M60-69: Peoples Takes the 50K Title in Granite Bay

• Michael Peoples won the M60-69 group in 6:21:23 (12:17/mi), finishing more than 10 minutes clear of the field.
• Dale Smelser ran a strong second half to claim 2nd in 6:32:10 gap of 10:51, while Theo Parisek rounded out the three-man group in 7:12:50.
• Smelser posted the 20th-fastest split on the Second Half among the men, showing he had plenty left in the tank late in the race.
• Peoples was the most aggressive starter, moving through the men's field early before settling into his rhythm across the back half.

---

Three men lined up in the M60-69 age group at Rio Del Lago's 50K on a warm, clear November day in Granite Bay — and Michael Peoples, 62, of Orangevale, made his intentions clear from the gun. He surged through the men's field in the opening stretch, climbing from 10th to as high as 23rd before stabilizing around 25th among the men for the remainder of the race. That early aggression paid off: his 6:21:23 finish at a 12:17/mi average was good enough to win the age group by nearly 11 minutes.

Dale Smelser, 63, of Vacaville, told a different kind of story. He started conservatively — sitting 40th among the men early on — but steadily worked his way forward, climbing to 28th by the finish. His 20th-fastest split among the men on the Second Half was the defining move of his race, a sign that he was running his own patient game. He crossed in 6:32:14 to take 2nd in the age group.

Theo Parisek, 64, of Rescue, CA, completed the M60-69 podium in 7:12:50 — nearly 41 minutes behind Peoples. Parisek's race was consistent if not explosive; he held roughly the same position among the men through most of the course, and his 33rd-fastest split on the Beals Point to Willow Creek segment reflected a steady, measured effort on a warm day that tested everyone's patience.

All three finishers completing 50K in the 60s age group on a 72°F afternoon is no small thing — but it was Peoples who ran it most decisively from start to finish.