw Claire at the base of the ridge trail and she looked great so I was shocked when I heard how things had turned.”
Belzberg, now leading after passing an equally struggling Biehl—who also dropped due to the cold—focused less on racing competitors and more on staying safe and warm enough to finish. Despite severely slowed by the mud and freezing temperatures, Belzberg’s decision to wear a rain shell became critical in allowing her to stay in the race and hold pace.
Klaire Rhodes, meanwhile, steadily moved up the field from a conservative start. Rhodes hadn't packed a jacket, a decision she regretted as conditions worsened. “My hands became numb, and I was shivering and teeth-chattering,” she shared with us. Rhodes was unaware of the DNFs ahead until she encountered Dylan Bowman and others assisting struggling runners near Chinscraper. Surprised to learn she'd moved into third at the final aid station, she fought through the cold to eventually claim second.
Belzberg crossed the line victorious in 4:22:40, with Rhodes two minutes back in 4:24:44, and Sarah Carter rounding out a gritty podium in 4:29:07.
Despite the harsh day, runners praised the supportive community created by race director Krissy Moehl and volunteers. As Randrup reflected: “Even though it sucked to see people doing so poorly, the support everyone was given—from other runners, random volunteers, med staff, and Krissy—was wonderful.”
More from Chuckanut
recaps her Chuckanut 50K win in a way only she can—sharp, transparent, and packed with the kind of race-day detail that makes you feel like you were out there slipping and shivering too. Her race recaps are some of the best in the sport, and this one is no exception.
Another Chuckanut 50K recap, this time from , who finished 7th woman. She leaned into her own strategy and embraced the chaos—at one point even picking up a random freezer bag mid-race as an emergency hand warmer. She closed strong and is already looking forward to coming back next year.
, co-owner of the nutrition brand Open Fuel (whose sponsorship of Will Murray we highlighted last week), put together a sharp Chuckanut recap after finishing 12th—somehow with barely a speck of mud on him and seemingly unfazed by the cold as he ran in a singlet.
, a pre-race favorite, rolled her ankle on the ridge and dropped.
Rod Farvard Takes Down Walmsley’s Nine Trails Record
Rod Farvard made a bold statement at the Nine Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run this weekend, not only taking the win but besting Jim Walmsley’s 2019 course record. Farvard ran aggressively from the start, splitting 2:33 out, 2:35 back, and finishing in a remarkable 5:08.
Breaking Walmsley’s mark was always the goal, he told us afterward: “I just wanted to push from the gun. I wasn't really thinking about holding back. The best way to test how fit you are is an all-out time trial.”
The victory represents a full-circle moment for Farvard, who ran this course six years ago in 5:43. “I felt like there was no way I could run any faster then,” he reflected. “To run 35 minutes faster now is hilarious to think about—and I still feel like I could go under 5 hours. I don't feel like I'm even close to my ceiling yet.”
For Farvard, this performance and that sort of confidence signals his intentions for Western States and UTMB later this season.
Barkley Wins Again: No Finishers at Brutal 2025 Edition; John Kelly Earns Lone Fun Run
After a record-breaking five finishers—including the first-ever woman finisher, Jasmin Paris—in 2024, the Barkley Marathons returned to form this year, leaving no survivors. Lazarus Lake lit his cigarette at 11:37am on March 18, sending forty runners onto an unprecedentedly difficult version of the unmarked course at Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee. By loop one, only ten runners remained; loop two reduced the field to just four.
The brutal course and deteriorating conditions eliminated all hope for a five-loop finish. By the third loop, a Fun Run (three loops in under 40 hours) became the only achievable goal. Battling gusty 50 mph winds and heavy rain in the final hours, only three-time Barkley finisher John Kelly succeeded, finishing loop three in 39:50:27—just under the Fun Run cutoff. France’s Sébastien Raichon arrived moments before the cutoff but missed pages and was tapped out, while Japan’s Tomokazu Ihara remained out on course.
In the end, the Barkley had its revenge, with zero finishers for 2025. For detailed accounts, see coverage by iRunFar and Keith Dunn’s posts on BlueSky or X.
Coming Up This Weekend: Historic Showdown at Chianti by UTMB and The Big Alta
This weekend brings a matchup for the ages at Chianti by UTMB in Italy, featuring a head-to-head battle between the three most recent UTMB champions: Kilian Jornet, Jim Walmsley, and Vincent Bouillard. Jornet remains a wild card after welcoming his third child last week, but he's still officially listed on the start line. Adding to the stakes, Chianti offers four coveted Golden Tickets—two each for the top men and women—providing direct entry into Western States. Abby Hall, Azara Garcia, Alessandra Boifava, Johanna Antila, and Fiona Pascall headline the women's field.
Check out ’s excellent preview for a deeper dive, or tune into ’s preview podcast.
Race start: Saturday, March 22, 4:00am CET (Friday, 8:00pm PDT/11pm EDT)
Livestream: UTMB LIVE promises real-time action, drone footage, and expert commentary.
The Big Alta
Meanwhile, stateside, The Big Alta returns to Marin County, California. While there's no race livestream, expect post-race "trailgating" commentary live on Freetrail’s YouTube channel:
Friday, March 21: 12:00–1:00pm PDT (Race Preview)
Saturday, March 22: 1:00–2:00pm PDT (50k Post-race)
Sunday, March 23: 11:00 AM–12:00pm PDT (28k Post-race)
The start lists for both distances boast some heavy hitters, including David Roche, Eli Hemming, Tabor Hemming, and Mary Denholm in the 50k, and Andy Wacker, Dan Curts, Sylvie Abel, Ruby Lindquist, and newly minted pro Johen DeLeon in the 28k.
For more athlete insights, check out ’s detailed breakdown and Fantasy Freetrail picks in his preview podcast.
Big Alta race start times:
50k: Saturday, March 22, 8:00am PDT (Live tracking)
28k: Sunday, March 23, 8:00am PDT (Live tracking)
Sponsorship News
Vincent Bouillard, last year’s surprise UTMB winner, is now officially a Team HOKA athlete—while still working as a senior product engineer for the brand. His unexpected UTMB victory sparked plenty of speculation about whether HOKA would sign him, so it’s quite cool to see it materialize.
Jade Belzberg, fresh off her win at the brutally cold and muddy Chuckanut 50k, revealed she's officially joined Altra. "Thank you to Altra for the race kit and shoes that kept me moving comfortably and quickly," she wrote on her Substack, promising more details soon.
Johen DeLeon, who we featured last September after his surprise second-place finish at Cirque Series A’Basin, has signed with Satisfy, announcing the news in a fun conversation on the latest Freetrail Podcast. His first official race for the brand is this weekend’s Big Alta 28k.
Other News & Links
Emelie Forsberg and Kilian Jornet welcomed their third child last week. Emelie shared the news on Instagram, saying, “The baby bubble is a nice place to be in!”
USATF MUT has moved up the 2025 USATF Long Trail Team selection timeline after athlete feedback. Resume-selected athletes will now be announced by April 30, 2025, rather than having to wait until June, giving them more time to plan for Worlds. More here.
Max Jolliffe’s new film, King of Moab, drops this Friday, March 21, on his YouTube channel.
Kristian Morgan announced on Instagram that he’s going after the Appalachian Trail FKT again. He holds the second-fastest time in both directions and says his biggest growth this year has been mental, not just physical.
After Leadville, Javelina, and Black Canyon—where persistent hip issues derailed his races and ultimately led to a DNF—JP Giblin finally got answers. He needs surgery and is stepping away from racing for now. The good news? He teased a new adventure, saying he’s “ready for a long walk.”
In other injury news, Cole Watson is out with a sacral stress fracture. “I’m definitely heartbroken, but this gives me pause to make time for things I otherwise wouldn’t,” he wrote.
Podcast & YouTube Highlights
Connor Burkesmith and Alex Rienzie dropped the trailer for Racing Grand Teton, a docuseries covering Michelino Sunseri’s controversial Grand Teton FKT and the legal battle that followed. Sunseri still faces criminal charges, but the filmmakers—initially threatened with legal action—are now protected under the EXPLORE Act, which reformed filming restrictions in national parks. The trailer is stunning, and for those who’ve never seen Grand Teton in person (hey, it’s me), it highlights just how steep and technical the route really is. Watch the trailer on YouTube or see the film’s website for more info about the film and the legal case.
Tim Cannon dropped a pitch-perfect parody of David Roche’s Road to Western States series, swapping out long runs for sprint workouts and fueling exclusively on human breast milk. The video, titled Let’s Shock the World, has already racked up thousands of views, with Roche himself calling it “unbelievably good and perfect.” The production is spot-on, down to the nose strips and “love ya guys” sign-offs.
If Tim Cannon’s parody wasn’t enough David Roche content for you, Freetrail’s Training for the Big Alta delivers the real thing. Shot by Ryan Thrower, the film follows Roche through a brutal hill session in Boulder as he preps for The Big Alta 50K this weekend, his first race of 2025 on the road to Western States. Apparently, Thrower texted the Freetrail team: “That’s the fittest person I’ve ever filmed.”
Hilary Yang is back with episode two of her Road to Hardrock 100 series, balancing training with travel between Bishop, Mammoth, and her home trails in LA. She reflects on the impact of the recent wildfires and gets in a trail run with Trail Network Podcast co-host, Katie Asmuth.
Deanna Doane was on The Tribe of Runners Podcast to break down her recent Florida Trail FKT—1,111 miles in 19 days, 12 hours, 13 minutes. She shares what it took to push through extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, and loneliness, as well as the challenge of transitioning back to normal life afterward. This is also the first episode on YouTube, so help host Liz Myers get some early views by watching there Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Ryan Miller and Aaron Davis have rebooted their Tempo Talks podcast after a multi-year hiatus. In the first new episode, they catch up on the past two years and talk about upcoming running goals. The podcast has a fresh feed, so if you were subscribed before, you’ll need to resubscribe. And, I only see it on Spotify so far.
Reads of the Week
Dan Jones, who recently won the Tarawera 102k, writes about how his off-trail passions—diving, fishing, and hunting—fuel his training and recovery as an ultrarunner. Beyond providing high-quality protein, these pursuits challenge his endurance, build mental resilience, and offer a reset from the intensity of racing. He also shares some wild stories, including a 10-hour packout with 45kg of venison to make it back for a wedding reception that night.
Matt Daniels, everyone’s favorite Boulder Boy, writes about running not just as movement, but as worship, finding meaning in the rhythm of breath, the feel of the wind, and the silence of early mornings.
Maddy Reynolds left investment banking to chase the dream of being a full-time trail runner, and writes candidly about the unexpected challenges of making running her “job.”
I’ve been hearing Vic Johnson’s name a lot lately, but I didn’t realize how much Rod Farvard’s Canyons 100K win helped launch his business. In his latest post, In Rod we Trust, Vic shares how that breakout race—and Rod publicly crediting him—put Mountain Sports Nutrition on the map. Now, with a waitlist of athletes, he’s made his first hire: Jane Maus, a pro runner many of you may recognize.
Lila Gaudrault set out to run a marathon (or longer) in as many Maine towns as possible this winter. In her latest post, she shares five more towns she’s run, bringing her total to 15.
That’s it for this week! My wife just gave birth to our third child (boy #3), so this issue is coming to you straight from our luxurious postpartum room. Mom and baby are doing great, and he’s already telling me how excited he is to watch the GOATs race this weekend in Chianti.
Special thanks to Somer Kreisman for this week’s photos. Give her a follow if you don’t already!
Hope y’all have a wonderful weekend! If you enjoyed this issue, consider forwarding it to a friend who might enjoy it too, and encourage them to subscribe here.
Ken
Congratulations to you and the family! And 'boy #3' is such a cute name.
Also, we need to get you out to Grand Teton National park asap-the most beautiful place I’ve ever been in my life and such an amazing experience!