M40-49: Jacob Rydman Runs Down the Field to Claim the Age Group Crown

• Rydman wins in 17:31:49 (10:31/mi), finishing more than 56 minutes ahead of runner-up John Lofthus — and posting the fastest split on the Granite Beach to Rattlesnake Bar segment in the men's field.
• Lofthus holds second in 18:28:14, with Dennis Boic rounding out the podium in 19:31:19 — the top three separated by just over two hours, while 4th through 9th were packed into a 90-minute window.
• Jesse Strom made the most dramatic charge of anyone in the M40-49 group, climbing from deep in the men's field all the way to 17th overall among men by the finish, including the 11th-fastest split on the ALT→Cool segment.
• David Aguayo edged Strom for 5th in the age group by just 2:24 (21:41:09 vs. 21:43:33), posting the 8th-fastest split in the field on the Beals Point to Willow Creek stretch.

Jacob Rydman, 41, out of Auburn, turned in one of the most commanding performances in the M40-49 group, going wire-to-wire at the front. His moves tell the story clearly: he climbed from 7th among men at the first checkpoint all the way to 1st by mid-race, and he held that position through the finish. His 10:31/mi average over 100 miles on a warm California day was a cut above, and his fastest-in-the-field split on the Granite Beach to Rattlesnake Bar leg showed he wasn't just managing — he was racing.

John Lofthus, 48, from Orcutt, was methodical and relentless, ticking off places throughout the race to finish a strong 2nd in 18:28:14. He saved something for the Cool to No Hands Bridge segment, posting the fastest split in the field on that stretch — a well-timed surge late in the race. Dennis Boic, 49, from Redding, ran a consistent if slightly fading second half, slipping a few spots among the men but holding on for 3rd in the age group with a 19:31:19 finish.

The mid-pack battle was the most entertaining subplot of the day. Strom's charge from the back of the men's field to 17th was eye-catching, but Aguayo — who had been running steadily near the front of the age group all day — had just enough in reserve to hold him off by 144 seconds at the line. With 41 finishers in the M40-49 group and times ranging across the board, the depth of this field made every position earned.