HAGERSTOWN -- Back when Mike Spinnler took over the reins of the JFK 50-miler from Buzz Sawyer a year ago, he told the father of the romp on the Appalachian Trail and C&O; Canal Towpath it was his intention to return the race to its former place of prominence.
That spot was at the very top of the approximate 100 ultrathons conducted in this country annually, a title the JFK held during the late 1970s.
But so soon, in his second year as director? "I think we're going to do it," said Spinnler, the man who, by the way, holds the course record.
"The American River 50 in California is currently listed as the largest," he continued. "It had 495 starters and 468 finishers. They go by how many finishers you have. We have 512 people signed up already [through yesterday] and we're looking for 550 before the race goes Saturday. We're already tops in starters.
"Say we end up with 550 starters. Our finishing rate is always around 90 percent unless the weather is horrendously bad. We could go 500 finishers."
These are more than simple off-the-wall projections. The way Sawyer and now Spinnler have kept records over the years, and the way people return and compete religiously, the race knows how much water it will need nearly to the mouthful and how many needles must be on hand to puncture the countless blisters.
For instance, Spinnler rattled off the time and placement of a guy who had taken part in 1977 -- 10 hours and 39 minutes, 182nd out of 326 finishers -- and even I (the guy) had stored the specifics in the attic along with a plaque suitable for hanging.
As for the field, it's going to be dynamite on the men's side. "Just the other day, I got a commitment from Carl Anderson of Sacramento," Spinnler said. "He was second in the American River in 5:50:50. Off that, he has to be considered the favorite."
But Anderson isn't going to -- away from a gang that includes defending champ and four-time winner Chris Gibson (Pittsburgh), who became the first masters (over 40) victor in the event last year. And Eric Rappold of Georgia is coming off a victory in the Strolling Jim 40 with a time (4 hours, 56 minutes) for 41.2 miles that projects to his breaking six hours in a 50-miler.
"Then there's all these young guys stepping up from marathons," said Spinnler. "I'm predicting someone in their 20s is going to win the race because they all list marathons in the mid-2:30 range and they all are aware of how to train for ultrathons. Then, they all ask if the race is a qualifier for the Western States 100, which means they're dead serious about moving up."
Another familiar name aboard, Eric Clifton (Greensboro, N.C.), owns the seventh fastest time over the course (6:06:09) and is coming off victory in the recent Mountain Masochist 50 in Lynchburg, Va.
As good a story as any is a gent named Frank Bozanich coming down from Barrow, Alaska, to take a shot at the seniors record for the event, 7:07:59, set 17 years ago by Bill Jackson. The
name Bozanich may ring a bell. In the late '70s, Frank approached epic proportions by running 50 miles in just over five hours and becoming the first American to do 100-K (61.2 miles) in less than seven hours. It wasn't even close: 6:51.20.
The number of entries is up on the women's side but, so far, the credentials aren't that flashy at the top. Defending champion Jennifer Girouard of Connecticut is back, but her winning time in 1993 (8:17:09) was the slowest to prevail since 1977.
Girouard's chief competition figures to come from local product Carolyn Showalter, who was the victor five straight times from 1985 to 1989. Showalter was leading with two miles to go last year before hypothermia took over and pushed her back into second place. In other words, the women could have a surprise victor, surprise because in 25 years there have only been 10 different winners.