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

• Sole finisher and champion: Brad Wilkes, 70, completed the 50K in 8:19:39 at a 16:05/mi average pace.
• Steady climb through the men's field: Wilkes moved from 47th to 45th among men over the course of the race, picking off two competitors in the back half.
• Notable split: He posted the 40th-fastest split in the field on the Beals Point 2→Granite Beach 1 segment.

There was only one man willing to toe the line in the M70-99 group at Rio Del Lago this year, and Brad Wilkes of Granite Bay made every step count on his home turf. Covering 50 kilometers through the Auburn-area trails on a warm, clear November day — 72°F with light winds — Wilkes crossed in 8:19:39, a 16:05-per-mile average that reflects the genuine demands of this course at any age, let alone at 70.

The race unfolded with quiet consistency. Wilkes held steady through the middle miles, then found a little something extra late, advancing from 47th to 45th among the men's field in the final segments. That kind of measured, patient execution is exactly what a 50K demands, and Wilkes delivered it without a dramatic fade or collapse.

One moment worth noting: on the Beals Point 2 to Granite Beach 1 stretch, Wilkes turned in the 40th-fastest split in the field — a sharp effort that stood out against the broader men's race. For a 70-year-old deep into an ultramarathon, that's a real number, not a participation footnote.

Champion by default? Sure — but finishing a 50K ultra at 70 is its own answer to that question. Brad Wilkes gets the win, the M70-99 title, and the distinction of being the only person in his group tough enough to show up and go the distance.