Is Ultrarunning still a joke?

Which race are you talking? Times are getting pretty fast for a lot of 50s, so you're likely to have good competition (and you probably will not win your first time out, regardless of your PRs at shorter distances).

Yes, ultras are still a joke.

I don't think ultrarunning is a joke. Of course I don't think it ever really was.

Sure, there are people who do it who aren't good at running fast, but there are people who do every distance who aren't good at running fast. Do people who can't sneak under the half-hour barrier keep you from running 5ks?

I say go ahead and have a good time. Take a look at it though and make sure it is a decent race, not just a long run held on some hippie's farm, which is what some of them seem to be. I only say this because I think a decent race would probably be more fun for you - if you want to do a long run some hippie's farm, then I hope you have fun with that.

If you're interested in speed, sign up for a 400 meter dash. If you're interested in speed, distance and a true test of endurance, sign up for an ultra.

Your assignment:

Run the damn thing and come back and tell us if it is a joke.

still a joke, and a hiding place for those not interested in even trying to run a fast marathon.

sciencetist wrote:

If you're interested in speed, sign up for a 400 meter dash. If you're interested in speed, distance and a true test of endurance, sign up for an ultra.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHHAHAAAHHAHAHHHAHAH HAHAHAAAHAH AAHAHHAHAHAHA HAHAHA AHAHH ahahah hahah ah hahaha ha.... haha....

I don't think anyone thinks Indycar is a joke just because the drivers couldn't cut it in Formula One.

I'll guess you'll know whether ultra runners are serious athletes when 2:05 marathon runners start stepping up to ultras, i.e. never.

Randy Oldman wrote:

I don't think anyone thinks Indycar is a joke just because the drivers couldn't cut it in Formula One.

I'll guess you'll know whether ultra runners are serious athletes when 2:05 marathon runners start stepping up to ultras, i.e. never.

Well, just give us a call when 44.xx 400 runners start signing up for 5000s.

Run it. When you win, we can all have a good laugh.

A Skeptic wrote:

Well, just give us a call when 44.xx 400 runners start signing up for 5000s.

Why would a 44.xx 400 runner sign up for a 5000?

Lets just call it what is really is ultra jogging. The activity was first popularized by runners world back in the day.

45 wrote:

Lets just call it what is really is ultra jogging. The activity was first popularized by runners world back in the day.

LOL!! And to think that you can't even ultra jog!! LOL!!

Do you 2:30-2:50 marathoners that continually put down ultrarunners really think you're "real athletes"? Sorry, it's time to leave the Letsrun nest and venture out into the real world.

Enter that 50 miler with all the 4 hour marathoners. See how you fare. You may win. There's a better chance you wont finish. Just please don't do what most on this board do...continue to talk trash about an event you've never competed in.

How much will you win by?

........ wrote:

I am thinking about signing up for a 50 mile race but do not want waste my time if everyone that I race against are 4 hours marathoners that run long because they can't run fast.

Why do you care how fast everyone else is? Does running mostly alone and pushing yourself on trails and challenging terrain for probably at least 2x the distance and 3x the amount of time as a normal long run sound appealing to you? If so, the logistical support most ultras provide is usually worth the price of the entry. You probably aren't going to see much of your competition for most of the day regardless of how good the field is, so that shouldn't play too much of a factor in your decision.

0/10. All the real trolls must be off today.

This is fun wrote:

A Skeptic wrote:

Well, just give us a call when 44.xx 400 runners start signing up for 5000s.

Why would a 44.xx 400 runner sign up for a 5000?

So he could run in it - most races require some sort of registration.

sciencetist wrote:

If you're interested in speed, sign up for a 400 meter dash. If you're interested in speed, distance and a true test of endurance, sign up for an ultra.

No...just no.

Maybe you could call the Marathon a test of speed and distance and edurance, but an ultra? I respect their dedication and endurance, but they without a doubt lack speed.