Chris Myers, a fast-rising star in the trail running community, lived up to the hype last weekend with a dominant performance at the 2024 Gorge Waterfalls 50K. Chris not only placed first overall but also shattered the course record, set last year by Matt Daniels, sending a clear message to the competition for this summer’s Western States 100.
Myers, who recently made the move to Boulder, Colorado, a hotbed for elite trail runners, wasted no time showcasing his honed fitness. “I felt pretty good,” Myers shared after the race, though interviewer Zach Marion pointed out Myers didn’t exactly look worse for wear. “I mean it was really pretty out there,” Myers continued, “I was just enjoying myself.”
Enjoying himself might be an understatement. Myers took the lead from the get-go and never relinquished it. While acknowledging Dylan Hurger’s strong presence, Myers revealed his strategy: “He let the entire climb up and I was just…floating along,” Myers said. “Then on the downhill, I just took it away on the technical descent.” Catching glimpses of Hurger throughout the race only fueled Myers’ fire: “[Every time I saw] him [it was] like oh God I got I got to keep running fast. Can’t relax,” he admitted.
This win at the Gorge Waterfalls follows Myers’ impressive performance at the Black Canyon 100K this past February, where he secured a coveted “golden ticket” to the Western States 100. He views the Gorge Waterfalls as a stepping stone: “This is a training race…I just wanted to try and run fast for a little bit,” Myers explained. His focus? Speed and conquering long downhills, a key feature of the Western States course.
Myers’ humble and easy-going personality was on display throughout his post-race inverview. He credits the supportive Boulder community for his success, and raved about his crew: “They were awesome,” he said. Though a last-minute assembly, they provided exceptional aid throughout the race. “They are some good friends from Flagstaff,” Myers elaborated, “they just raised their hands and said ‘hey we can crew you.'”
With his win and course record at the Gorge Waterfalls, it would be difficult to still call Chris Myers a dark horse. He’s a serious contender. The trail running world is on notice, and Myers’ sights are set on the Western States 100 top 10 list. Come July, all eyes will be on him to see if he can translate his current fitness into glory on the big stage.
2024 Gorge Waterfalls 50K Livestream
2024 Gorge Waterfalls 100K Livestream
2024 Gorge Waterfalls Results
Gorge Waterfalls Website
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