Rob Krar wins $12,000 ultramarathon prize purse

Hamilton-born ultramarathon star Rob Krar won the Run Rabbit Run 100-mile ultramarathon over the weekend, taking home US$12,000, which was, at the time of finishing, the largest trail ultramarathon prize ever awarded, until female finisher Nikki Kimball won the women’s race.

With a total prize purse for both the 50- and 100-mile races of $50,000, Krar and Kimball each won $12,000 for their wins, though Kimball, 43, also picked up an extra $1,000 for winning the masters division, leaving her with a total prize of $13,000.

The Steamboat Spring, Colo., event, started only a few years ago in 2012, was the first trail ultra to begin giving out larger cash prizes to winners, with the help of a sponsorship with Altra Running, though the money still falls short of major road races.

Krar, who has risen quickly to become one of the world’s top ultramarathons, finished the race in 17:40, shy of the 17:15 course record. Though behind early in the race, Krar caught up and broke away from the pack towards the halfway point, with around 50 miles left to run.

“There was a long, smooth road there, and that’s my bread and butter,” Krar told Steamboat Today about his tactical move. “It was a calculated risk, going that early in the race. You risk blowing yourself out. But, I felt it was an area of the course I could take advantage of.”

Kimball finished in a time of 21:14.