Jon Olsen Sets New 100-Mile American Record - 11:59:23!

How many people do you know that have broken 12 hours for the 100-mile? Well, if you know Modesto, CA's Jon Olsen, you know one! The 39-year-old teachers recent North American record was set last weekend at the Sri Chimnoy Ultra Classic 24-hour race, and his write up is well worth the read (poop cans and all). He took down a nearly 30-year-old record and broke an incredible psychological sub-12 barrier. Congrats fellow Injinji and Vespa teammate!

(Jon Olsen with wife/crew Denise)

Also want to give a shout out to JB Benna who recently set a new unsupported FKT for the Tahoe Rim Trail (140+ miles) of 58 hrs, 43 minutes.

And one last shout out to Canadian Robert Grant who found and returned the camera I lost at Ironman Lake Tahoe! Gracias, my man!

Josh Cox Sets New 50k American Record (2:43:45) - Misses World Mark By 7 Seconds

(Josh Cox en route to his 50k American Record, photo courtesy of Kurt Hoy)

35-year-old Josh Cox from Mammoth Lakes, CA, won the P.F Chang's Rock n Roll Arizona Marathon today (2:17:48) and then continued on to set a new American Record for the 50k of 2:43:45. He bested the mark he set here in 2009 (2:45:17), and was only 7 seconds short of breaking the world record*.

[quote from USA Today]

"Seven seconds is hard to swallow," Cox said. "But I'm happy. The American record is nothing to hang your head about."

[quote from competitor.com]

“I think I should have kept the horses in the barn a little longer, but such is hindsight, “ said Cox. “It was a great day. It wasn’t all there, obviously. I would have liked to have run seven seconds faster, but it’s just like two years ago. I wanted to run the world record then. We had a rule in college. Whenever you set a PR, you’re not allowed to say anything negative about the race. You have to be happy with a PR. They don’t come often. I got the American record and I got the title and that’s forever.”

[from his Twitter feed]

"Thanks for the love! 1st, last, or anywhere in between, God is good! AR, 7 seconds off world mark. Was fun... & hard."

BTW, shout out to my sister-in-law Jennifer Drue, who finished her first half marathon at Rock n Roll Arizona in 2:02:24! And to XTERRA Trail World Champ Sally Meyerhoff for winning the marathon in 2:37:55...wow!

Congrats, Josh Cox! And lest I forget, also congrats on winning Rock n Roll Arizona and qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Trails (fourth Trials!). 

* The 50k world record of 2:42:38 was set by South Africa's Thompson Magawana in 1988.