What does it take to conquer one of the most grueling ultra races in the world? Join us on the SeepSelf podcast as I, James Lauriello, along with the fantastic Nick Tusa, provide an in-depth preview of the highly anticipated Broken Arrow 46K race happening on June 22nd, 2024. This episode promises a front-row seat to the drama and excitement of a two-loop, 26.4-mile course that has runners from all corners of the globe vying for glory. With high-profile athletes like David Sinclair and Adam Peterman in the mix, we uncover what makes this race a true test of endurance and skill.
We spotlight the incredible lineup of ultra runners set to compete, including heavy hitters like Nick Handel, Jeff Magavero, Cam Smith, and JP Gibblin on the men's side, and fierce competitors such as MK Sullivan, Helen Mino Faulkner, Claire Rhodes, and Tony McCann on the women's side. Get ready for an exciting analysis of their past performances, current training regimens, and the competitive dynamics that could shape the outcomes on race day. We also dive into intriguing matchups and the growing international prestige of the Broken Arrow 46K, making predictions and speculating on potential surprises.
As we build the anticipation for this world-class event, we also explore the performance potential across other races at the Broken Arrow Skyrace, including the Vertical Kilometer (VK) and 23K events. Will MK Sullivan shine despite a packed racing schedule? How will altitude training and race experience impact the top contenders? Tune in to find out as we share our infectious enthusiasm and expert insights, making this episode a must-listen for any trail racing aficionado. Don’t miss out on the buzz surrounding the Broken Arrow Skyrace – it’s going to be a race to remember!
What does it take to conquer one of the most grueling ultra races in the world? Join us on the SeepSelf podcast as I, James Lauriello, along with the fantastic Nick Tusa, provide an in-depth preview of the highly anticipated Broken Arrow 46K race happening on June 22nd, 2024. This episode promises a front-row seat to the drama and excitement of a two-loop, 26.4-mile course that has runners from all corners of the globe vying for glory. With high-profile athletes like David Sinclair and Adam Peterman in the mix, we uncover what makes this race a true test of endurance and skill.
We spotlight the incredible lineup of ultra runners set to compete, including heavy hitters like Nick Handel, Jeff Magavero, Cam Smith, and JP Gibblin on the men's side, and fierce competitors such as MK Sullivan, Helen Mino Faulkner, Claire Rhodes, and Tony McCann on the women's side. Get ready for an exciting analysis of their past performances, current training regimens, and the competitive dynamics that could shape the outcomes on race day. We also dive into intriguing matchups and the growing international prestige of the Broken Arrow 46K, making predictions and speculating on potential surprises.
As we build the anticipation for this world-class event, we also explore the performance potential across other races at the Broken Arrow Skyrace, including the Vertical Kilometer (VK) and 23K events. Will MK Sullivan shine despite a packed racing schedule? How will altitude training and race experience impact the top contenders? Tune in to find out as we share our infectious enthusiasm and expert insights, making this episode a must-listen for any trail racing aficionado. Don’t miss out on the buzz surrounding the Broken Arrow Skyrace – it’s going to be a race to remember!
Speaker 1:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the SeepSelf podcast. I'm your host, james Lauriello, and today I've got a special guest with me, mr Nick Tusa.
Speaker 2:
Hey everyone, how are we doing?
Speaker 1:
Welcome back, dude. We're here to preview the Broken Arrow 46K. Yeah, I'm excited for this race. Just some back information. Broken Arrow 46K is taking place Saturday, june 22nd 2024. It's going to be a 7 am start. The 46k actually is 42.5 kilometers, so not fully 46k. Uh, which is about 26.4 miles, and it's a two looped course. Um, and as far as meters of climbing go, it's about 2,774 meters with 9,100 feet of climbing. Um, yeah, it's lots of storylines to get into here. Um, nick, you want to jump into some? Um, nick, you want to jump into some of those?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, let's, uh, let's jump into some of the, some of the big names that'll be here. Uh, one thing of notice is there's a lot of uh, a lot of true ultra runners race. Yeah. So a lot of people gearing up, uh, gearing up for the big ultra season. Uh, david Sinclair, big name I. This type of distance for him, I think, is like this is cream of the crop, this is where he shines.
Speaker 2:
Uh, surprise entry coming in late adam peterman yeah, adam peter god yeah, the dude doesn't lose so hard to count him out and always is uh one name. I was really excited to see uh he won the 28k at Big Alta Nick Handel. He's a, I think, Bay Area kind of crusher who's been kind of rising up. He's only 30 years old and a lot of speed.
Speaker 2:
He's been there before, so, yeah, really excited. Jeff Mulgavara, ultra crusher. I mean, the dude is, he's an animal. Cam Smith again can't leave him out. I think he's doing animal. Uh, cam smith again, can't ever, can't leave him out. I think he's doing the triple crown. Can't leave him out of anything, definitely.
Speaker 1:
I mean it's gonna be like I think jp gibbons got his hands full racing cam for uh triple can crown champ uh, women's side of things, you got mk coming, I mean coming off a huge win at at canyons I mean breaking through at that ultra distance excited.
Speaker 2:
I'm sure she's excited to maybe come back to something a little shorter and uh and throw down, but she's gonna be, uh, she's gonna be a tough one to beat she's. She shows up, uh last last year's winners back uh, helen mino faulkner is she coming back is?
Speaker 1:
she on the start list I did see, so I'm so confused. All right, so this is. I didn't have her in my preview, so she's supposed to be on the same day. She's also like supposed to be racing the san juan solstice 50 mile interesting, which I'm like.
Speaker 2:
I wonder if she signed up for both and she was like, depending where my training's at, I'm gonna do a marathon or I'm gonna do a 50 mile. We'll see we'll see, yeah, we'll see, but always fun when, when, when a past uh past winner winner comes back. Uh, another one that's been hot recently um coming off big alta 20k.
Speaker 2:
She took second right behind um tabor claire rhodes, yeah uh tony mccann nice to see some international athletes coming to something like broken arrow it's, I think, this year. Yeah, like we're starting to notice, um, it's getting international world class it really is. It really is. It's a world-class race, so it deserves that. But yeah, we'll get into more details, for, yeah, let's do it. That was some of my my big names.
Speaker 1:
So, dude, thank you and yeah, so we've got so many things you hit on there that I'm just so excited for. So we've got David Sinclair coming back. We talked about him in kind of the VK as well, because he he's gonna be racing that also. Uh, david sinclair, if you guys don't know, he is a rot 50k course record holder that he took off of kilian jornet, so you don't take too many kj crowns. It's pretty amazing. Um, he's also a 46k champion once or twice, two times over, I believe. I believe definitely once. Um might be twice. Um, he's won the vk before. He is an absolute animal. Uh, dav Sinclair, he hasn't been on the start line since 2022. This year he's back now. He did race the Silver State 50K against Darren Thomas, where Darren Thomas actually came out victorious. So he's kicking off the rust. I think David Sinclair is here and he's for real right now.
Speaker 1:
Another storyline that was really interesting is that Adam Peterman's also on the start list. Um, adam Peter got, yeah, and coming off as disappointing 2024 canyons race. Um, I think by his measure, I think he had a very successful race, but I think by his measure, not being able to get back into Western States kind of leaves this idea of what do we do now? And I would imagine he's probably building now for CCC I don't know if he was very vocal about that, but that's that's my guess and so which would land him on on the broken arrow start list. So I'm also looking forward to an Adam Peterman David Sinclair rematch. That's going to be that was one in two in the 2022 canyons 100 K, where Adam got his first golden ticket, yeah, so it's going to be interesting to see those two kind of duke it out in a similar racing format, especially now that, like their career. It's interesting because, like, since then, like Adam wasn't the guy at that point, like he had, this was before Now. Yeah, this was actually after he had taken his speed goat record, so he was a Hoka athlete, but it was before he had won Western States and really became. You know, adam Peterman that we know and love today, so it's interesting. And, like David, you know adam peterman that we know and love today, so it's interesting. And like david's career kind of took a different turn as well, where he kind of, like you know, fell off the scene for a year after with injury, and now he's he's on the ascent back up. So, um, some other things to get into that are really interesting.
Speaker 1:
Seth ruling's back 2021 champ. It's going to be interesting. Yeah, boulder boy um, dude, he's good, he's really good, so I'm excited to see him mix it up with the David Sinclair um, as well as Adam Peterman. Kim Smith returns as well. Uh, I'm just not sure, like, what he's going to be able to do in the 46 K. It's going to be interesting, um.
Speaker 1:
And then the other interesting thing is, like Jeff Mogavero is back. Jeff Mogavero got second place last year to Michelino Sinceri, who is no slouch, he's a speed goat winner. Jeff moguvero also I don't know if people know this like top 20 series and all last year. Yes, he had a disappointing utmb and had to drop out, but the year before he was a top 25 finisher at utmb. The guy has range. He's you can do it all really fucking good. Um, I could see jeff winning this race. Dude, I really I think I. And the interesting thing too, he's like adam peterman's training partner, like they train. Um, so it's going to be interesting to see this like Adam Peterman, jeff Mogavaro, david Sinclair dynamic at the front of this men's race. It's going to be kind of wild. Uh.
Speaker 1:
On the female side, um, adam's partner, aaron returns. Aaron Clark, who you guys might know, um, she was the 2023 national champ, long course, champion for lakes at Lake Sonoma, um, and qualified for worlds. She didn't race worlds but she, she uh qualified there by winning Lake Sonoma. Incredible athlete, she runs for Nike trail. Tony McCann, uh, the 2023 OCC champ, is back. Um, she's going to be debuting at broken arrow this year. Um, kind of interesting. I'm glad that we have her out here. Um, I would imagine she's probably out supporting some of the other members of the Tareks team. You know, I guess a lot of them are going to be or a few of them are going to be, western States this year. So it would make sense. Mk is going to be making her her return after giving. She actually gave up her golden ticket, didn't gave up her golden ticket to Western States, so she will not be racing Western States and she opted to go to get some more experience at some of the other stuff.
Speaker 2:
Who did they get bumped down to?
Speaker 1:
It's a good question. Someone I don't know Okay, I don't know, claire Rhodes, like you had mentioned does return. Claire Rhodes is an Alaskan runner, phenomenal athlete. She's really good In fact. Some of the preview In fact, I've been watching a lot of preview uh race or preview videos on youtube for something like the cirque series races and stuff and like she's always the one that they have like do some of like the core stuff for for, like the alaska aliaska um cirque series race. So big fan of claire roads. Uh, lindsey mcdonald also lindsey mcdonald's uh, another household name um, she returns and yeah, it's, this is gonna be a great race. I am very excited for the 46k. Um, lots of lots to talk about here.
Speaker 2:
uh, let's get into your picks. Let's talk, ladies, and start from there. Start with the ladies picks uh, first I have mk. Uh, really mk, sullivan first. Yeah, oh, yeah all right I something about her that she just she's got got that in her. She comes to race. I've been seeing it over the past year and she, yeah, she's special. Uh, if, if she does end up racing and not doing the San Juan solstice, I'm going to have last year's winner. Uh, helen, you know Faulkner.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, phenomenal athlete.
Speaker 2:
Uh, third place, Claire Rhodes. I think she's building up in distance. I don't know how much she's done on this. I don't know if she's just stuck to shorter stuff previous to this, but um, but I can imagine that she's at a spot where she feels like she's ready to start um, testing out you know the longer stuff. And I think she can. She can throw down. Uh, fourth, tony mccann. Okay, international, she's seen it all. She's raced in all the biggest stages. This will be nothing for her. She'll. Maybe she is a longer, you know, does the longer stuff? But uh, the marathon stuff, pretty long right yeah, yeah, that's no joke um, one of my like kind of sleepers here in fifth.
Speaker 2:
Uh, she's actually a canadian crusher. Uh, I don't know if she's actually raced here in the states before. Um, but emily man, okay, uh, she's just it's. I mean, when you're winning every single race in canada, it seems like like first or second um, up there in there in BC, like something, something's going on and uh, yeah, I think this is her time to shine. Uh, and then a couple of notables just outside of there. Uh, jessica Bray, you coming back. We talked about her in the 23.
Speaker 2:
VK episode in the VK episode Uh, you know no slouch. She, she podiums pretty much everything she she does, so she should be right up there. Uh, another name that was fun to see, who I recognize from western states uh, and is part of the adidas tarix team uh, taylor nolan yeah uh, I don't know if she, she actually just announced she's, I believe, just announced.
Speaker 2:
She was pregnant on instagram oh, no way she might not be there. Yeah, yeah, I'll have to be one to double check while you're talking, I can look right now. Yeah, we'll have to double check that, uh, and then another nobody, meg mackenzie, uh, aaron clark, and then rounding out, uh, potentially the top 10, uh, in doing the full triple crown, again, you have to mention amanda basham. So those are my picks on picks on the women's side of things. Yes, dude.
Speaker 1:
I love it. Tell her Nolan and congratulations to her. Yep. She is expecting twins in October. Twins, wow. So I don't know. I would imagine, I guess she wouldn't be, so she wouldn't be on it. I don't know.
Speaker 2:
I feel, yeah, I'm not one to speak I'm not one to speak.
Speaker 1:
We're dudes, we don't? Yeah, um, yeah, that was funny. Um, okay, so let's get into some some storylines here and talk about, uh, some of the people you have up front. Um, one of the first things you said about claire rhodes, I actually have her as my third selection as well. Oh, cool, um, third place, she dude, she's third. She took third at the rut 50k last year. Um, she also took third at the breakneck 42k. So she's not, it's not.
Speaker 1:
She's used to these these longer races um she also has raced at worlds as well, um, I for I think she was on the 42k team at worlds. Um, so yeah, I could be wrong about that.
Speaker 2:
I gotta check that, um, but yeah, she was on a world's team.
Speaker 1:
Um, yeah, claire's no joke. So I've got claire, I'm third. I have tony mckinn, the winner. I think she takes the dub. She is the OCC champ. She's very good at the short courses. So I think Tony McKinn takes the dub. I do have Aaron Clark in third. Aaron Clark, the great US champion. I am going to put Lindsay McDonald in fourth.
Speaker 1:
I think, lindsay, she was second at the Broken Arrow 46K in 2023. She's also won Kendall Mountain. She won Kendall Mountain in um. She's also won kendall mountain. She won kendall mountain in 2022. So she is no joke, dude. She could compete, if not win, this damn race.
Speaker 1:
Um, and in my fifth place pick, I have jessica breyo. I think that I think jess is is probably a little underrated and like totally being slept on, would not be surprised at all if she she cracks the top, top five, top ten easily. Yeah, uh. And like I said not to, and I kind of reiterated this in the vk episode, but, dude, some adjustments results like canyons 25k in 2022. She took second at. She won the speed coat 25k in um 2021. Uh. And then just this past year, she took second at the nice by utmb 50k uh, in nice, france, in 2023.
Speaker 1:
So and like we talked about, like she's, she's done a lot of ski mountaineering. I'm sure she's done a lot of uphill races. Um, you know, she's finally back in in flagstaff. You know they're doing their thing. Um, you know, back in america with jim getting ready for western states. So I, I think, I think this is this is going to be a good race for her, and it's, it's. You know, she's back in the american contingent and I think, I think all, all, all things, all things look pretty good.
Speaker 1:
So, yeah, let's get into some of the guys. You got Some of the guys, yeah.
Speaker 2:
For the 46K. That's what we're talking about David Sinclair, ivan, first, Okay, adam Peterman, following Nick Handel, third Fourth, jeff Mogavara, fifth, cam Smith, following Nick Handel, third fourth, jeff Mogavara, fifth, cam Smith, and then just outside of the top five, I have either Cole Campbell, colorado guy, seth ruling, which you know what, I don't know. Looking back at this I could see Seth should be in the top five, but again, this is deep, this is tough. Cole Campbell's been there before. I don't know if Seth Ruling has been at Broken Arrow before.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, he won in 2021.
Speaker 2:
He won the 46K yeah. Oh okay, okay, okay, yep, so no stranger, I mean he's definitely going to be right up there.
Speaker 1:
Grant Barnett was another name. Yeah, he, I believe he took fifth.
Speaker 2:
He's, he's another fast mullet in the wasatch. I love that. Uh, one kind of sleeper pick here. He's um on the. He's actually coming over from the ocr side of things. He's been doing a lot of trail running fast guy. Joshua reed yes uh, excited to see what he can do. I don't know if he's done like sky race type stuff before, so it'll be really interesting to see he's. He's a quick guy, quick guy. And then one other notable Mace I don't know if I'm pronouncing this last name correctly Mason copy.
Speaker 1:
Yep.
Speaker 2:
Yep. He won the.
Speaker 2:
I believe it was the 10 K at the GoPro games last year or maybe it was the 20k, uh, but going against like really, really legit competition, like this guy's got legs, he's got speed, uh, I believe that he's a product of some work. I'll play the swap team, okay, um, so this is he's definitely one to look out for, uh. And then the last one, uh, kyle lato. He just won quad rock 25. Okay, in fort coll. He's a Fort Collins local guy. Has won the Never Summer races out there. Really solid runner. Definitely going to throw it out.
Speaker 1:
I'm surprised you didn't have your boy, brooks McDonald, in there.
Speaker 2:
Brooks is definitely one that we'll have to look out for His training. Lately we'll see. I don't know if he hasn't had a ton of motivation recently, but he just did a skyline today Pretty good, right around like three hours. So like I mean, the kid's got he's yeah, I mean, he was so many miles under his 12th and 2023.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. So right outside the top 10, I would definitely.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, a lot of good things to dissect here. So I'm pretty similar to you, Like my our top three could be, could be swapped around. I mean, I've got Adam Peterman taking the dub, I think. Uh, adam Peterman returns to form in the 46 K. I think he's hard to beat, you gotta remember. I mean, like he's the speed go record holder. You know, took Jim Wamsley's record, which is kind of wild. So I'm going to put Peter Yad in first. I think it's going to be interesting to see him duke it out with Jeff Mogavaro and David Sinclair. I think Jeff Mogavaro just knows how to survive in the mountains and is a very, very talented athlete. I think he's really good and, with that said, I'm going to put Mogavaro, or could be McGavro, I think.
Speaker 2:
I've been pronounro.
Speaker 1:
I don't think I've ever heard it called that. Yeah, I don't know. I'm pretty sure Jackson Cole was on the pod and said McGavro. That's what made me think about it for a second. He knows, yeah, I don't know. Yeah, so I'm going to say Jeff McGavro in second Unfortunately does not break the curse, because he's now got second last year. Still can't it sucks.
Speaker 1:
It's like God, why is Adam here? I mean, who knows? He could shock the hell out of everybody and beat Adam. It's very possible. David's a clear in third, seth ruling in fourth, and I'm going to put Nick Handel in fifth. I think this is just one of the more talented classes of athletes that just comes out and I think it's going to be a little bit harder for Nick to get into the top ten. Nick doesn't live at altitude. He, I might, you know, kind of play the game a little bit, whereas like Seth's a mountain athlete, like he lives in Trans and Boulder. So some other names to throw out there Grant Barnett you know Grant Barnett was fifth in 2023. I do have Trace and Knopp as well.
Speaker 1:
An Alaskan mountain runner. He took 11th in the rut VK last year. I got a bunch. She's got some great, great finishes. Cole Campbell Cole Campbell is an interesting one. Like dude, he could very well win this race Like fourth in 2023. Dude's a stud. He's another Gunnison runner. Yeah, cole could very well come out of nowhere. I shouldn't even say come out of nowhere. Cole could very well show up and perform very well.
Speaker 2:
I feel like this distance fits him really well too. Yeah, mason.
Speaker 1:
I have Mason as well. Mason Coppe. I have Mason as well. Mason copy. I think he could do pretty well here. Um, I know he's. I think he's like a Northeast guy, I don't know. I don't know where he lives specifically.
Speaker 2:
He comes out here too. I don't know if he's going to school out here, but he trains in, like the area that I trained in, the front range.
Speaker 1:
Oh, really Okay, yeah, yeah, oh, wow In grant um.
Speaker 2:
He was ninth in 2023.
Speaker 1:
You raced him at broken arrow. I was telling you about it. You, you raised him a bro. Yeah, or I'm sorry.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's circ um brighton, okay. So yeah, you guys race each other uh he's very similar athlete to you I would say um, like I said, ninth in 2023?
Speaker 1:
yeah, he's, he's a very good runner, he's one of those, like he's a salt lake guy, so he kind of like trains with, like garrett corcoran and like all of them, uh, finn Melanson, like those guys, so I could definitely see him, uh, you know, having a good day. Um, brooks McDonald, as well, as somebody I have to look out for. He was 12th in 2023. Um, tape Pullman tape Pullman's a name that a lot of people might overlook. Don't overlook him. He's used to be on the nike team. Very good athlete. Um, jp giblin as well. Jc jp. I think if jp is going to win any of these races, I think this is probably the one he's going to do the best at. Um, you know, 2023 leadville champion. The kids are stud, you know. So, yeah, so that's what I got for right now. Yeah, yeah, cool man, all right, got anything else to talk about, or?
Speaker 2:
um, no, I think we kind of touched on everything. Do we want to touch on the course at all a little bit? Yeah, we can talk about it a little bit.
Speaker 1:
Okay, I mean this one in particular is I this this course is two loops of the 23k. Okay, beautiful pristine, you go over kt 22 twice, go over washington twice. Um, yeah, it's a great course as much as I can. Great views of uh, solid or solid. I'm losing it. It's my third recording Great views of Salt Lake. I'm losing it. It's my third recording of one of these episodes. I'm starting to fall apart here. Yeah, I think the course is pretty amazing. It looks over Tahoe.
Speaker 2:
It's a good day. It's Saturday, it's 8 am, it's an 8 am race, so it might get a little hot towards the end a little bit.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and the interesting thing too to talk about is, like you know, one of the things I didn't mention was, like last year, like when I scout I so I woke up Monday, so all the races ended obviously on Sunday. I woke up Monday morning and I like did the 11 K route. Um, and dude, like that snow was like ice. Think that's like one of the big things of the day. You know, see, like how people kind of fare with all that snow. Um, yeah, I'd say storylines. I think we've probably covered them all. I do. I'm interested with your mk pick. I'm kind of curious to see like where, if mk can, can pull this off. Also curious to see if she's got, like you know, tired legs.
Speaker 2:
Right, could be 100 K like that yeah.
Speaker 1:
I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 2:
I don't know Excited.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I'm excited too. Guys, thank you so much for tuning in to this broadcast of our race previews for the broken arrow, vk, 23 K and 46 K. Hope you all enjoyed this. These are some great episodes. Really excited to bring these to you. You.
