Spangler continues Alaska’s rugged reputation in Lower 48
Some stereotypes about Alaska aren’t misconceptions; like the one about how many remarkable runners the state produces.
Add Allan Spangler’s name to the list.
The 28-year-old from Anchorage dominated the Capitol Peak 50-miler in Washington, winning by 50 minutes and posting the second-fastest time in race history of 6 hours, 32 minutes, 12 seconds.
“This win was a fun one,”Spangler told me. “I was comfortable with my position for most of the race, which allowed me to relax and enjoy the course.”
The Capitol Peak course features a mix of trails that run through the forest just outside Olympia. The race starts with a 9-mile hillclimb that gains 2,000 feet in elevation. Then it’s down and back up the hill.
“Because once wouldn’t be enough,” Spangler quipped.
He missed the course record by 23 seconds.
“I was happy with the win but I was mostly focused on my time,” he said. “I wanted to get a time very close to the record, which is held by Seth Swanson, who was second at the Western States 100 last year and was a very good collegiate runner.
“This convinced me that I could be competitive with some of the top trail runners in the country.”
Palmer’s Cody Priest – Spangler’s roommate – won the Capitol Peak 55-K by a comfortable margin and Anchorage’s David Apperson was 11th.
“Alaska runners and perhaps more so Alaskan races have a rugged reputation in the Lower 48 and it was satisfying to uphold that,” Spangler said.