Way Too Cool 50K: Swanson owns the M70-99 field

• Mark Swanson, 71, finished in 8:02:47 — the only finisher in the M70-99 group, making him both first and last by default.
• 15:32/mi average pace across the full 50K course on a clear, mild morning in Cool, CA.
• Moved up among men late in the race, climbing from 144th to 139th in the men's field between the middle and final checkpoints.

There was only one man bold enough to toe the line in the M70-99 group at Way Too Cool 2026: Mark Swanson of Sedona, AZ. At 71 years old, he covered every mile of this demanding 50K and crossed the finish line in 8:02:47 — which means he wins, full stop.

The race unfolded with a steady rhythm for Swanson. He held his position in the broader men's field through the early and middle miles, then found another gear in the back half, climbing from 144th to 139th among all men across the final checkpoints. On the Goat Hill to HWY 49 segment specifically, he posted a competitive split in the men's field — a stretch where he was clearly working.

Eight hours and two minutes of running through the Sierra Nevada foothills on a crisp 54°F morning is no small thing at any age. Swanson made it look like the only reasonable way to spend a Saturday.