Phil Sanderson, of the Tamalpa Runners, completed his 4th Consecutive Year of the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning with his finish in the 2019 Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run on 9/13/19
The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning Series was established in 1986. The Series is made up of the following five 100 Mile Races: 1. Old Dominion 100 Mile, 2. Western States 100 Mile, 3. Vermont 100 Mile, 4. Leadville Trail 100, and 5. Wasatch Front 100 Mile. In order to be eligible for the award for completing the Grand Slam participants must officially complete three of the first four Grand Slam Series races and then complete the Wasatch Front 100 Mile – all in the same summer. The Wasatch Front 100 Mile is required because it is the final race of the series. The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning Awards are presented at this race and the series is organized by the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Race Committee. The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning Award was established in 1986. The award is a beautifully sculpted eagle with engravings signifying the runner’s name and accomplishment. The awards are presented at the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Awards Ceremony immediately following the banquet.
Phil completed his first Grand Slam in 2016 at age 48 with a total time for his four 100 Mile races of 109:47:11. In 2017 Phil dropped 13 hours and 9 minutes off of his total time as he finished the four races in 96:38:11. He was even faster in 2018 with a total time of 93:05:03 and in 2019, at age 51, Phil finished with a total time 90:04:54. That was 19 hours 42 minutes and 17 seconds faster than his first Grand Slam. His average time for the four 100 Mile races was 22:31:13.
I have completed one 100 Mile Race, the Western States 100 Mile, in 22:43:11 and was proud to have been able to do that. Phillip finishing the Grand Slam of Ultra Running for four consecutive years and running his four 100 Mile Races last year at age 51 with an average time of 22:31:13 is amazing.
Only 3 other Ultra Runners have completed more Grand Slams of Ultra Running than the four that Phil has completed. The Grand Slam of Ultra Running has been held for 34 years and the number of yearly finishers has ranged from 1 runner in 1986 to 22 finishers in 2013. This past year, 2019, there were 13 finishers.
When asked to identify the greatest challenge of Slamming, veterans often dwell on the logistics. Juggling the time and travel demands, arranging for crew and pacers, and organizing gear and drop bags can be far more exhausting than actually running the 400 miles. More than anything, there’re strategists. They have to be analytical and disciplined. Perhaps that’s why a disproportionate number of Grand Slammers work in analytical professions such as engineering, accounting, research and computer science.
The 2020 Grand Slam Season starts with the Old Dominion 100 Mile Endurance Run on Saturday, June 6, 2020 @ 4:00 AM. Will Phil Sanderson be there to go for Grand Slam number 5?
Yes! Phil plans to complete his 5th Grand Slam of Ultrarunning at age 52 during the summer of 2020!
| 2019 TOTAL | NAME | Old Dominion | Western States | VERMONT | LEADVILLE | Wasatch Front | AVG TIME |
| 90:04:54 | Philip Sanderson, 51, CA, 2019 | 18:30:42 | 22:54:54 | 19:31:38 | 29:07:40 | 22:31:13 | |
| 2018 TOTAL | NAME | OD | WS | VRMT | LDVLE | WF | AVG TIME |
| 93:05:03 | Philip Sanderson, 50, CA, 2018 | 20:06:51 | 22:14:34 | 18:26:28 | 32:17:10 | 23:16:16 |
| 2017 TOTAL | NAME | OD | WS | VRMT | LDVLE | WF | AVG TIME |
| 96:38:11 | Phillip Sanderson, 49, CA, 2017 | 23:55:12 | 18:20:12 | 24:31:15 | 29:51:22 | 24:09:33 |
| 2016 TOTAL | NAME | OD | WS | VRMT | LDVLE | WF | AVG TIME |
| 109:47:11 | Philip Sanderson, 48, CA, 2016 | 27:33:22 | 22:30:58 | 28:20:28 | 31:22:23 | 27:26:48 |
13 Grand Slam of Ultra Running Finishers – 2019
