Way Too Cool 50K: Mark Swanson Owns the M70-99 Field

• Solo champion: Mark Swanson, 71, crossed in 8:02:47 — the only finisher in the M70-99 age group.
• Steady climber: Swanson moved from 144th to 139th among the men across the final checkpoints, picking off five places in the back half of the race.
• Goat Hill highlight: His split from Goat Hill to HWY 49 ranked among the men's field on that segment, a stretch where he held his own against the broader field.

There was no suspense about who would win the M70-99 age group at Way Too Cool 2026 — Mark Swanson of Sedona, AZ was the only one who showed up to contest it. But showing up is only the beginning when the task is 31 miles through the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Swanson made sure the result was worth recording.

The 71-year-old covered the course in 8:02:47, averaging 15:32 per mile — a pace that reflects the honest difficulty of Way Too Cool's terrain rather than any lack of effort. In a race where plenty of younger runners were walking significant stretches, Swanson was methodical and consistent, ticking off miles in conditions that were about as cooperative as Northern California in March gets: 54°F and clear, with barely a breath of wind.

What gives the performance some texture is his movement through the men's field. Swanson sat 144th among the men early, drifted briefly to the same spot, then began a quiet charge — reaching 139th by the closing checkpoints. Five places gained in the back half of a 50K, at age 71, is a real thing. He came to Cool to finish, and he finished strong.