Karl Meltzer (born December 8, 1967, nicknamed "Speedgoat Karl") is an ultrarunner and ultrarunning coach based in Sandy, Utah. Meltzer has won more 100-mile ultramarathons than any other ultramarathoner, and has held speed records at major U.S. trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the Pony Express Trail. Meltzer's trail runs have been featured in news outlets from Ultrarunning.com to NBC Sports.[1]
Meltzer has been a professional ultramarathoner since 1999, and a coach since 2007.
While many ultrarunners tend to be vegetarian and averse to alcohol or caffeine,[2] Meltzer has been seen with bacon, Red Bull, and microbrews.[3]
On September 18, 2016, Meltzer set an Appalachian Trail record by completing the 2,190 miles over 14 states in 45 days 22 hours and 38 minutes.[4] This achievement was featured in a 2017 documentary movie "Made To Be Broken".[5] Meltzer's record was eclipsed in September 2017 by Joe McConaughy in a self-supported run.[6] The current A.T. fastest known time was by Belgian runner Karel Sabbe, who completed the trail in 41 days, 7 hours, and 39 minutes on August 29, 2018.[7]
Meltzer is the current Race Director for the Speedgoat 50K at Snowbird Ski Resort.[8]
Ultramarathon wins
As of December 11, 2021, Meltzer had won at the 100 mile-distance 45 times, the all-time record.[12] As of March 7, 2010, he had 53 ultra wins in 105 starts.[citation needed]
- Most 100-mile wins during a calendar year with six in 2006, four of them record performances, the final four in a period of eight weeks. Five wins in 2007, 2009, and four in 2005 (previous record held by Eric Clifton, with four 100-mile wins in 1991; Joe Hildebrand also won four 100s in 1999). Meltzer has four times won at least four 100s in a calendar year.[citation needed]
- USATF, Ultrarunning Magazine, RRCA Runner of the Year 2006, Everest Award 2006[13]
- 2nd place Ultrarunning Magazine Ultrarunner of the Year 2007, 2009
- Maine to Georgia 2008, 2176 miles, 500,000′ vertical climbing, in 54 days, 21 hours, 12 minutes, the 4th fastest Appalachian Trail thru-hike.[14] Meltzer stayed up to date with his fans and followers with a catchy "Where's Karl?" campaign.[15]
- Speed Record for running the Pony Express Trail from Sacramento, California to St. Joseph, Missouri[16]
- On September 18, 2016, Meltzer set an Appalachian Trail record by completing the 2,190 miles over 14 states in 45 days 22 hours and 38 minutes.[4]
- On October 17, 2020, Meltzer won the 2020 No Business 100 Mile Race to add to his streak of 19 consecutive years winning a 100 mile race.
Notable Race Results
1998
- Wasatch 100, September 5 - 1st, 20:08:00 [17]
1999
- Leona Divide 50 miler, April 17 - 1st, 7:04:25 [18]
- Squaw Peak 50 miler, June 5 - 1st, 8:07:29 [19]
- Wasatch 100, September 11 - 2nd, 21:49:00 [20]
2000
- Crown King Scramble 50 miler, March 18 - 2nd, 7:54:17
- Wasatch 100, September 9 - 1st, 20:52:56 [21]
- Baldy Peaks 50k, October 21 - 1st, 5:39:41 [22]
2001
- Phoenix National Trail 50 Mile Endurance Run, January 6 - 3rd, 7:49:12 [23]
- Hagg Mudd 50k, February 17 - 2nd, 3:50:12 [24]
- Crown King Scramble 50k, March 17 - 1st, 4:17:53 [25]
- Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 miler, April 28 - 2nd, 8:51:30 [26]
- Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run, June 2 - 1st, 7:49:25 [27]
- Hardrock 100 Endurance Run, July 13 - 1st, 26:39:00 [28]
2002
- Red Rock Fat Ass 50k, January 5 - 2nd, 4:37:00
- Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 miler, April 27 - 1st, 8:07:00 [29]
- Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run, June 1 - 1st, 7:35:58 [30]
- Wasatch 100, September 7 - 2nd, 20:54:18 [31]
2003
- Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run, June 7 - 1st, 7:45:57 [32]
- Hardrock 100 Endurance Run, July 11 - 1st, 28:01:55 [33]
- Wasatch 100, September 6 - 1st, 20:46:35 [34]
- The Bear 100 miler, September 26 - 2nd, 20:20:11 [35]
2004
- Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run, June 5 - 1st, 7:57:01 [36]
- Silverton Alpine Marathon, August 28 - 1st, 3:39:00 [37]
- Wasatch 100, September 11 - 1st, 20:06:08 [38]
- Vermont 50 Miler, September 25 - 1st, 6:59:17
2005
- Old Pueblo Endurance Run 50 Miler, March 5 - 1st, 7:10:34 [39]
- Silver State 50 Miler, May 21 - 1st, 7:35:59 [40]
- Hardrock 100 Endurance Run, July 8 - 1st, 28:29:15 [41]
- Wasatch 100, September 10 - 1st, 19:43:47 [42]
- The Bear 100 miler, September 23 - 1st, 20:01:35 [43]
- San Diego 100, October 23 - 1st, 17:24:15 [44]
2006
- HURT 100, January 14 - 1st, 22:16:00 [45]
- Massanutten Mountain Trails 100, May 13 - 2nd, 17:58:42 [46]
- Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run, June 3 - 2nd, 8:08:13 [47]
- Hardrock 100 Endurance Run, July 14 - 1st, 27:07:55 [48]
- Wasatch 100, September 9 - 1st, 20:18:58 [49]
- The Bear 100 miler, September 22 - 1st, 18:35:00 [50]
- San Diego 100, October 21 - 1st, 15:48:00 [51]
- Javelina Jundred, November 4 - 1st, 15:25:10 [52]
2007
- HURT 100, January 13 - 1st, 12:37:00 [53]
- Moab Red Hot 55k, February 17 - 1st, 4:25:00 [54]
- McNaughton Park 100, April 14 - 1st, 17:40:13 [55]
- Massanutten Mountain Trails 100, May 19 - 1st, 20:11:09 [56]
- The Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run 100 miler, June 15 - 1st, 20:12:58
- Hardrock 100 Endurance Run, July 13 - 2nd, 28:59:08 [57]
- The Bear 100 miler, September 28 - 1st, 18:50:45 [58]
- San Diego 100, October 20 - 1st, 17:45:50 [59]
2008
- Coyote Two Moon 100 miler, March 21 - 1st, 17:24:00 [60]
- Jemez Mountain 50 miler, May 17 - 2nd, 8:58:03 [61]
2009
- Moab 34 mile, Feb 14 (finished 3rd, PR by 13 minutes, great run) 4:13
- Way Too Cool 50k, March 14 (finished 20th, minor calf injury at 25) 4:08
- Massanutten 100, May 16 (finished 1st, 17 minutes off CR) Won by 2+ hours. 18:29[62]
- Pocatello 50 mile relay-3 runners May 23. Won the first leg overall 17 miles-2:23
- Bighorn 100, June 19 (finished 1st in 19:13 with a Course Record) Won by 2+ hours
- Hardrock 100, July 10 (finished 1st in 24:38. Counter-clockwise record, 5th Hardrock win. Won by 1.5 hours)
- Jupiter Peak Steeplechase 16 mile, August 8 (20th place)
- Wasatch 100, September 11 (Finished 2nd, but under previous CR, 19:12)
- Grindstone 100, October 2 (Finished 1st, course record by about 2 hours) 18:46
- Pinhoti 100, November 7 (Finished 1st, course record by over 2 hours) 17:12[63]
2010
- Moab 55k, February 13 - 1st, 4:19:09 [64]
- Coyote Two Moon 100 miler, March 5 - 1st, 21:02:00 [65]
2011
- Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100 Miler, March 25 - 2nd, 16:06:50 [66]
- Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Miler, May 14 - 1st, 18:18:25 [67]
- Wasatch 100, September 9 - 3rd, 20:59:53 [68]
- Pinhoti 100 Miler, November 5 - 1st, 16:42:20 [69]
2012
- Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler, February 4 - 2nd, 14:17:42
- Moab Red Hot 55k, February 18 - 3rd, 4:19:43 [70]
- Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100 Miler, March 23 - 1st, 15:28:15 [71]
- Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 Miler, April 21 - 3rd, 9:25:30 [72]
- Pocatello 50 Miler, June 2 - 2nd, 8:42:07 [73]
- Run Rabbit Run 100 Miler, September 15 - 1st, 19:16:02 [74]
- Grindstone 100 Miler, October 5 - 1st, 17:13:04
- Chimera 100 Miler and Old Goat Races, November 17 - 2nd, 17:30:13 [75]
2013
- Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100 Miler, March 22 - 1st, 14:34:00 [76]
- Run Rabbit Run 100 Miler, September 13 - 2nd, 18:32:07 [77]
- The Bear 100 Miler, September 27 - 2nd, 19:39:20 [78]
- WC-50 Ultra Trail Marathon 50 Miler, October 19 - 1st, 8:24:26
2014
- Zion Ultra Marathon 100k, April 6 - 1st, 9:09:40
- Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Miler, May 17 - 1st, 18:40:23 [79]
2015
- Cruel Jewel 100 Miler, May 15 - 1st, 24:16:29 [80]
2016
- Lake Martin 100 Miler, March 19 - 1st, 16:56:57 [81]
2017
- Zane Grey Highline Trail 100k, April 29 - 1st, 9:32:38 [82]
- WC-50 Ultra Trail Marathon 50k, October 14 - 1st, 5:08:48
- Pinhoti 100 Miler, November 4 - 1st, 18:18:27 [83]
2018
- Lone Star 100 Miler, February 10 - 1st, 23:38:18 [84]
- Hellbender 100 Miler, April 20 - 1st, 21:56:00 [85]
2019
- Lone Star 100 Miler, February 9 - 2nd, 23:23:42 [86]
- Ute 100 Miler, August 9–10 - 3rd, 24:12:57
- Cloudsplitter 100 Miler, October 12–13 - 1st, 21:16:24
- Devil Dog 100 Miler, December 7–8 – 1st, 19:21:07
2020
- No Business 100 Miler, October 16–17 - 1st, 19:44:41 [87]
2021
- Beast of the East 100 Miler, December 11 - 1st, 21:42:13 [88]
United States