The Ultra Minute 🏔️ December 11, 2024
Kristina Randrup wins at McDowell Mountain, Courtney Olsen guts it out for top U.S. finish at IAU 100k Worlds, Western States and Hardrock lottery results, USATF MUT awards, and more.
Kristina Randrup and Ryan Becker Top McDowell Mountain Frenzy 50-Miler
The McDowell Mountain Frenzy, hosted by Aravaipa Running, delivered across its distances, with the 50-miler headlining the event. Ryan Becker (7:11:32) led the men’s race from start to finish, while Kristina Randrup’s gutsy effort secured her the women’s win in 8:26:32, good enough for third overall despite battling late-race cramps. Reflecting on the effort, Randrup shared, “Last ten miles were a cycle of run, cramp, chug whatever drink mix I had left, walk to settle my stomach, try to run, cramp, and over and over. Very happy to have come away with the win… but eager to work on some new-found weaknesses.”
The 50k featured dominant runs by Justin Grunewald (3:33:19) and Devon Yanko (4:14:35), with Grunewald describing his race as “3 hours and 33 minutes of meditation.” Meanwhile, the 25k, a stop on the Sonoran Desert Fall Cup, saw Amanda Basham claim victory in 1:54:16, with Julien Cuyeu taking the men’s win in 1:42:51.
Full results | 25k livestream replay
Additional Results
Courtney Olsen led the U.S. women to a third-place team finish at the IAU 100k World Championships in Bengaluru, India, just four weeks after setting a world record at the Tunnel Hill 50 Miler. Olsen described the race as one of the hardest of her life, battling through severe physical pain, including a sensation that her femur might be breaking, repeated stomach issues, and emotional lows. Despite deciding multiple times to drop, she pushed through to finish 10th in 7:48:21. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “8 miles of effortless dawn, 52 miles of increasing pain, 2 miles of reclaim… this was extremely hard.”
Japan’s Jumpei Yamaguchi took the men’s title in 6:12:17, moving up from his second-place finish in 2022, while France’s Floriane Hot repeated as women’s champion with a time of 7:08:43. Team Japan dominated the men’s competition with a 1-3-4 finish to secure gold, and France claimed gold in the women’s team category.Lindsey Dwyer delivered a standout performance at Brazos Bend, winning the women’s 100-mile race in 15:42:16 and finishing just under two minutes behind men’s winner Thierry Joffrain (15:40:37). Over in the 100k, Chelsea Barr stole the show with a blistering 8:06:46 finish that not only claimed the women’s win but also outpaced the entire men’s field. Amy Watson (10:16:14) and Linda Boring (10:34:45) completed the sweep of the overall podium.
News & Links
USATF MUT Runners of the Year Announced. Top honors went to Lauren Gregory and Christian Allen as Mountain Runners of the Year, Rachel Drake and David Sinclair as Trail Runners of the Year, and Courtney Olsen and Sinclair again as Ultra Runners of the Year. Jamil Coury was named Contributor of the Year for his impact on the sport. Full list of winners here. Freetrail’s latest podcast features Gregory on her breakout year—listen here. And for a deeper dive into USATF’s role in the MUT world, including its championships, governance, and support for Team USA, check out Andy Wacker and Emily Schmitz’s comprehensive ATRA post.
Western States and Hardrock lottery results are in. Western States selected 369 runners from nearly 10,000 entries, while Hardrock chose 146 from over 3,000. Notably, Katie Schide declined her Western States entry to focus on Hardrock, where she was one of six runners handpicked by race director Dale Garland, and Courtney Dauwalter declined her automatic Hardrock entry. On a personal note, it was thrilling to see fellow Substacker Sarah Lavender Smith finally selected for Hardrock after nearly a decade of trying—her moving reflection on the moment is worth a read (as so many of her posts are). See iRunFar’s WSER entrants and Hardrock lottery results for more.
Support disaster relief for public lands. Hurricane Helene left trails, rivers, and roads across the Southeast in need of extensive repairs. Congress is negotiating disaster funding, and it’s crucial that public lands and waters are included. Join Outdoor Alliance in calling for action—sign the quick petition here (it only takes a few seconds).
Anna Gibson sets Mt. Tam FKT. After coming up 24 seconds short in May, Mill Valley’s Anna Gibson returned to conquer the iconic 3.2-mile, 2,500-foot climb in 35:46, breaking the record by 77 seconds. Catch Freetrail’s short film on Instagram and don’t miss her Strava file.
Tara Dower re-signs with Altra in record-breaking deal. Run by Outside reports the Appalachian Trail FKT holder’s multi-year contract, estimated at $100K–$250K, is among ultrarunning’s largest. She’ll focus on training and help shape Altra’s products and campaigns. Read more.
Mary Denholm’s Nutrition Strategy at JFK 50. High-carb, high-sodium fueling powered Mary Denholm to a second-place finish under the previous course record. Despite a tough stretch after a caffeinated gel mishap, she rallied to finish strong. Read her detailed breakdown, including how she adjusted mid-race, on The Feed’s blog.
Registration opens for Kodiak by UTMB 2025. General registration opened this morning (Dec. 11 at 8 a.m. PT) for Big Bear Lake’s premier UTMB World Series Major. This dual qualifier offers finishers double Running Stones for the UTMB Mont-Blanc draw and the chance to earn a Western States qualifier. Register here.
Aravaipa Running expands to California. Aravaipa is taking over two events from Dirty Feet Trail Races: Harding Hustle and That’s No Moon, bringing their signature trail running experience to the Santa Ana Mountains. Registration is now open, and you can connect with the Aravaipa California community through their Orange County Trail Runners Facebook group.
Women Can launches Design Odyssey collection. Featuring designs by female artists—the first release, “The Meg” by Meg Morgan, celebrates iconic women in ultrarunning. Available as tees and totes and I like that they’re sustainably made in Asheville, NC. Shop now.
Des Linden hits the trails in New Zealand. From the Kepler Track to the Routeburn, she’s been tackling epic terrain with her #KiwiCrew—and looking like a natural.
Gran Canaria World Trail Majors expands to Australia. The Grampians Peaks Trail 100 Miler joins the prestigious global series for 2025. This 162 km, 7,700m+ elevation gain race spans the breathtaking Grampians/Gariwerd National Park in Victoria, Australia, and will be held Nov. 6-9, 2025. Registration opens Jan. 21.
Adidas Drops Perspectives Episode 1: The Crew – The first in a two-part series, this short film dives into the critical role of a runner’s crew at UTMB. From managing aid stations to emotional pep talks, it’s an intimate look at the teamwork powering their athletes. Featuring scenes with Abby Hall and Emily Hawgood. Watch on YouTube.
Reminder: get your votes in for Freetrail’s TROY. Voting for Trail Runner of the Year and Performance of the Year closes Monday, December 16, at Noon PST. Winners will be announced starting January 1, 2025. Cast your ballot here.
Upcoming Livestreams
Dec. 14-15 (this weekend!): Desert Solstice Track Invitational. Watch the world’s best fixed-time runners compete in 24-hour and 100-mile events at Central High School in Phoenix. Livestream starts at 7:30 AM MT (link).
Dec. 28-Jan. 3: Across The Years. Celebrate the New Year with six days of multi-day ultrarunning, including special coverage of the Last Person Standing event. Stream begins at 8:00 AM MT (link).
Reads of the Week
Miles of Meaning: JFK 50 Miler, Parts 2 & 3 – Picking up from last week,
continues her vivid account of the JFK 50 Miler in two recent installments, taking us from the rocky Appalachian Trail to aid station chaos. In Part 2, Julie’s tributes to loved ones keep her grounded as she navigates technical terrain and learns the art of calling out “On your left” with confidence. Part 3, though, delivers one of the most unforgettable moments—Julie finds herself sacrificing her gloves in a resourceful (if unconventional) pit stop solution. Her storytelling is raw, vivid, and packed with moments that’ll keep you looking forward to the next installment (as I have been). Read Part 1 | Read Part 2 | Read Part 3Because We Care: Ethical Debates in FKTs – Buzz Burrell dives into the controversy surrounding Michelino Sunseri’s disqualified Grand Teton FKT attempt in this recent piece for UltraRunning Magazine. Burrell unpacks the nuanced history of FKTs, the ethics of cutting switchbacks, and the varying standards across regions and landscapes. He wraps it up with practical advice for respecting the environment and local customs, even offering a few tips. Read the full article
That’s it for this week. My household’s been battling a stomach bug, so pulling this issue together felt a bit like an ultra of its own! If you enjoyed it, consider forwarding it to a friend who might enjoy it too, and encourage them to subscribe here. ✌🏼
See y’all on the trail,
Ken
P.S. Did I miss something big? Or do you have an announcement the ultrarunning world should hear? Drop it in the comments below and let us know!
Would love to see Des Linden compete beyond 50k.
Great recap - as always. To TUM readers: The Harding Hustle takes place in (sorta) my backyard: I've done a self-curated version of the Harding Hustle a couple times (the winter edition, in the snow, was my favorite). At any rate, it is a tough but runnable course, with
L O N G ascents and descents, as it takes you all the way up from ~1200 ft to the highest point in Orange County, Santiago Peak, at 5600 ft. And, given it's timing in the dead of summer, it's a HOT race. Above, all, however, it's a gorgeous run. 12/10 would recommend!