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. 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, Meltzer has been seen with bacon, Red Bull, and microbrews.
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. This achievement was featured in a 2017 documentary movie "Made To Be Broken". Meltzer's record was eclipsed in September 2017 by Joe McConaughy in a self-supported run. The current A.T. fastest known time was by Tara Dower in 2024.
Meltzer is the current Race Director for the Speedgoat 50K at Snowbird Ski Resort.
Ultramarathon wins
All-time winner at the Wasatch 100 (6 times) Hardrock 100 (5 times) San Diego 100 (3 times) Squaw Peak 50 (5 times) Bighorn 100 (2 times) Bear 100 (3 times) Massanutten 100 (4 times) Coyote Two Moon 100 (2 times) Moab Red Hot 50k (2 times) Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 Mile Run Devil Dog 100 No Business 100 (2020)
As of December 11, 2021, Meltzer had won at the 100 mile-distance 45 times, the all-time record. As of March 7, 2010, he had 53 ultra wins in 105 starts.
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. USATF, Ultrarunning Magazine, RRCA Runner of the Year 2006, Everest Award 2006 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. Meltzer stayed up to date with his fans and followers with a catchy "Where's Karl?" campaign. Speed Record for running the Pony Express Trail from Sacramento, California to St. Joseph, Missouri 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. 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 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefWasatch 100September 51st20:08:00
1999 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefLeona Divide 50 milerApril 171st7:04:25Squaw Peak 50 milerJune 51st8:07:29Wasatch 100September 112nd21:49:00
2000 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefCrown King Scramble 50 milerMarch 182nd7:54:17Wasatch 100September 91st20:52:56Baldy Peaks 50kOctober 211st5:39:41
2001 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefPhoenix National Trail 50 Mile Endurance RunJanuary 63rd7:49:12Hagg Mudd 50kFebruary 172nd3:50:12Crown King Scramble 50kMarch 171st4:17:53Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 milerApril 282nd8:51:30Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail RunJune 21st7:49:25Hardrock 100 Endurance RunJuly 131st26:39:00
2002 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefRed Rock Fat Ass 50kJanuary 52nd4:37:00Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 milerApril 271st8:07:00Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail RunJune 11st7:35:58Wasatch 100September 72nd20:54:18
2003 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefSquaw Peak 50 Mile Trail RunJune 71st7:45:57Hardrock 100 Endurance RunJuly 111st28:01:55Wasatch 100September 61st20:46:35The Bear 100 milerSeptember 262nd20:20:11
2004 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefSquaw Peak 50 Mile Trail RunJune 51st7:57:01Silverton Alpine MarathonAugust 281st3:39:00Wasatch 100September 111st20:06:08Vermont 50 MilerSeptember 251st6:59:17
2005 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefOld Pueblo Endurance Run 50 MilerMarch 51st7:10:34Silver State 50 MilerMay 211st7:35:59Hardrock 100 Endurance RunJuly 81st28:29:15Wasatch 100September 101st19:43:47The Bear 100 milerSeptember 231st20:01:35San Diego 100October 231st17:24:15
2006 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefHURT 100January 141st22:16:00Massanutten Mountain Trails 100May 132nd17:58:42Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail RunJune 32nd8:08:13Hardrock 100 Endurance RunJuly 141st27:07:55Wasatch 100September 91st20:18:58The Bear 100 milerSeptember 221st18:35:00San Diego 100October 211st15:48:00Javelina JundredNovember 41st15:25:10
2007 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefHURT 100January 131st12:37:00Moab Red Hot 55kFebruary 171st4:25:00McNaughton Park 100April 141st17:40:13Massanutten Mountain Trails 100May 191st20:11:09The Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run 100 milerJune 151st20:12:58Hardrock 100 Endurance RunJuly 132nd28:59:08The Bear 100 milerSeptember 281st18:50:45San Diego 100October 201st17:45:50
2008 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefCoyote Two Moon 100 milerMarch 211st17:24:00Jemez Mountain 50 milerMay 172nd8:58:03
2009 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefMoab 34 mileFebruary 143rd4:13Way Too Cool 50kMarch 1420th4:08Massanutten 100May 161st18:29Pocatello 50 mile relay (3 runners)May 231st (first leg overall, 17 mi)2:23Bighorn 100June 191st19:13Hardrock 100July 101st24:38Jupiter Peak Steeplechase 16 mileAugust 820thWasatch 100September 112nd19:12Grindstone 100October 21st18:46Pinhoti 100November 71st17:12http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/reference/finishers/2009-top-100mile-times-me.shtml
2010 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefMoab 55kFebruary 131st4:19:09Coyote Two Moon 100 milerMarch 51st21:02:00
2011 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefAntelope Island Buffalo Run 100 MilerMarch 252nd16:06:50Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 MilerMay 141st18:18:25Wasatch 100September 93rd20:59:53Pinhoti 100 MilerNovember 51st16:42:20
2012 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefRocky Raccoon 100 MilerFebruary 42nd14:17:42Moab Red Hot 55kFebruary 183rd4:19:43Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100 MilerMarch 231st15:28:15Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 MilerApril 213rd9:25:30Pocatello 50 MilerJune 22nd8:42:07Run Rabbit Run 100 MilerSeptember 151st19:16:02Grindstone 100 MilerOctober 51st17:13:04Chimera 100 Miler and Old Goat RacesNovember 172nd17:30:13
2013 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefAntelope Island Buffalo Run 100 MilerMarch 221st14:34:00Run Rabbit Run 100 MilerSeptember 132nd18:32:07The Bear 100 MilerSeptember 272nd19:39:20WC-50 Ultra Trail Marathon 50 MilerOctober 191st8:24:26
2014 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefZion Ultra Marathon 100kApril 61st9:09:40Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 MilerMay 171st18:40:23
2015 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefCruel Jewel 100 MilerMay 151st24:16:29
2016 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefLake Martin 100 MilerMarch 191st16:56:57
2017 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefZane Grey Highline Trail 100kApril 291st9:32:38WC-50 Ultra Trail Marathon 50kOctober 141st5:08:48Pinhoti 100 MilerNovember 41st18:18:27
2018 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefLone Star 100 MilerFebruary 101st23:38:18Hellbender 100 MilerApril 201st21:56:00
2019 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefLone Star 100 MilerFebruary 92nd23:23:42Ute 100 MilerAugust 9–103rd24:12:57Cloudsplitter 100 MilerOctober 12–131st21:16:24Devil Dog 100 Miler, December 7–8 – 1st, 19:21:07December 7–81st19:21:07
2020 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefNo Business 100 MilerOctober 16–171st19:44:41
2021 RaceDatePlaceTimeRefBeast of the East 100 MilerDecember 111st21:42:13
References
External links