Rio Del Lago 50K: Brad Wilkes Owns the M70-99 Field

• Solo champion: Brad Wilkes, 70, of Granite Bay finished in 8:19:39 — the only M70-99 finisher.
• Steady climb through the men's field: Wilkes moved from 47th to 45th among men across the course's five checkpoints.
• Notable split: He posted the 40th-fastest split in the field on the Beals Point 2→Granite Beach 1 segment.
• Pace: Wilkes held a 16:05/mile average across the full 50K on a warm November day in Granite Bay.

There was no drama in the M70-99 standings — Brad Wilkes was the only one who showed up to contest them, and that alone deserves respect. At 70 years old and racing in his own backyard of Granite Bay, California, he covered the full Rio Del Lago 50K course in 8 hours, 19 minutes, and 39 seconds, averaging 16:05 per mile across the distance. With 72°F temperatures and clear skies, conditions were manageable but not easy for an ultra effort of this length.

What the numbers do show is that Wilkes was no passenger out there. He worked his way through the men's field as the race progressed, moving from 47th among men at the first checkpoint up to 45th by the finish — a quiet but real sign that he was running with purpose while others faded around him. On the Beals Point 2 to Granite Beach 1 segment specifically, he turned in the 40th-fastest split in the field, a genuinely competitive mark on that stretch.

Completing a 50K ultra at 70 is a statement in itself. Wilkes crossed the line as the M70-99 champion — unchallenged, yes, but unbroken too.