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David Riddle, of Cincinnati, set the course record at the JFK 50 Mile ultramarathon last year. He will be back to defend his title Saturday. (By Colleen McGrath/Staff Photographer) |
Last year’s 49th annual JFK 50 Mile ultramarathon was one for the ages.
David Riddle passed Michael Wardian late in the race and held on to win in a course-record time of 5 hours, 40 minutes, 45 seconds. Wardian finished second in 5:43:24, also dipping under the previous mark of 5:46:22 set in 1994 by Eric Clifton, whose record once seemed untouchable.
“It was pretty special last year,” Riddle, 31, of Cincinnati, said in a phone interview this week. “Everything just came together perfectly.”
While Wardian is sidelined with an injury, Riddle will be back to defend his title Saturday at the 50th annual JFK 50 Mile, the largest, oldest and arguably most prestigious ultramarathon in the U.S.
“It’s definitely a big year,” Riddle said. “I wish I could have saved my record for the 50th anniversary, but you have to take it when you have the chance.”
The 50.2-mile course, which starts in Boonsboro and ends in Williamsport, traverses the Appalachian Trail, C&O Canal towpath and rolling paved roads. More than 1,000 runners from nearly every state and a half-dozen countries are set to compete.
Riddle, perhaps surprisingly, is not the runner to beat.
That would be Max King, 32, of Bend, Ore.
“I don’t feel any pressure because I don’t see myself as the favorite,” Riddle said. “I see Max as the clear favorite.”
Race director Mike Spinnler said, “Everybody walking to the starting line considers Max King the favorite.”
While King has never run the JFK 50 Mile, he has experience.
The climb up South Mountain shouldn’t be a problem for him. He was the 2011 IAAF World Mountain Running Champion.
It also seems unlikely that he’ll struggle on the rugged Appalachian Trail. He won the title last year at the Xterra Trail Running World Championship.
King also has proved himself at distances greater than 50 miles. He won the Ultra Race of Champions 100K in Virginia earlier this fall.
And he’s more than proved himself at shorter distances, especially this year. He lowered his marathon PR to 2:14:36 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January, then placed sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:30.54 at the Olympic track trials in June.
“There are no chinks in his armor,” Spinnler said. “As a race promoter, I’m just thrilled to get a guy like him in his absolute prime, loaded for bear.
“He has the capabilities of running under 5 1/2 hours. I’ve never said that before about anyone running the JFK.”
But he still has to run it.
“Anything can happen on race day, and I’m not going to hand Max the race,” Riddle said. “But I’m not thinking I have to stick on his shoulder. I’m just going to run my race, and if he comes back, like Wardian did last year, then he comes back.”
David Riddle passed Michael Wardian late in the race and held on to win in a course-record time of 5 hours, 40 minutes, 45 seconds. Wardian finished second in 5:43:24, also dipping under the previous mark of 5:46:22 set in 1994 by Eric Clifton, whose record once seemed untouchable.
“It was pretty special last year,” Riddle, 31, of Cincinnati, said in a phone interview this week. “Everything just came together perfectly.”
While Wardian is sidelined with an injury, Riddle will be back to defend his title Saturday at the 50th annual JFK 50 Mile, the largest, oldest and arguably most prestigious ultramarathon in the U.S.
“It’s definitely a big year,” Riddle said. “I wish I could have saved my record for the 50th anniversary, but you have to take it when you have the chance.”
The 50.2-mile course, which starts in Boonsboro and ends in Williamsport, traverses the Appalachian Trail, C&O Canal towpath and rolling paved roads. More than 1,000 runners from nearly every state and a half-dozen countries are set to compete.
Riddle, perhaps surprisingly, is not the runner to beat.
That would be Max King, 32, of Bend, Ore.
“I don’t feel any pressure because I don’t see myself as the favorite,” Riddle said. “I see Max as the clear favorite.”
Race director Mike Spinnler said, “Everybody walking to the starting line considers Max King the favorite.”
While King has never run the JFK 50 Mile, he has experience.
The climb up South Mountain shouldn’t be a problem for him. He was the 2011 IAAF World Mountain Running Champion.
It also seems unlikely that he’ll struggle on the rugged Appalachian Trail. He won the title last year at the Xterra Trail Running World Championship.
King also has proved himself at distances greater than 50 miles. He won the Ultra Race of Champions 100K in Virginia earlier this fall.
And he’s more than proved himself at shorter distances, especially this year. He lowered his marathon PR to 2:14:36 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January, then placed sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:30.54 at the Olympic track trials in June.
“There are no chinks in his armor,” Spinnler said. “As a race promoter, I’m just thrilled to get a guy like him in his absolute prime, loaded for bear.
“He has the capabilities of running under 5 1/2 hours. I’ve never said that before about anyone running the JFK.”
But he still has to run it.
“Anything can happen on race day, and I’m not going to hand Max the race,” Riddle said. “But I’m not thinking I have to stick on his shoulder. I’m just going to run my race, and if he comes back, like Wardian did last year, then he comes back.”
